Question?

Page 1 of 2 [ 21 posts ] Go to page 1, 2 Next

Previous topic | Next topic

Deb1970
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 8 Feb 2013
Age: 55
Gender: Female
Posts: 512
Location: Iowa

04 Aug 2015, 6:53 pm

Question? If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it does it make a sound?

_________________
"I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity."

- Edgar Allan Poe -

chapstan
Pileated woodpecker

Joined: 17 Nov 2006
Age: 67
Gender: Male
Posts: 183
Location: Munfordville, Ky

04 Aug 2015, 7:00 pm

Ah the age old question... just because there is no human there to hear it doesn't mean there isn't some bird or animal that would hear it. I don't know enough of the science to suggest whether bugs or worms could "hear" it but would certainly pick up on the vibrations.

Lumi
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 7 Sep 2012
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,513
Location: Positive-minded

04 Aug 2015, 7:01 pm

yep

nerdygirl
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 16 Jun 2014
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,645
Location: In the land of abstractions and ideas.

04 Aug 2015, 7:07 pm

If I say something, and nobody listens, did I speak?

Deb1970
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 8 Feb 2013
Age: 55
Gender: Female
Posts: 512
Location: Iowa

04 Aug 2015, 7:23 pm

nerdygirl wrote:

If I say something, and nobody listens, did I speak?

Yes, because you heard yourself speak.

_________________
"I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity."

- Edgar Allan Poe -

nerdygirl
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 16 Jun 2014
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,645
Location: In the land of abstractions and ideas.

04 Aug 2015, 7:24 pm

Deb1970 wrote:

nerdygirl wrote:

If I say something, and nobody listens, did I speak?

Yes, because you heard yourself speak.

That is what I keep telling myself.

Xenization
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 26 Jun 2015
Posts: 505

04 Aug 2015, 7:27 pm

nerdygirl wrote:

If I say something, and nobody listens, did I speak?

Well, this is an entirely (scientific) discussion.

'Speaking' is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary* as "to say words".
'Say' is defined as "to use your voice to express words".
'Voice' is defined as "the sounds that you make with your mouth and throat (when you are speaking, singing, etc.)"
And, finally, the generally accepted scientific definition of 'sound' is the product of converted soundwaves... which are created with your mouth (in this case, by speaking).

So--in answer to the tree question--no, not if no being who could convert those soundwaves (a.k.a. "hear) was around.
But--in answer to NerdyGirl's question--yes, so long as you aren't deaf (and so are able to convert the soundwaves).

*And most dictionaries/scientists/people. Just wanted to cite my source.

_________________
Call me Xen.
--
xenization (n.) - the act of traveling as a stranger.

Xenization
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 26 Jun 2015
Posts: 505

04 Aug 2015, 7:29 pm

It just occurred to me that you could have meant that as a joke.

...

Did you?

_________________
Call me Xen.
--
xenization (n.) - the act of traveling as a stranger.

nerdygirl
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 16 Jun 2014
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,645
Location: In the land of abstractions and ideas.

04 Aug 2015, 7:31 pm

Xenization wrote:

It just occurred to me that you could have meant that as a joke.

...

Did you?

It was a bit of sarcasm, based on the bad day I'm having. I feel like no one listens...it seemed to fit the topic, sort of.

doofy
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 13 Dec 2012
Gender: Female
Posts: 505
Location: Here

04 Aug 2015, 7:47 pm

Deb1970 wrote:

Question? If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it does it make a sound?

Fish

Xenization
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 26 Jun 2015
Posts: 505

04 Aug 2015, 8:15 pm

nerdygirl wrote:

Xenization wrote:

It just occurred to me that you could have meant that as a joke.

...

Did you?

It was a bit of sarcasm, based on the bad day I'm having. I feel like no one listens...it seemed to fit the topic, sort of.

Sorry about replying with that, then.

I'm not always the best at figuring out when people are being sarcastic. Especially online.

_________________
Call me Xen.
--
xenization (n.) - the act of traveling as a stranger.

nerdygirl
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 16 Jun 2014
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,645
Location: In the land of abstractions and ideas.

04 Aug 2015, 8:26 pm

Xenization wrote:

nerdygirl wrote:

Xenization wrote:

It just occurred to me that you could have meant that as a joke.

...

Did you?

It was a bit of sarcasm, based on the bad day I'm having. I feel like no one listens...it seemed to fit the topic, sort of.

Sorry about replying with that, then.

I'm not always the best at figuring out when people are being sarcastic. Especially online.

No offense taken, whatsoever! It's always been one of my specialties to be sarcastic without letting people in on the joke. In high school, I had a way of "complimenting" people while cutting them down at the same time. Not necessarily proud of that fact, but I can hide my sarcasm when I want to. I'm pretty sure that's why you didn't pick up on it.

Xenization
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 26 Jun 2015
Posts: 505

04 Aug 2015, 8:32 pm

nerdygirl wrote:

Xenization wrote:

nerdygirl wrote:

Xenization wrote:

It just occurred to me that you could have meant that as a joke.

...

Did you?

It was a bit of sarcasm, based on the bad day I'm having. I feel like no one listens...it seemed to fit the topic, sort of.

Sorry about replying with that, then.

I'm not always the best at figuring out when people are being sarcastic. Especially online.

Oh, okay! Thanks for replying.

_________________
Call me Xen.
--
xenization (n.) - the act of traveling as a stranger.

Deb1970
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 8 Feb 2013
Age: 55
Gender: Female
Posts: 512
Location: Iowa

04 Aug 2015, 8:58 pm

Xenization wrote:

nerdygirl wrote:

If I say something, and nobody listens, did I speak?

I'm not sure I understand your definition of sound. Are you saying that sound is only created with your mouth? or are you saying any converted sound waves by anything that makes audible noise? Animals also convert sound waves and if a tree were to fall in the forest it could be possible that animals are there to hear the tree fall. In this case the falling tree would make a sound even if humans were not present. This riddle has always made no sense to me....Just thought I would get other peoples perspective on it.

_________________
"I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity."

- Edgar Allan Poe -

Xenization
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 26 Jun 2015
Posts: 505

04 Aug 2015, 9:44 pm

Deb1970 wrote:

Xenization wrote:

nerdygirl wrote:

If I say something, and nobody listens, did I speak?

1. Are you saying that sound is only created with your mouth?
No, your voice is a sound created by your mouth.

2. Or are you saying any converted sound waves by anything that makes audible noise?
That is indeed what I'm saying.

3. Animals also convert sound waves and if a tree were to fall in the forest it could be possible that animals are there to hear the tree fall. In this case the falling tree would make a sound even if humans were not present.
Exactly. "No one", for me, counts as no being that can hear.

_________________
Call me Xen.
--
xenization (n.) - the act of traveling as a stranger.

Rocket123
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 15 Dec 2012
Age: 63
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,205
Location: Lost in Space

04 Aug 2015, 10:06 pm

Deb1970 wrote:

Question? If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it does it make a sound?

What is the sound of one hand clapping?

Page 1 of 2 [ 21 posts ] Go to page 1, 2 Next

Jump to:

Question? Post Reply New Topic

Question?