Originally Posted by
Allister
Why do you think we even need consensus? Seems like an unrealistic goal in this place. It's only you that thinks it's important to 'nail down definitions', apparently based on the kooky idea that you can learn cycling from a book.
I never said you can learn cycling from a book. You can't, just like you can't learn computer programming (or just about anything else) from a book. But that doesn't mean we can't write about cycling (or programming) and can't learn things about cycling (and programming) by reading and writing. And that doesn't mean we can't write about it to share ideas and thoughts about it. That's how we can leverage knowledge and pass it on without having to be with each other physically to do it.
But once we decide to communicate about any human activity (be it cycling, programming, or anything other activity) in language, we almost always have to invent new terms, a jargon, to communicate clearly, effectively and unambiguously.
But if you have a need to deride my attempts to do so, go for it.