# Finagle is Fucking Asshole **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 16, 2002, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finagle-is-fucking-asshole/109444 "2002-05-16T21:22:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![erislover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71e660/32.png) [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2002, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finagle-is-fucking-asshole/109444/21 "2002-05-16T23:18:15Z")
Shitdrizzle with periods of wail? I need a better fucking umbrella! ---
**Author:** ![Robb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Robb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robb)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2002, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finagle-is-fucking-asshole/109444/22 "2002-05-16T23:27:18Z")
And hang on to your new umbrella - that hot air is really whining. ---
**Author:** ![Regina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d78d45/32.png) [@Regina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regina)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2002, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finagle-is-fucking-asshole/109444/23 "2002-05-16T23:29:22Z")
OK, I read the thread **again** and I think I see what **GreyMatters** ’ beef is. Basically they were both saying the question was moot (a dubious debating tactic in any case), just in different ways. Both tried to prove their superiority with both cites and reasoning but also with personal attacks, started, despite **GreyMatters** ’ opinion, by **GreyMatters**. Both were pretty sarcastic about the brainpower of each. Degeneration ensued. **GreyMatters** is frustrated because **Finagle** won’t admit that **they were both saying the same thing** , in **GreyMatters** ’ opinion. Fuck Off to the both of you for getting so sarcastic and personal. ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2002, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finagle-is-fucking-asshole/109444/24 "2002-05-16T23:30:50Z")
Shizzle. 🙂 My New Word of the Week[sup]TM[/sup]. Main Entry: [1]shiz·zle Pronunciation: 'shi-z&l Function: noun Date: 2002 1. a fine, bone-chilling rain that usually occurs when camping, fishing or waiting for a bus 2. a hyperbolic, unsatisfying mini-rant lacking in substance, objectivity and/or factual basis - shiz·zly /'shiz-(&-)lE/ adjective ---
**Author:** ![Regina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d78d45/32.png) [@Regina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regina)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2002, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finagle-is-fucking-asshole/109444/25 "2002-05-16T23:31:42Z")
in GD, I mean. Personally yours, I’llaFailYa (best I could do) ---
**Author:** ![Sylkyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@Sylkyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylkyn)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2002, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finagle-is-fucking-asshole/109444/26 "2002-05-16T23:36:57Z")
Shizzle on a stick. I have _got_ to start reading the GD forums more if they cause this much of an uproar. Just about every pit thread there is is based on something in GD. I gotta get out more. Ok, I’ll just be fucking off now. Continue with your regularly scheduled screamfest. ---
**Author:** ![Kamandi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5daacb/32.png) [@Kamandi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamandi)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2002, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finagle-is-fucking-asshole/109444/27 "2002-05-16T23:47:44Z")
**GreyMatters** , that stuff between your ears ain’t grey - it’s brown. ---
**Author:** ![Truth\_Seeker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5fc32e/32.png) [@Truth\_Seeker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truth_Seeker)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2002, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finagle-is-fucking-asshole/109444/28 "2002-05-16T23:48:14Z")
**AlaItalia** I disagree a bit with your characterization. I think **Finagle’s** point was that “consciousness” is not a necessary element of AI. **Finagle’s** key post: > [@](#): > > \*\*The OP is “Can an AI exist?”. Your first post stated that the question of “What is consciousness?” was germane to this issue. In fact, Turing argues convincingly that it is not. Thus, your argument that we can not define consciousness is both perfectly true and perfectly irrelevant to the OP . \*\* I have to say, the OP’s pointless hostility in this thread makes me question his intelligence, artificial or otherwise. **GreyMatters** - held back for failing his Turing test. ---
**Author:** ![GreyMatters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a9a28c/32.png) [@GreyMatters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreyMatters)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finagle-is-fucking-asshole/109444/29 "2002-05-17T00:02:45Z")
I must admit the Pit is much more fun than I thought it would be. AlaItalia: Thanks for setting me straight. Ferrous you wrote: > [@](#): > > You argued that it means that all questions about consciousness are meaningless. That isn’t exactly what I meant. I meant that any argument stating that a particular consciousness exists is meaningless because we don’t exactly know what it is. We know it exists, but just not exactly what it is. Thank you all for your comments. I will definitally try and be more relaxed in the GD in the future. Finagle: Fuck you for not braving the PIT. And a special Fuck off to Kamden or Kramden or whatever their stupid name is. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finagle-is-fucking-asshole/109444/30 "2002-05-17T00:03:30Z")
I think this thread raises another interesting question: could an artificial intelligence throw a big huffy tantrum? ---
**Author:** ![GreyMatters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a9a28c/32.png) [@GreyMatters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreyMatters)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finagle-is-fucking-asshole/109444/31 "2002-05-17T00:04:42Z")
I must admit the Pit is much more fun than I thought it would be. AlaItalia: Thanks for setting me straight. Ferrous you wrote: > [@](#): > > You argued that it means that all questions about consciousness are meaningless. That isn’t exactly what I meant. I meant that any argument stating that a particular consciousness exists is meaningless because we don’t exactly know what it is. We know our own consciousness exists, so we assume othhers do exist, but we can’t prove it because we don’t know and can’t observe the mechanisms of that exisitence. AT least not yet. Thank you all for your comments. I will definitally try and be more relaxed in the GD in the future. Finagle: Fuck you for not braving the PIT. And a special Fuck off to Kamden or Kramden or whatever their stupid name is. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finagle-is-fucking-asshole/109444/32 "2002-05-17T00:09:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GreyMatters \* > \*\*Ferrous, concerning the actual content of the GD thread, when dealing with Philosophical shit ANYTHING goes. It is philosophy, right? The worst that could happen is you say something someone else has already said. \*\* I think this is the problem here. I don’t think it’s accepted practice that, if the subject is philosophical in nature, that anything can be done. I think that’s too much license to grant. Debating (theoretically the _raison d’etre_ for GD requires that some basic guidelines be assumed or the debate is meaningless. Therefore all arguments require sound reasoning, internal logic and a realization on the part of all debaters that there is a system in place that limits the arguments and the means of defining them. If anything goes I could cheerfully chime in with, “AI is possible because I saw it in a movie I didn’t enjoy.” But I would be wrong and it would be clear to all concerned. In effect, I’m challenging the ‘the opinions of all persons have equal weight’ concept. I have known a great many people whose opinions should be counted as _negative_ weight. Just because you have an opinion doesn’t make it valid. Now let’s just calm down and start building machines to take over the world. If they’ll promise to stop suburban sprawl I’ll flick the ‘on’ switch myself. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finagle-is-fucking-asshole/109444/33 "2002-05-17T01:55:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Giraffe \* > \*\*I think this thread raises another interesting question: could an artificial intelligence throw a big huffy tantrum? \*\* Turing Revisited! _“When an AI opens a pit thread at the Straight Dope Message Board, consciousness has been established.”_ ---
**Author:** ![LolaBaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@LolaBaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaBaby)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finagle-is-fucking-asshole/109444/34 "2002-05-17T02:09:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GreyMatters \* > \*\* > > I am not looking for support, approval, or trying to win a contest here. > \*\* Then why open another thread about it? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![pbrtallboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f475e1/32.png) [@pbrtallboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbrtallboy)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finagle-is-fucking-asshole/109444/35 "2002-05-17T03:43:18Z")
God, I love threads like these! Thanks to all for keeping me entertained on an otherwise dull night! Kudos and keep’em comin’! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mermaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@The\_Mermaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mermaid)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finagle-is-fucking-asshole/109444/36 "2002-05-17T06:13:38Z")
[jay-z] Can I get a fuck you? [/jay-z] ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finagle-is-fucking-asshole/109444/37 "2002-05-17T06:20:55Z")
Get away, kid. y’bother me. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finagle-is-fucking-asshole/109444/38 "2002-05-17T09:54:43Z")
> [@](#): > > Oh yeah, this is a Metaphysical Reality, Finagle. That means that I am just a figment of your imagination, which means I am you, which means you think you are a FUCKING ASSHOLE. Can I nominate this as the weakest, lamest, poorest, and most confusing flame ever? GreyMatters, the problem is that you were relying solely on your opinion (you even seemed to revel in that) while Finagle was supplying you with a good deal of fact. Contrary to your belief, the issue CAN have fact incorporated into it. Finagle even provided you with a link to an article that explained HOW fact came into play. Generally, fact takes precedence over opinion. ---
**Author:** ![erislover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71e660/32.png) [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finagle-is-fucking-asshole/109444/39 "2002-05-17T12:23:17Z")
> [@](#): > > Generally, fact takes precedence over opinion. That’s just your opinion. natch! ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finagle-is-fucking-asshole/109444/40 "2002-05-17T12:40:00Z")
Regard [this post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=115009&perpage=50&pagenumber=2#post2105030): > [@](#): > > I know _fnord_ that science isn’t perfect in trying to achieve what is possible. My emphasis. **GreyMatters** is evidently a member of the Illuminati, and possibly a thinking supercomputer performing its own Turing Test on you! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finagle-is-fucking-asshole/109444.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finagle-is-fucking-asshole/109444.md?page=3)