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 | This page contains material that is kept because it is considered humorous. Such material is not meant to be taken seriously. |
 | This page in a nutshell: Simply saying that a horse has five legs doesn't make it true – calling a horse's tail a leg does not make it one. |
Jack and the Five Legged Horse
My uncle once said, "Boy, do you see that horse?"
- Yessir.
"How many legs does that horse have?"
- Four.
"Now what if I say that a horse's tail is a leg, too?"
- Uh...
"If I call a horse's tail a leg, how many legs does that horse have?"
- Five?
"Boy, will you never learn? It doesn't matter what you call something. That horse still has four legs."[1]
Sometimes when confronted with a difficult challenge we reply, That's not true! We say, That's not a (vanity COI page)/(rant)/(personal attack)/(tail); that's a (noteworthy article)/(discussion)/(polite comment)/(leg). But this changes nothing.
It's never enough to reply to a comment by saying You're wrong! That's not true! If it really is a leg, then show us how.
When arguing, make sure you add really new legs to your stand.
- ^ Hardcastle, Joseph (1883). "Criticisms on "A Criticism on Averaging Accounts."". American Counting-room. 7–8. Counting-Room Co.: 79.
Jack! Suppose a horse's tail a leg, how many legs would it have?" "Five." "No." "How's that ?" "All your suppositions would not make the tail a leg." But if Bill had said to Jack: "Jack! Suppose a horse's tail is counted as a leg, how many counts, as legs, would there be for a horse ?' "Five." "Quite right, Jack.