≡ Thema: Do we see reality better than others?

Do we see reality better than others?
05.02.2016 von DXS

I tend to see "what is" and not what others are trying to CONVINCE us it is.....

Here is an example. In a city where I used to live, there was a popular street that had three lanes in each direction. Next thing you know, that same city street was FOUR lanes in each direction.

I remarked that all they did was redraw the dividing lines so that the lanes you drove in were narrower than before, thus fitting in FOUR lanes in each direction instead of three lanes.

My best friend INSISTED that the city "added" a lane in each direction would involve major road construction, not to mention lifting up an entire city block and moving it over, which would affect the blocks one block away (both directions) and I seriously doubt that any lanes were "added."

Friend still insisted lanes were "added." (shaking my head.....)

Anyone else more tuned to "reality" and not what it "looks like?" I feel I'm hyper sensitive to "what it really is" opposed to "what it looks like."

you're both right
04.08.2016 von jdr

it has nothing to do with reality and everything to do with language. After all what is the objective definition of a lane? The lanes after the work were not identical to the lanes before the work, but does that mean that they are not "lanes"? And if there were four "lanes" before the work and there were six (albeit different) "lanes" after the work, then he is right that two lanes were "added". :)

Simple math
11.08.2016 von tiger91

4 > 3 so a lane was added

"Add" is a general enough word to fit more than one meaning into it.

So yes I agree with jdr

That was done in Houston
20.08.2016 von Dave

DXS,
Back in 1982, the lanes were narrowed on Westheimer, near the Galleria; it allowed one more lane to be added (via painting) to the street. This was a really affluent part of town, so the funds existed for real roadwork.

Dave