Re: [Harp-L] was experiment, now just combs

[Philharpn@xxxxxxx]

The issue here is "begging the question." This relates to the high art of 
Argument and Debate (offered by the speech department). It has nothing to do with 
anyone preconceived ideas about anything.

When something "begs the question" it does not mean a question   demands (by 
its obviousness) to be asked but rather a question that is faulty on its 
premise (the way   it is asked). That means the question is not really a question 
because it contains a "conclusion" in the question.

"If you want a natural tone" concludes the question by offering a false 
premise. Why is it false? It answers the question at the same time it is being 
asked.

It may be true that wood indeed provides a "natural tone."    And just 
because the question is posed in a faulty manner doesn't mean that it is either 
false or controversial.   It's like a non sequitur. Which is Latin for it does not 
follow (logically).

The typical newspaper usuage is when the reporter tries to link a bunch of 
unrelated facts into one sentence instead of making them seperate sentences.

Born May 1, 1930 in Marksville, La, Little Walter was known for his hits 
Juke, My Babe and Mellow Down Easy.

Not doubt about his birth, but   his place and date of birth have nothing to 
do with his hits (J, MB, MDE et al). What you have here is 2 separate ideas 
and you need two sentences. No a semicolon won't work either.

I will say that the Harp List is turning into a place where someone is always 
ready to jump on some idea and quote it out of context. 

Personally, I have no idea of any combs are better than others. I have some 
of every kind -- including Winslow's discrete -- and they all work fine for me.

No ,I am not a grammarian, but I encountered a bit of grammar in the nearly 
40 years I spent in the newspaper business.

You can argue all you want, you just have to state the question clearly.

Hope this clears upp matters.

Phil Lloyd








In a message dated 12/21/08 3:36:30 PM, harp-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:


> 
> 
>  
> From: Vern Smith <jevern@xxxxxxx>
> To: David Payne <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; Harp L Harp L <
> harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Sunday, December 21, 2008 2:07:44 PM
> Subject: Re: [Harp-L] The Harmonica Comb Experiment
> 
> >If you introduce your discussion with a false or controversial premise ("If
> >you would like a natural tone") the rest of the statement is irrelevant.
> 
> 
> It is false because your test at SPAH, or wherever it was, refuted this for 
> all time?
> The side vent discussion went the same way as wood, the accepted theory 
> among the scientific is that they can not make any difference. On my test, the 
> consenus was that I would have had to have it machine blown or something to 
> make a valid test. OK, maybe, whatever. But I don't recall hearing of any 
> machines blowing anything at either SPAH experiment.
> I'm not going to make an argument that it does make a difference, but I do 
> take objection to entire posts dismissed because of something like somebody 
> saying "if you want a natural tone..." which is usually taken as if somebody 
> had said "gravity does not exist."
> 
> 
> Dave
> ________________
> Dave Payne Sr.
> Elk River Harmonicas
> www.elkriverharmonicas.com
> _______________________________________________
> Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
> Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
> http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l
> 




**************
One site keeps you connected to all your email: AOL Mail, 
Gmail, and Yahoo Mail. Try it now. (http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp&amp;
icid=aolcom40vanity&amp;ncid=emlcntaolcom00000025)