Poll: Can someone tell me how this is unanswerable??

[skywalkerlion]

Inspired by the thread 'Unanswerable Questions' or something along those lines.

Okay, I'm pretty sure you all know that thing that goes 'If a tree falls in a forest, and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?'.

Ofcourse it makes a sound. I don't see how it matters if people are there to hear it or not. >.>

Do you agree? And what do you think about other 'unanswerable' questions?

Just something to occupy my time ^.^

 

[orangebandguy]

Yes it makes a sound. It's been answered by physicists. It's just an old proverb.

 

[A Weary Exile]

It's supposed to be philosophical, but it was apparently made before humans discovered sound waves. It's not supposed to be taken literally though.

 

[Dax317]

How can sound exist if no one knows it exists?

OT: Whats the sound of one hand clapping?

 

[Berethond]

If a n00b whines on a message board, but no one's logged on, is it still annoying?

Of course it is.

 

[skywalkerlion]

If a n00b whines on a message board, but no one's logged on, is it still annoying?

Of course it is.

I wasn't trying to whine

How can sound exist if no one knows it exists?

But it says clearly IT MADE A SOUND.

However the sound of one hand clapping..
*head explosion*

 

[sizzle949]

I understand the philosophical meaning behind it, but I always had fun responding to it the same way that skywalkerlion did. Usually pisses people off who kept telling me I am missing the point... kinda amusing

 

[Cakes]

You're taking the question far too literally.

 

[ShadeOfRed]

If a n00b whines on a message board, but no one's logged on, is it still annoying?

Of course it is.

I wasn't trying to whine

How can sound exist if no one knows it exists?

But it says clearly IT MADE A SOUND.

However the sound of one hand clapping..
*head explosion*

Spoiler: Well...

Don't say you didn't see it coming.

 

[cah318ery7]

I've been told sound is simply what our ear interpret as vibrations put out by objects. So, technically, a tree would not make a sound if it fell, as no one would be around to interpret it as sound.

However, it is not meant to be taken literally, as said before.

 

[Berethond]

If a n00b whines on a message board, but no one's logged on, is it still annoying?

Of course it is.

I wasn't trying to whine

How can sound exist if no one knows it exists?

But it says clearly IT MADE A SOUND.

However the sound of one hand clapping..
*head explosion*

I was putting it in more modern terms.
I was also ninja'd with the clapping vid

 

[skywalkerlion]

If a n00b whines on a message board, but no one's logged on, is it still annoying?

Of course it is.

I wasn't trying to whine

How can sound exist if no one knows it exists?

But it says clearly IT MADE A SOUND.

However the sound of one hand clapping..
*head explosion*

Spoiler: Well...

Don't say you didn't see it coming.

..I didn't see that coming.

OR SHOULD I SAY, CUMMING? LOLOLOLOLOL

*slaps self*

Sorry. But that's clever.

 

[Nimbus]

That proverb was made up before we (humans) knew what sound was. Physics is a fairly new invention.

 

[Dudemeister]

The whole point is to think "How can sound exist if there is nothing to hear it?".
It's just meant to clear your thoughts.

 

[Dax317]

If a n00b whines on a message board, but no one's logged on, is it still annoying?

Of course it is.

I wasn't trying to whine

How can sound exist if no one knows it exists?

But it says clearly IT MADE A SOUND.

However the sound of one hand clapping..
*head explosion*

Damn....didn't see that one coming.

 

[quiet_samurai]

You lack deeper understanding, the acctual question has little to do with trees.

This.

Also, I think for something to be considered a sound someone or something has to be around to hear it. So if nothing is around to hear it then no, it doesn't make a sound.

 

[Dart DeathClaw]

How can sound exist if no one knows it exists?

OT: Whats the sound of one hand clapping?

Sound waves can effect objects even if there is nothing around to hear it. There can't possibly be weather if nothing is around to see it... right? wrong! it's a freakin rain forest. it will rain even if the animals that can tell it's raining are all dead.

the sound of one hand clapping is also called snapping it's fingers. if you don't like that answer another good one is woosh because your hand moving in a clapping motion stirs the air around it and if you can you would be able to hear the air move.