(paraphrasing, 'cause I can't remember exactly): "I had opened a doorway to evil, except it had no handles. So it wasn't a doorway. More like a portal really."
But interestingly, because the only answer you can give is "Yes", the poll is recursive if you answer it (the answer becoming the definition, and therefore recursive), indeterminate if you don't. It's kind of a schroedinger's poll.
No it's not. Recursion is applying a formula to get an answer, then applying the formula to that answer, and so on until the desired result is achieved. There is no recursion in this poll as one application gives the answer, you cannot apply it more than once.
The answer doesn't become the definition by answering yes.
Hmm, yes. I think I messed up in my definition of recursion - I was going with the fact that having to define the answer to get the answer met the definition for recursion, but I now understand recursion necessarily has to be repeated application of an algorithmn.
Yeah. I had actually got it right when I answered sarah_mum originally, but then the appearance of geeks answering the poll made me doubt my conviction.
Although subsequently I read that rhetoric doesn't actually mean not requiring an answer because it is obvious, but more generally talking about persuasive or effective writing or speech. How confusing!
It's not a question that doesn't require an answer because it is obvious. It is a question that was used for effect, rather than to illicit a response, so an answer is not expected. :)
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Date: 2006-10-03 11:35 pm (UTC)1/10, must try harder.
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Date: 2006-10-03 11:37 pm (UTC)PS. Garth Marengi's Darkplace is fantastic! :)
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Date: 2006-10-03 11:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-03 11:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-03 11:43 pm (UTC)Boosh crossover
Date: 2006-10-03 11:47 pm (UTC)*right* on it!
Re: Boosh crossover
Date: 2006-10-04 06:45 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-03 11:46 pm (UTC)I shall have to give it another try.
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Date: 2006-10-04 08:09 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-04 08:42 am (UTC)The answer doesn't become the definition by answering yes.
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Date: 2006-10-04 08:48 am (UTC)Well it had me confused for a while :)
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Date: 2006-10-04 08:49 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-04 08:58 am (UTC)The answer to this poll is yes: 1)yes
Or a paradoxical one, similar to
Can you answer no to this poll?: 1)no
*grin*
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Date: 2006-10-04 09:03 am (UTC)Is this poll rhetorical? [ ] Yes.
Yeah. I had actually got it right when I answered
Plus it's morning. Yep yep. I blame morning.
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Date: 2006-10-04 09:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-04 09:31 am (UTC)It's not a question that doesn't require an answer because it is obvious. It is a question that was used for effect, rather than to illicit a response, so an answer is not expected. :)
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Date: 2006-10-04 09:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-04 09:37 am (UTC)