this post was submitted on 27 Dec 2025
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Science Memes

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[–] halvar@lemy.lol 16 points 1 month ago (5 children)

Ehh. I'm not sure it's very constructive to make a topological argument from a debate people usually think about as a linguistic one.

[–] Derpenheim@lemmy.zip 7 points 1 month ago

I like to think of this particular example as a sort of reminder that we need to be specific on what grounds we are arguing. Colloquially, and for the sake of practicality, the straw has two holes. You would one hole or the other is in the drink, or clogged. But topologically, yes, there is only one hole.

[–] 4am@lemmy.zip 5 points 1 month ago

Except maybe to illustrate the necessity of various disciplines, as this is a maths problem and not a linguistics one.

Arguing the linguistics of this is like arguing over astrology.

[–] stevedice@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

But saying that to make a hole in a sphere, you need to make two holes in the sphere is funny.

[–] halvar@lemy.lol 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Very good observation. Now what about a hollow sphere?

[–] stevedice@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

All spheres are hollow (mathematically)

[–] halvar@lemy.lol 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

is x²+y²+z²<=r² not considered a sphere then?

[–] stevedice@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Nope. That's a ball. A closed ball to be precise. "Sphere" refers specifically to the "=" part.

[–] knatschus@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 1 month ago

In germany we say alles hat ein Ende nur die Wurst hat zwei

[–] zeca@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 month ago

Fields dont need to be that isolated. In the end its arbitrary, so why not accept arguments of all perspectives?