For example, this protoproposal would resolve the bleach issue: ////
1. For the purposes of paragraph 2 of this proposal, let the following terms have the following definitions: “Execute X” means to insert into the proposal the value of X, where X is a text variable with a value set in this proposal. “L” is a text variable with the following value: “All text to the right of the double pipe marks is a comment. The following players win the game: [names].” “R” is a text variable with the following value: “All text to the left of the double pipe marks and to the right of the paragraph number is a comment. The following players win the game: [names].” “double pipe marks” is the name given to two back-to-back instances of the symbol “|”. 2. Execute L || Execute R On Tue, Sep 18, 2018 at 8:32 AM D Margaux <dmargaux...@gmail.com> wrote: > One way to make it more airtight is to define variables for each string, > and then have the proposal execute them. > > On further consideration, I think the whitespace/bleach solution has a > flaw. The rule says that whitespace “generally” doesn’t matter. This > situation is one where that “general” rule probably doesn’t apply. > > On Tue, Sep 18, 2018 at 4:51 AM Cuddle Beam <cuddleb...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> I love the proposal, I just I dislike the ambiguity because it might >> defuse >> it and then there's no fun lol >> >> I like the whitespace angle too, it opens the doors to another style of >> "paradox" (and scam, quite likely). >> >> Maybe we could figure out a way to make L||R more watertight and resubmit >> it. >> >> On Tue, Sep 18, 2018 at 2:44 AM Kerim Aydin <ke...@u.washington.edu> >> wrote: >> >> > >> > >> > On Tue, 18 Sep 2018, Alex Smith wrote: >> > > This may actually suggest a general principle for avoiding ambiguities >> > > like this one: as the formatting of text is irrelevant, an attempt to >> > > specify something in a way that doesn't have a clear "start-to-finish" >> > > order is failing to uniquely specify the text in question, and thus is >> > > too ambiguous to work. >> > >> > First, non-"start-to-finish" text has been allowed to have effects >> > before: https://faculty.washington.edu/kerim/nomic/cases/?1267 >> > >> > But here's the new bit! The following text that was added to R106 in >> > July this year: >> > >> > > Clearly marked comments are considered >> > > to be removed from the proposal before it takes effect, unless >> > > otherwise stated by the proposal. >> > >> > (at least that's the text I was trying to get at, D. Margaux's Bleach >> > argument is a clever alternative). >> > >> > The thing is, marking comments often relies on textual formatting, at >> > least for end-of-line comments (not so much for parenthetical comments, >> > perhaps). So what does the "marking" in "clearly marking" mean? Can >> > we use formatting clues? (formatting clues *do* "mark" things). And >> > if a comment marks itself as a comment (but it is otherwise "considered >> > removed") it might still count as a comment "before" it is removed. >> > >> > Ignoring the rest of the rules and focusing on this clause, I could >> > imagine at least four outcomes: >> > >> > 1. The comments are ambiguous, therefore not "clearly marked", >> > therefore nothing in the proposal is removed, and there's enough >> > textual clarity (e.g. the marks demonstrated intended readings) in >> > both halves that both halves are effective. >> > >> > 2. As #1, but you're forced to read L to R which leads to >> > ineffective nonsense. >> > >> > 3. The comments mark each other, and then are considered removed, >> > so the whole thing is a big comment and does nothing. >> > >> > 4. Similar to CFJ 1267, we decide that one portion is "naturally in >> > front" of the other (probably the left portion, given CFJs 3534-3535) >> > and that portion succeeds in removing the other portion as a comment. >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > -- > D. Margaux > -- D. Margaux