NationStates Jolt Archive

Proponents of the water is wet doctrine or concept claim that their belief is correct, however, critics point out that the vast majority of the doctrine is false. Critics note that their claim suffers from circular logic, and accuse proponents of using ad hominems to further their argument. Believers often lash out aggressively at those who point out that water is, in fact, dry. "Wet" water is often an assumed position, by definition, and therefore critics argue the proponent's argument is flawed, in definitional terms. Ice, for example, is a form of water and, at -204°C, is often described as dry at that temperature. As a result, proponents of the "water is wet" dogma are seen by some as ill-informed on the nature of water. The main proponents of this dogma work in water-related industry, leading some to believe that the water is wet concept is more likely propaganda.

Spread the word.

Yes, water is also very dangerous, as you can read on http://www.dhmo.org/ :)

Then couldn't they just change the word "water" to "liquid"?

you are dumb.

water is dry
black is white
full is empty
war is peace
blind is seeing
and modern poetry sucks

sorry. had to say that.

there is no DRY. there is only an absence of wetness.

Then couldn't they just change the word "water" to "liquid"?

Not all liquids are wet I think, quicksilver for instance, or molten iron. I can't imagine being wet from those two liquids.

As dumb as someone who doesn't recognise satire when they behold it?

That's not satire, though.

Not all liquids are wet I think, quicksilver for instance, or molten iron. I can't imagine being wet from those two liquids.

You can't, but if there's an environment where they occur naturally as a liquid you could splash the rocks and they'd be wet.

Water is not dry or wet. It just is.

It's so wet,... it's dry.

That's not satire, though.

Technically true, but on the other hand, that exists only in my mind, I'm still right, despite those with opposite opinions being right.

Are we copy-pasting the Encyclopedia Dramatica now for threads? Really?

Are we copy-pasting the Encyclopedia Dramatica now for threads? Really?
All brits are gay and good artists copy, great artists steal.

Some people just have WAY too much time on their hands, myself included.

Water is dry only if you add just a splash of Vermouth.

Proponents of the water is wet doctrine or concept claim that their belief is correct, however, critics point out that the vast majority of the doctrine is false. Critics note that their claim suffers from circular logic, and accuse proponents of using ad hominems to further their argument. Believers often lash out aggressively at those who point out that water is, in fact, dry. "Wet" water is often an assumed position, by definition, and therefore critics argue the proponent's argument is flawed, in definitional terms. Ice, for example, is a form of water and, at -204°C, is often described as dry at that temperature. As a result, proponents of the "water is wet" dogma are seen by some as ill-informed on the nature of water. The main proponents of this dogma work in water-related industry, leading some to believe that the water is wet concept is more likely propaganda.

Spread the word.

Not sure whether it's a cute enough little joke to be worthy of it's own thread.

Technically, of course, water isn't really all that 'wet', without addition of a 'wetting agent' (as would be found in soaps). 'Wetness' is the property that differentiates between whether your liquid just beads on a surface, or spreads onto/into it.

Not all fluids are 'liquids'. Not all liquids are 'wet'.

Wet and dry are both just linguistic constructs. As a society, english speaking individuals have universally decided that the sensations of wet and dry should be assigned the appropriate linguistic construct. Therefore, if a majority of english speakers can be convinced that wet is dry, the linguistic constructs can be switched, as it were, and wet will become dry and dry will become wet.

Not all liquids are wet I think, quicksilver for instance, or molten iron. I can't imagine being wet from those two liquids.

Adjective

wet (comparative wetter, superlative wettest)

Positive
wet

Comparative
wetter
Superlative
wettest

1. Of an object, etc, covered with or impregnated with liquid.

I went out in the rain and now my clothes are all wet.

2. Of weather or a day, rainy.

It’s going to be wet tomorrow.

3. Made up of liquid or moisture.

Water is wet.

4. (informal) Of a person, ineffectual.

Don't be so wet.

5. (slang) Of a woman, sexually aroused.

He got me all wet.

I'm pretty sure molten iron is still wet, it's just that you'll be too distracted by your fingertips burning/melting off to notice.

And I'm pretty sure that water is dry at -204°C. So the chemical compound commonly refered to as water is not wet but dry. Now I want my plutonium.

And I'm pretty sure that water is dry at -204°C. So the chemical compound commonly refered to as water is not wet but dry. Now I want my plutonium.

Doesn't "water" usually only refer to the liquid state of H2O?

I'm pretty sure molten iron is still wet, it's just that you'll be too distracted by your fingertips burning/melting off to notice.

'Wet'ness actually has a scientific meaning which is being overlooked - which is the big flaw in the opening piece.

Off the top of my head, I'm not sure about the 'wetness' of molten iron, but - for example - mercury (while both a fluid, and a liquid) is (still) not 'wet':

"The surface tension of mercury is six times higher than that of water. Because of this, even when mercury is in liquid form, it does not wet the surfaces it contacts."

http://science.jrank.org/pages/4237/Mercury-Element-Properties-mercury.html

Also - worth mention, what I referenced in an earlier post: "Surfactants, also known as tensides, are wetting agents that lower the surface tension of a liquid, allowing easier spreading, and lower the interfacial tension between two liquids."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wetting_agent

Water isn't actually all that 'wet'. Mercury is very much NOT wet.

there is no DRY. there is only an absence of wetness.

Again you show true wisdom. ;)