[QUOTE=Exapno Mapcase]
I’m getting a chuckle out of the notion that you’re telling a lawyer, of all people, that anything decidable by evidence must be a fact. Ever hear of a trial?..
QUOTE]
OK, you sucked me in one last time, but it’s not about splitting infinitives and I’m in the middle of repairing my water softener so I’m bored.
Trials–at least the outcome–are based on the opinions of people who have looked at what was presented them by the legal system.
Whether the “evidence” was evidence, and the “facts” were facts in a typical US trial, sadly, would not likely meet the standards of the Straight Dopers in getting at the truth (and I’ve been to my share of trials and given my share of depositions). But I digress too far. In any case, I was making a distinction between opinion (the earth is beautiful) and fact (the earth’s surface is not a plane).
I am pleased you agree correct English usage is opinion and not fact. It was my only point, originally, and not one that I hoped was going to set the world on fire. A clear explanation of why it’s a central point can be found by re-reading my posts, regardless of how many long-term members congratulate themselves on taking those posts apart.
Is there a good lawyer thread here?
I didn’t realize there was an evaluation system here and that you (and whoever) were the appointees to do the evaluating, but I do love taking on lawyers.
