One for "The GeeK"

monoman · 02-16-2003, 02:18 PM

Being the "stickler" that you are, solve an age old problem, caused me to get booted from a class.

How can you go Back, before going Forth?
as in "..........back and forth"

RvW · 02-16-2003, 03:54 PM

Time flies like an arrow

Fruit flies like a banana

RvW · 02-16-2003, 03:56 PM

Mono, Did you walk to school or carry a lunch?

monoman · 02-16-2003, 04:10 PM

chauffeured, catered!

The Fishing Geek · 02-16-2003, 05:43 PM

The only way that you could not go back before going forth would be if you were standing at the beginning of a ray, which for those not smart on the math stuff is a line that starts at a given point and then goes on in an infinite distance in one direction.

No matter where you are, there is always a way to go backwards. It may take an immense amount of strength (if you had a brick wall to your back, for instance), or an immense amount of stupidity (a cliff behind you), but it's always possible to go back. It's not always the BEST thing to do, though...

:tongue:

[ 02-16-2003, 06:43 PM: Message edited by: The Fishing Geek ]

monoman · 02-16-2003, 10:23 PM

Geek
backwards is far different than back!
In order to go back, you must first go forth, or it would only be backwards.
There goes my problem.....It must read back and forth......not forth and back.
Geek your wisdom on these things would help me solve this problem. I have turned to math to solve it, but I still come up with the same answer.

The Fishing Geek · 02-17-2003, 07:34 AM

Okay, I see what you are saying. Can't go back if ya ain't been there to begin with.

Henceforth I proclaim that the English language is officially SCREWED UP, and that we can now go about fixing these dumb little linguistic idiocies on our own.

Everybody say it with me now..."Forth and back", "Forth and back", "Forth and back", "Forth and back"...

RvW · 02-17-2003, 02:39 PM

I beg to differ with you gentlemen.

The problem is void.

The word "back" as used in the problem does not apply. It is being used as a verb, when in reality its is an adverb, which means it cannot be used alone to describe an action.

Youve assigned its definition as "RETURN" which cannot be defined with the word "back" by itself and remain an adverb.

It can however be used properly as a noun as in...in BACK of you (behind)

BackWARD is a Verb, and a complete word, and you CAN go backward without having gone foreward.

"place the center of the saw on the board, and cut back and forth"

If "back" is used as a verb (backward) it is slang. If it is used as a noun (behind) it is proper.
BUT, you can easily cut "back and forth" starting with BACK first without having gone "forth" right?

You only get to use the word as an adverb or a noun mono...which one is it?

Not so much a problem now is it?

[ 02-17-2003, 04:39 PM: Message edited by: cirrhosis-of-the-river ]

Stz ll · 02-17-2003, 02:51 PM

Gosh!! It all makes perfect sense now. :grin:

RvW · 02-17-2003, 02:55 PM

Shall we exchange sarcasms "back and forth"?

RvW · 02-17-2003, 03:02 PM

I'll continue to keep the phrase in the back of my mind because its sylables synchronize so well with "I...LOVE...YOU"

True · 02-17-2003, 03:03 PM

What if you came in sideways or from above and sat on a rocking chair? Then proceeded to rock back first then moved forward?

True

RvW · 02-17-2003, 03:07 PM

Ive seen that movie!

pdxkevin · 02-17-2003, 03:08 PM

There are four golfers in your party and you are going to play the back nine. You allow the others in your party to play before you.

so..... you go to the back and play fourth. Just 'back and forth' for short.

Or it could be a football call....

monoman · 02-17-2003, 05:35 PM

No Cirr.
When used with forth, you are implying you go back, than forth. If it were a noun, than it could be the back of a forth. When used as a statement"forth and back" they are not nouns, unless you named you dogs Back and Forth, or your kids.

RvW · 02-17-2003, 06:25 PM

Please define the word back as you've used it

"Back" as an adverb has to have a verb to be considered an action.

Go to the back of the line. Back is NOT a verb and describes no action. AND you can start at the back of the line without ever have gone forth right?

If you use the word forth as in forward, then back HAS to mean backward right?

Dont change the definition of "back" to "return" to suit your equation. It makes it an adverb which needs a verb to be valid.