# The world is perfect? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 22, 2018, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-world-is-perfect/816554 "2018-06-22T02:50:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Machinaforce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@Machinaforce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machinaforce)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-world-is-perfect/816554/81 "2018-07-13T02:40:22Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > Well, okay, knock yourself out. Well I say that because even those supposed “without thinking” bits involve at least some level of thought. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-world-is-perfect/816554/82 "2018-07-13T06:00:46Z")
> [@Machinaforce](#): > > I am guessing the writer of the links does know considering they have a PHD in linguistics. That’s not evidenced by their usage. “Symptom” was \*always \*a noun, it can’t be nominalized. ---
**Author:** ![Machinaforce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@Machinaforce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machinaforce)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2018, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-world-is-perfect/816554/83 "2018-07-14T03:50:49Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > That’s not evidenced by their usage. “Symptom” was \*always \*a noun, it can’t be nominalized. I’m not sure I follow. But her bits about health and medicine are questionable at best. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2018, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-world-is-perfect/816554/84 "2018-07-14T12:30:39Z")
> [@Machinaforce](#): > > I’m not sure I follow. [Does this help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nominalization)? ---
**Author:** ![Machinaforce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@Machinaforce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machinaforce)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2018, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-world-is-perfect/816554/85 "2018-07-15T01:00:34Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > [Does this help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nominalization)? The thing is I read that page but I don’t get what it means. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2018, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-world-is-perfect/816554/86 "2018-07-15T03:28:43Z")
It means using verbs as nouns. Take “swimming”. “I am going swimming.” In that sentence “swimming” is being used as a noun even though it is a verb, “going” is the verb in that sentence. You made me say “verb”. Such a brev word. ---
**Author:** ![Machinaforce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@Machinaforce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machinaforce)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2018, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-world-is-perfect/816554/88 "2018-07-17T03:41:58Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > It means using verbs as nouns. > > Take “swimming”. > > “I am going swimming.” > > In that sentence “swimming” is being used as a noun even though it is a verb, “going” is the verb in that sentence. > You made me say “verb”. Such a brev word. But i dont know how that relates to the links. Like does the “narrative” that we tell ourselves blind us to the truth? Or is that narrative based on data. ---
**Author:** ![Machinaforce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@Machinaforce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machinaforce)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2018, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-world-is-perfect/816554/89 "2018-07-20T16:08:35Z")
To be honest though I’m not sure where she is going in regards to the bit about health. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2018, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-world-is-perfect/816554/90 "2018-07-20T17:02:04Z")
> [@asterion](#): > > True, but Candide is still an amusing read. You seem to be pointing to \*Candide \*as espousing Liebniz, when in fact it satirizes him. ---
**Author:** ![Machinaforce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aeb1de/32.png) [@Machinaforce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machinaforce)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2018, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-world-is-perfect/816554/91 "2018-07-20T17:14:15Z")
> [@Machinaforce](#): > > Mostly just the principles such as that which requires evidence for claims and such. > > Which why I have skepticism about claims such as the following (which is made in the link): > > “. Language ensures the content. Institutional grand narratives contain rationale, logic and presupposed truths about the nature of reality. They use different linguistic tools to influence the effect their big stories will have on the many people they are told to. And the peddling of truth in grand narratives is achieved through something called ‘nominalization,’ the act of turning verbs into nouns, of making connected processes into fixed objects. The grand narrative of health nominalizes the suffering of people as ‘symptoms,’ rendering processes and the movement of energies as immovable things. It crystallizes the movement of thought (in psychiatry), of emotion (in psychology) of the body (in general health) into concrete, separate forms that are acting upon a passive recipient. This grand narrative soaks into our personal stories, holding us hostage by feeding our innate sense of vulnerability. And other external objects, such as medication, are to pull us further away from the hidden knowledge which lies beyond our personal stories and activates our self-healing mechanisms.” > > It sounds plausible to me but the again I have blind spots and historically have been very gullible The way that I think she is referring to nominalize is taking something like soreness or pain and pinning it to a body part or area. So soreness or pain becomes sore throat or sprained ankle. Though no definition lists the process as making connected processes into fixed objects. Even by her definition I don’t think that is what they do. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2019, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-world-is-perfect/816554/92 "2019-10-06T00:38:55Z")
Since the _exact same thread_ you started today was closed, I’ll bump this one: ya really need to keep better records of which [multiple forums](https://centerforinquiry.org/forums/topic/is-the-world-perfect/) you post this on! ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2019, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-world-is-perfect/816554/93 "2019-10-06T01:52:16Z")
I’ve never in my life given this advice, but … machinaforce, you need to work a full-time job with occasional mandatory overtime while parenting a couple of young kids, and also caring for an elderly parent. Preferably in an older house that’s charming but needs constant maintenance. Additionally, get a couple of dogs, including one that’s incredibly lovable but needs daily medication. You’ll find yourself far less concerned about matters like your semi-incoherent O.P. and perhaps that will bring you happiness. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2019, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-world-is-perfect/816554/94 "2019-10-06T02:02:05Z")
Read some fiction. It does help prepare your mind to be a bullshit filter. Reading stories gives you the tools you need to evaluate when you are being told a story. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2019, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-world-is-perfect/816554/95 "2019-10-06T02:05:52Z")
Medication. I’m not being mean or sarcastic. This OP is torturing himself with his obsessions. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2019, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-world-is-perfect/816554/96 "2019-10-06T02:48:47Z")
> [@susan](#): > > This OP is torturing himself with his obsessions. If only. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2019, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-world-is-perfect/816554/97 "2019-10-06T05:51:53Z")
> [@susan](#): > > Medication. I’m not being mean or sarcastic. This OP is torturing himself with his obsessions. Therapy has been suggested repeatedly and rejected. He says that his last therapist wouldn’t listen to his ideas. He doesn’t seem to understand the concept of therapy, that it’s not about having your philosophy and obsessions reinforced. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2019, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-world-is-perfect/816554/98 "2019-10-06T07:02:54Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > What about beigeish-pinkish people? Where do we stand in understanding? I invented a color called “Arky blush” Soon to be seen on dainty drawers at your local Walmart. It ain’t perfect but its pink! (That’s my new tag line) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2019, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-world-is-perfect/816554/99 "2019-10-06T23:15:12Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Nope. We’re judgement machines, designed that way by nature. Denying your own nature is to live an[inauthentic life](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad_faith_(existentialism)). Far better to make sure you make the best judgements you can, grounded in information and good reasoning (not bullshit colour charts) Anything else is self-deception. I hate to say this, but after the first full sentence, I heard the rest of this post in Ahnold’s Voice in my head. So, I gotta ask as I don’t have a dog handy to bark at you, are you a terminator? As for the OP, what are or is spiral dymanics? I’ll get to the rest later…maybe. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2019, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-world-is-perfect/816554/100 "2019-10-06T23:22:02Z")
Goddamnit **Machinaforce** … ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2019, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-world-is-perfect/816554/101 "2019-10-07T01:13:12Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I invented a color called “Arky blush” > Soon to be seen on dainty drawers at your local Walmart. > It ain’t perfect but its pink! > (That’s my new tag line) > > 🙂 Does it grow hair? Because [bleen](https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6vz7mt) grows hair. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-world-is-perfect/816554.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-world-is-perfect/816554.md?page=6)