From lojban-out@lojban.org Thu Mar 13 10:50:38 2003
Return-Path: <lojban-out@lojban.org>
X-Sender: lojban-out@lojban.org
X-Apparently-To: lojban@yahoogroups.com
Received: (EGP: mail-8_2_6_1); 13 Mar 2003 18:50:38 -0000
Received: (qmail 54266 invoked from network); 13 Mar 2003 18:50:38 -0000
Received: from unknown (66.218.66.216)
  by m15.grp.scd.yahoo.com with QMQP; 13 Mar 2003 18:50:38 -0000
Received: from unknown (HELO digitalkingdom.org) (204.152.186.175)
  by mta1.grp.scd.yahoo.com with SMTP; 13 Mar 2003 18:50:38 -0000
Received: from lojban-out by digitalkingdom.org with local (Exim 4.12)
  id 18tXmo-0000EQ-00
  for lojban@yahoogroups.com; Thu, 13 Mar 2003 10:50:38 -0800
Received: from digitalkingdom.org ([204.152.186.175] helo=chain)
  by digitalkingdom.org with esmtp (Exim 4.12)
  id 18tXmf-0000E7-00; Thu, 13 Mar 2003 10:50:29 -0800
Received: with ECARTIS (v1.0.0; list lojban-list); Thu, 13 Mar 2003 10:50:28 -0800 (PST)
Received: from rlpowell by digitalkingdom.org with local (Exim 4.12)
  id 18tXmZ-0000Dw-00
  for lojban-list@lojban.org; Thu, 13 Mar 2003 10:50:23 -0800
Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2003 10:50:23 -0800
To: lojban-list@lojban.org
Subject: [lojban] Re: spofu skami
Message-ID: <20030313185023.GL25165@digitalkingdom.org>
Mail-Followup-To: lojban-list@lojban.org
References: <20030313183823.GH25165@digitalkingdom.org> <20030313134052.U85179-100000@granite.thestonecutters.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Disposition: inline
In-Reply-To: <20030313134052.U85179-100000@granite.thestonecutters.net>
User-Agent: Mutt/1.5.3i
X-archive-position: 4483
X-ecartis-version: Ecartis v1.0.0
Sender: lojban-list-bounce@lojban.org
Errors-to: lojban-list-bounce@lojban.org
X-original-sender: rlpowell@digitalkingdom.org
Precedence: bulk
X-list: lojban-list
X-eGroups-From: Robin Lee Powell <rlpowell@digitalkingdom.org>
From: Robin Lee Powell <lojban-out@lojban.org>
Reply-To: rlpowell@digitalkingdom.org
X-Yahoo-Group-Post: member; u=116389790
X-Yahoo-Profile: lojban_out

On Thu, Mar 13, 2003 at 01:42:37PM -0500, Invent Yourself wrote:
> On Thu, 13 Mar 2003, Robin Lee Powell wrote:
> > On Thu, Mar 13, 2003 at 01:22:54PM -0500, Invent Yourself wrote:
> > > 'nirna' means things that neuron, or are neuron-like or that do
> > > what neurons do, which isn't restricted to Neurons. It seems that
> > > Neurons can go into nirna x1, but there are lo nirna that aren't
> > > Neurons.
> >
> > neuron:
> >
> > 1. Has dozens, sometimes hundreds of connections to other neurons.
> >
> > 2. Collates inbound data as an aggregate to decide whether to send
> > outbound data.
> >
> > 3. Has a wide range of physical shapes, but generally consists of a
> > bundle of goo attached to a long rod of goo with some feelers off
> > the end of the rod.
> >
> > 4. Conists mostly of carbon, with some nitrogen, oxygen, and other
> > trace elements.
> >
> > I believe those are all the major necessary and sufficient features
> > of a neuron.
> >
> > Not a *SINGLE* *ONE* of those points applies to an ethernet cable, a
> > fiber optice cable, a small number of networked computers, or a
> > sigle computer data switch.
> >
> > NONE OF THEM. NOT ONE.
> 
> 
> The gismu definition doesn't list these. How do you know they all
> pertain to nirna such that every lo nirna must have them?

Because all I have do go on is the fact that the definition consist
entirely of the words "nerve" and "neuron".

> Instead of looking at the differences, you might look at the
> similarities.

*WHAT* similarities?!? Nerves collect data, collate it, and push it to
other things *just* *like* *them*. I am aware of *no* human-made
networking system that scales beyond two nodes that consists entirely of
the same type of object; there is *always* a mediator. Computers don't
talk to computers, they talk to switches. Fiber optic cables don't push
data at all, there are mere a transmission medium. <wry>The axon, if
you will.</wry>

And, by the way, similarities between what and what, exactly? Is a
fiber optic cable a nirna? Is a networked computer a nirna? Is two
cans and a piece of string a nirna? Does that make a piece of string a
nirna? Is a phone switch a nirna? Is a phone a nirna? Is a phone cable
a nirna? Is a pair of headphones a nirna? Is a loudspeaker a nirna?
Is an ssh connection a nirna? Is a mail reader a nirna? Is yelling
really loud a nirna? Hey, talking is a an "information/control network
connection", right? Talking is a nirna! We don't need tavla, we have
nirna! Oh, I guess we don't need cusku either! Weee, isn't this fun!

Yes, some of that was hyperbole, but far from all of it.

And you wonder why I'm concerned about polysemy in this case. Yeesh.

I've explained myself *thoroughly*. Now it's your turn.

-Robin

-- 
http://www.digitalkingdom.org/~rlpowell/ *** I'm a *male* Robin.
.i le pamoi velru'e zo'u crepu le plibu taxfu
.i le remoi velru'e zo'u mo .i le cimoi velru'e zo'u ba'e prali .uisai
http://www.lojban.org/ *** to sa'a cu'u lei pibyta'u cridrnoma toi




