# 'Evidence' is not a meaningless word!

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evidence-is-not-a-meaningless-word/292029>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [February 26, 2005, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evidence-is-not-a-meaningless-word/292029 "2005-02-26T17:28:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2005, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evidence-is-not-a-meaningless-word/292029/41 "2005-02-27T00:55:52Z")

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> [@neuroman](#):
>
> **Metacom** , I re-read this numerous times and I really can’t figure out what you mean. If you want to try phrasing it differently maybe I’ll see what you’re getting at.

You said that the first meaning implied that evidence needed to have an “outward, demonstrable” component. I agreed and said:

> [@Metacom](#):
>
> I don’t concede that #1 implies the event needs to be physical though–can you elaborate on that?

In other words, explain why you think the first meaning in the definition I gave implies an “outward, demonstrable” component.

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**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2005, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evidence-is-not-a-meaningless-word/292029/42 "2005-02-27T20:07:07Z")

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Well, as definition 1 is written it’s not all that strongly implied, though the examples lend weak support. It’s probably just my personal bias that makes me assume evidence is generally something that can be experienced with one of the five senses. The only thing I can think of that could be considered _non-physical_ evidence is human emotion upon self-reflection. e.g. “When he thought of her, the stirrings he felt in his heart were evidence enough that he was in love.”

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**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2005, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evidence-is-not-a-meaningless-word/292029/43 "2005-02-27T21:27:14Z")

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Eh.

I shouldn’t have bothered.

Carry on, if you must.

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