# Unstoppable Force v. Immovable Object (another cage match) **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 17, 2000, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unstoppable-force-v-immovable-object-another-cage-match/19757 "2000-05-17T14:51:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2000, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unstoppable-force-v-immovable-object-another-cage-match/19757/1 "2000-05-17T14:51:17Z")
I dunno, just seemed appropriate. šŸ˜ƒ Esprix, who hasnā€™t even _read_ the ā€œForever vs. Neverā€ thread ---
**Author:** ![matt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@matt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2000, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unstoppable-force-v-immovable-object-another-cage-match/19757/2 "2000-05-17T14:59:30Z")
The unstoppable force stops, the immovable object moves. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2000, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unstoppable-force-v-immovable-object-another-cage-match/19757/3 "2000-05-17T18:28:48Z")
Either there is an unstoppable force, or there is an immovable object. The two cannot both exist. ---
**Author:** ![vandal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/858c86/32.png) [@vandal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vandal)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2000, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unstoppable-force-v-immovable-object-another-cage-match/19757/4 "2000-05-17T18:31:20Z")
ummmā€¦ a class 5 tornado versus mount everest? ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Hook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/91b2a8/32.png) [@Duck\_Hook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Hook)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2000, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unstoppable-force-v-immovable-object-another-cage-match/19757/5 "2000-05-17T18:51:55Z")
Unstoppable force stores up energy at collision and decides to move on in another direction. Example: Racquet ball against concrete wall. ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2000, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unstoppable-force-v-immovable-object-another-cage-match/19757/6 "2000-05-17T19:30:15Z")
> [@](#): > > Either there is an unstoppable force, or there is an immovable object. The two cannot both exist. Oh yeah? Try explaining it to the backers of this particular WWF slugfest! _ā€œLetā€™s get rrrrrrrready to rrrrrrrrrumble!ā€_ Esprix ---
**Author:** ![InkBlot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5e925/32.png) [@InkBlot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InkBlot)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2000, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unstoppable-force-v-immovable-object-another-cage-match/19757/7 "2000-05-17T20:34:58Z")
**Vandal** : > [@](#): > > ummmā€¦ a class 5 tornado versus mount everest? Well, you might get to see what Mount Everest looks like underneath all that snow. But, pretty much, you still have a mountain after itā€™s over. My own favorite: **Duck Hook** : > [@](#): > > Unstoppable force stores up energy at collision and decides to move on in another direction. > > Example: Racquet ball against concrete wall. Still, couldnā€™t you quibble that ā€œunstoppableā€ would preclude being redirected like that? I suppose if youā€™re talkign about absolutes, then **Revtim** is right. The two _are_ mutually exclusive. ā€¦Which takes all the fun out of it. šŸ˜ƒ inkblot ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Zero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Saint\_Zero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Zero)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2000, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unstoppable-force-v-immovable-object-another-cage-match/19757/8 "2000-05-17T20:42:42Z")
my .02cr ``` You can't have either. Unstoppable force? Any force will run out of energy over time. Immovable object? when you get down to it, everything moves in the scope of the universe. Just up your frame of reference a little and you'll see that mount everest does move quite quickly, by reason of being attached to an orbiting planet. ``` ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2000, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unstoppable-force-v-immovable-object-another-cage-match/19757/9 "2000-05-17T20:57:22Z")
When an _irresistible force_ strikes an _immovable object_, what happens is an _inconceivable event._ ---
**Author:** ![sixseatport](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/839c29/32.png) [@sixseatport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sixseatport)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2000, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unstoppable-force-v-immovable-object-another-cage-match/19757/10 "2000-05-17T21:28:51Z")
Simple. Theyā€™ll annihilate each other upon contact, kinda like matter-antimatter. ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2000, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unstoppable-force-v-immovable-object-another-cage-match/19757/11 "2000-05-17T21:33:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > > Simple. Theyā€™ll annihilate each other upon contact, kinda like matter-antimatter. > > \*\* But then the force will have been stopped and the object moved šŸ˜ƒ Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![Greyson3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/258eb7/32.png) [@Greyson3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greyson3)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2000, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unstoppable-force-v-immovable-object-another-cage-match/19757/12 "2000-05-17T21:52:44Z")
I donā€™t know what would happen, but it would probably end in -gry. It would probably park on a parkway and drive on a driveway, too. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2000, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unstoppable-force-v-immovable-object-another-cage-match/19757/13 "2000-05-17T21:53:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\* > my .02cr > > ``` > You can't have either. Unstoppable force? Any force will run out of energy over time. Immovable object? when you get down to it, everything moves in the scope of the universe. Just up your frame of reference a little and you'll see that mount everest does move quite quickly, by reason of being attached to an orbiting planet. > > ``` > > \*\* I think your logic is correct that there is no unmovable object. But I wonder if you can consider entropy an unstoppable force? Iā€™m not sure if you can call it a force or not, though. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2000, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unstoppable-force-v-immovable-object-another-cage-match/19757/14 "2000-05-17T22:00:19Z")
Immovable object wins, 20-19 on a last second Field Goal miss by the unstoppable force. A detailed scientific proof of this was authored in 1990 by Bill Parcells and Bill Belichek (sp?). ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2000, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unstoppable-force-v-immovable-object-another-cage-match/19757/15 "2000-05-17T22:11:11Z")
> [@](#): > > Immovable object wins, 20-19 on a last second Field Goal miss by the unstoppable force. A detailed scientific proof of this was authored in 1990 by Bill Parcells and Bill Belichek (sp?). You misspelled ā€œMarv Levy.ā€ Hope this helps. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2000, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unstoppable-force-v-immovable-object-another-cage-match/19757/16 "2000-05-17T22:46:07Z")
No, Marv Levy was decidedly of the opinion that the unstoppable force should win. Bill Belichek (damn, Iā€™m sure thatā€™s horribly misspelled) was the Giantsā€™ defensive coordinator at the time. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2000, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unstoppable-force-v-immovable-object-another-cage-match/19757/17 "2000-05-17T23:35:32Z")
I hate you all. ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2000, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unstoppable-force-v-immovable-object-another-cage-match/19757/18 "2000-05-17T23:53:41Z")
> [@](#): > > No, Marv Levy was decidedly of the opinion that the unstoppable force should win. Bill Belichek (damn, Iā€™m sure thatā€™s horribly misspelled) was the Giantsā€™ defensive coordinator at the time. Sorry. I know who Bill Bellichek (Bellichik?) is; I just thought you were naming the representatives of both the force and the object. My mistake. ---
**Author:** ![Alpine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpine/32/17813_2.png) [@Alpine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpine)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2000, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unstoppable-force-v-immovable-object-another-cage-match/19757/19 "2000-05-18T00:16:18Z")
Iā€™ve got a nickel riding on the unstoppable force. Who wants odds? ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2000, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unstoppable-force-v-immovable-object-another-cage-match/19757/20 "2000-05-18T01:54:41Z")
I think they sort of meld together and become either an Unstoppable Object or an Immovable Force. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unstoppable-force-v-immovable-object-another-cage-match/19757.md?page=2)