this post was submitted on 06 Jun 2026
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[–] lvxferre@mander.xyz 33 points 16 hours ago* (last edited 16 hours ago) (5 children)

It's rather curious how those people who claim truth is subjective never do it for gravity, jumping off a high building while claiming "gravity is false for me". Because guess what, odds are they know it's bullshit.

[–] psud@aussie.zone 2 points 3 hours ago

You might have to goad them a bit with "it's only a theory"

[–] Senal@programming.dev 5 points 11 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago) (2 children)

I doubt you've come across someone who claims that all truth is subjective all the time in all scenarios.

The example you give isn't an example of subjective truth, it's an example of wilful/conscious control of reality, which isn't the same thing.

I also doubt you've met anyone that claims truth is subjective to their will at any time they choose.

It's entirely possible, but unlikely.

Someone on earth vs someone on the ISS have different gravitational experiences for instance.

[–] lvxferre@mander.xyz 4 points 10 hours ago (3 children)

I doubt you’ve come across someone who claims that all truth is subjective all the time in all scenarios.

I wish I could say I've never came across this sort of muppet. But… *sigh*

The example you give isn’t an example of subjective truth, it’s an example of wilful/conscious control of reality, which isn’t the same thing.

Wilful control of reality in this case requires truth to be subjective; and conversely, if truth is subjective you can control reality. You're right they aren't the same thing, but they're clearly tied.

Someone on earth vs someone on the ISS have different gravitational experiences for instance.

The experience is different because the person in the ISS is simply not close enough to Earth to be subjected to Earth's gravity, in any practical amount. But that doesn't mean gravity stopped existing for them.

[–] Cethin@lemmy.zip 2 points 4 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago)

The experience is different because the person in the ISS is simply not close enough to Earth to be subjected to Earth's gravity, in any practical amount.

It sounds like someone still hasn't played KSP! Play it! It's great. You'll learn a lot, and you'll have fun doing it.

Stuff doesn't stay in orbit because there isn't gravity. It stays there because it's moving sideways while it's falling down, so it doesn't hit the thing it's orbiting. Without gravity it'd be able to just sit in space wherever it wants. Rockets mostly don't go up, they go sideways. There wouldn't be a geosyncronus orbit as all orbits would allow you to just sit above any location you want. A geosyncronus orbit is one that the amount it has to move sideways is, in degrees from the center of earth, the same amount the earth rotates.

[–] MajorasTerribleFate@lemmy.zip 3 points 9 hours ago

Someone on earth vs someone on the ISS have different gravitational experiences for instance.

The experience is different because the person in the ISS is simply not close enough to Earth to be subjected to Earth's gravity, in any practical amount. But that doesn't mean gravity stopped existing for them.

Ooh, time for science pedantry! The ISS is plenty close enough to Earth to experience almost the same gravity from the planet as on its surface, which is why it has to be orbiting at such speed - falling sideways fast enough and at the right angle so as not to come crashing down!

[–] Senal@programming.dev 0 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

I wish I could say I've never came across this sort of muppet. But… *sigh*

Yeah...

Wilful control of reality in this case requires truth to be subjective; and conversely, if truth is subjective you can control reality. You're right they aren't the same thing, but they're clearly tied.

Not really....to any of that.

There's no reason gravity control requires a subjective truth.

An unusual level of reality control could exist within an objectively truth based system. It would just have to adhere to the constraints.

Perhaps you mean omnipotence? I'm not sure on that one either, but definitionally it usually implies complete control, im not sure if that's within a fixed system or not.

Reality control and subjectivity can be tied if an example ties them somehow, but it's not a given.

The experience is different because the person in the ISS is simply not close enough to Earth to be subjected to Earth's gravity, in any practical amount. But that doesn't mean gravity stopped existing for them.

Yep, that's why I went with gravitational experience instead of one having gravity and the other not.

[–] lvxferre@mander.xyz 4 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

There’s no reason gravity control requires a subjective truth.

In this case, it does.

Let me put it this way: is the statement "there's a phenomenon called «gravity», experienced by all massive bodies, that accelerates them in relation to other massive bodies" epistemically true?

If truth was subjective, the answer would be "true" or "false" depending on the subject. For those whom the answer is "false", this means they would not experience the phenomenon, even in situations other subjects would; e.g. near Earth. That implies they'd have at least some control over experiencing gravity, because they could simply say "it's now true for me" and fall, or "it's now false for me" and stop falling.

[–] Senal@programming.dev 2 points 8 hours ago* (last edited 8 hours ago)

Let me put it this way: is the statement "there's a phenomenon called «gravity», experienced by all massive bodies, that accelerates them in relation to other massive bodies" epistemically true?

Scientifically, maybe? Because that's what the scientific method is, best approximations given the knowledge we currently have.

But let's assume yes for the purposes of this reply.

If truth was subjective, the answer would be "true" or "false" depending on the subject.

And context.

Same subject different circumstances, different gravitational forces.

For those whom the answer is "false", this means they would not experience the phenomenon, even in situations other subjects would; e.g. near Earth.

That's a binary interpretation of a non-binary system.

But again, for the purposes of this reply, sure.

That implies they'd have at least some control over experiencing gravity, because they could simply say "it's now true for me" and fall, or "it's now false for me" and stop falling.

There's a big assumption there that this is a binary.

Gravity control, doesn't have to be binary.

It doesn't even have to be direct, they could achieve the same effect by increasing or decreasing mass.

But let's say it's magic, direct control.

In an objective system where gravity exists it would conceptually be possible to control the level of gravity acting upon yourself without turning it on or off.

In a subjective system where gravity could exist or not depending on subject and context, the same is true.

Which brings me back to:

There’s no reason gravity control requires a subjective truth.

Emphasis mine.

[–] AlfalFaFail@lemmy.ml 0 points 10 hours ago (1 children)
[–] Senal@programming.dev 2 points 9 hours ago (1 children)
[–] AlfalFaFail@lemmy.ml 2 points 5 hours ago* (last edited 5 hours ago)

Speculative and Technical

[–] KairuByte@lemmy.dbzer0.com 11 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

Personally, I don’t believe in football.

[–] petrol_sniff_king@lemmy.blahaj.zone 8 points 15 hours ago (3 children)

In Einstein's general relativity, different observers can disagree about the order of timed events, so long as their individual stories don't violate causality. This is broadly known as the Relativity of Simultaneity.

[–] Cethin@lemmy.zip 1 points 4 hours ago

Sure, if you're traveling near the speed of light. For everyone on Earth, no one has ever experienced this (beyond a micro level that doesn't matter and no one is discussing).

[–] marcos@lemmy.world 1 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

If you jump out of a bridge, you will still break your face on the ground for every reference frame outside of a black hole.

I believe that's true, yes. Your point?

[–] lvxferre@mander.xyz 5 points 14 hours ago (2 children)

[Warning: bar philosophy. Might include ramblings, booze, chain smoking, and fried snacks.]

And yet, gravity is still there.

Even if simultaneity is relative, the phenomenon is still there, you know? You can claim something fell before or after another event, but you can't really claim it didn't fall. And you can't claim two simultaneous events stopped being simultaneous if they're stationary for you, so it's less of a "truth is relative to ME! ME! ME!" and more of a "truth is relative to that speed". It's still an objective matter, not a subjective one.

[–] psud@aussie.zone 1 points 2 hours ago

Individual control of truth is a superpower. It definitely violates causality, it also isn't what those people really mean by "truth is subjective"

[–] petrol_sniff_king@lemmy.blahaj.zone -5 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

so it's less of a "truth is relative to ME! ME! ME!"

This, I think, is an argument that exists in your head only. An excellent example of relativity, if I'm being honest.

I don't understand why subjectivity makes people so uncomfortable. Like, people would fight each other over the objectively correct temperature for the AC of their building if you let them—I just, I don't get it.

[–] lvxferre@mander.xyz 2 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

This, I think, is an argument that exists in your head only.

This is blatantly false. The argument exists in the comment I wrote. If it existed only "inside my head", you wouldn't access it. Because nobody knows what's "inside someone else's head", nor we (people in general) should lie = assume = bullshit otherwise.

An excellent example of relativity [SIC - subjectivity], if I’m being honest.

Also false. While I believe my argument is correct, there's also the chance it's incorrect. If it is correct, my belief is true. But if it is incorrect, it won't magically become "true for ME! ME! ME!"; I'd be simply holding a false belief. But either way, that depends on the argument itself, not on the fact I'm the one voicing it or analysing it or whatever. The subject here (me) still doesn't fucking matter. And that's bloody common sense.

I don’t understand why subjectivity makes people so uncomfortable. [implied* by context: "relativity makes lvxferre uncomfortable".]

Okay… first off, let me address the most pressing matter: in no moment you showed that this "truth is subjective" babble would be even remotely true.

Secondly. You're making a bloody mess of "relativity" and "subjectivity", as if both were synonymous. Get shit right dammit — subjectivity is a specific type of relativity regarding the subject. Showing time is relative to speed does jack shit to prove things would be relative to the subject, i.e. "gravity is false for me lol I'm jumping from the building!".

Thirdly. Why are you bullshitting = assuming = lying about what I'm comfortable or not with? You have no way to know it, don't lie you do. I'm not uncomfortable with subjectivity. I simply consider it such inane bullshit, that I'm outright mocking it. Just like I'd mock flat Earth, souls, zodiacal signs, aliens visiting Earth on weekends, et cetera.

Finally, drop off the Reddit style sealion: "I dun unrrurstand" followed by bullshit? Seriously, keep this shit in Reddit.

Like, people would fight each other over the objectively correct temperature for the AC of their building if you let them—I just, I don’t get it.

Gotta love assumptions…

Not wasting my time further with you.

*see Gricean maxims, specially the one of relevance.

Showing time is relative to speed does jack shit to prove things would be relative to the subject,

With this attitude, I just don't feel like you'd be living up to Einstein's manner of thinking. Just too rigid.

in no moment you showed that this "truth is subjective" babble would be even remotely true.

Uh. Subjectively, I think it's true.

I really don't think you even understand what I was trying to say with all that.

i.e. "gravity is false for me lol I'm jumping from the building!".

Who is saying this?

[–] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 1 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

I wonder if belief has anything to do with reality. Hmm.

Eh, probably the universe is a cold, dead clockwork of matter that spontaneously and randomly fell into place with only the barest of coincidences we can try to grasp as objective truths with which to define our sensationally complex environment.

Although . . . it is just as possible that matter arises from something more fundamental to something like a universal order, such as consciousness.

I dunno though, they never told me.

[–] lvxferre@mander.xyz 2 points 9 hours ago

Eh, probably the universe is a cold, dead clockwork of matter

This, but unironically.

Spoilers: we're riding some weird rock in the middle of the empty space.