Question for smart people

FJohnSharp · Post by **FJohnSharp** » Sun Dec 26, 2004 1:48 pm

Why does the exception prove the rule?

didymus · Post by **didymus** » Sun Dec 26, 2004 1:51 pm

http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-exc1.htm

Post by **Nanohedron** » Sun Dec 26, 2004 1:51 pm

I'm not smart, so I can't answer that. But here's another question for you: isn't the truism of an exception proving the rule a rule itself?

peeplj · Post by **peeplj** » Sun Dec 26, 2004 2:03 pm

Well, if there were no rule in the first place, you wouldn't need an exception...

--James

JessieD · Post by **JessieD** » Sun Dec 26, 2004 2:05 pm

Its the same as when a fool-proof plan meets up with an absolute fool.

chas · Post by **chas** » Sun Dec 26, 2004 2:16 pm

JessieD wrote:Its the same as when a fool-proof plan meets up with an absolute fool.

"It's difficult to make something foolproof because fools are so ingenious." -- Henry Ford

emmline · Post by **emmline** » Sun Dec 26, 2004 2:27 pm

I am not so smart...but I read books by people who are:

From "The Word Detective" by Evan Morris:

"If we ever held a contest to pick the most frequently misunderstood popular saying in English, the exception that proves the rule would be a hands-down winner...
...the phrase was originally "The exception proves the rule," leaving out the that...
...To properly understand...we need to take a look at the very old legal maxim from which it came: "Exception proves (or confirms) the rule in the cases not excepted..."
...In the original legal sense, this described situations in which an authority
granted an exception to a rule in a special case but, in making such an exception, confirmed that in general the rule was valid and should govern in all other cases. After all, if the rule weren't fundamentally valid, the judge wouldn't be making an exception to it--he or she would be throwing out the entire rule. It's analogous to a parent letting a child stay up late on New Year's Eve. Such bending of the rules on a special occasion doesn't mean bedtime has been abolished from then on..."

burnsbyrne · Post by **burnsbyrne** » Sun Dec 26, 2004 2:55 pm

emmline wrote:I am not so smart...but I read books by people who are:

From "The Word Detective" by Evan Morris:

"If we ever held a contest to pick the most frequently misunderstood popular saying in English, the exception that proves the rule would be a hands-down winner...
...the phrase was originally "The exception proves the rule," leaving out the that...
...To properly understand...we need to take a look at the very old legal maxim from which it came: "Exception proves (or confirms) the rule in the cases not excepted..."
...In the original legal sense, this described situations in which an authority
granted an exception to a rule in a special case but, in making such an exception, confirmed that in general the rule was valid and should govern in all other cases. After all, if the rule weren't fundamentally valid, the judge wouldn't be making an exception to it--he or she would be throwing out the entire rule. It's analogous to a parent letting a child stay up late on New Year's Eve. Such bending of the rules on a special occasion doesn't mean bedtime has been abolished from then on..."

That's no fun, you answered the question. Now we can't argue anymore. Or is that an exception?

izzarina · Post by **izzarina** » Sun Dec 26, 2004 2:59 pm

I have an objection to the exception that answered the question....I don't know what my objection is, I just know that I have one. Besides, I only clicked on this thread because I thought it would make me look smart if I did

amar · Post by **amar** » Sun Dec 26, 2004 3:44 pm

because if there were a rule, then that would mean something would be complete and perfect and absolut. that however does not exist, therefore the exceptions.

jim stone · Post by **jim stone** » Sun Dec 26, 2004 4:36 pm

The exception that proves the rule is the exception that
is an exception for such remarkable or extraordinary reasons,
that it shows why the rule applies in other cases.

I say:

'The people in Appalachia are dirt poor'

You say:

'What about Joe Jenkins? He spent his last dollar
on a lottery ticket and won a million bucks!
He's the only one in the area who owns a
pair of shoes.'

I say:

'The exception that proves the rule.'

Walden · Post by **Walden** » Sun Dec 26, 2004 5:04 pm

I'm ineligible for a question for smart people.

Ridseard · Post by **Ridseard** » Sun Dec 26, 2004 6:04 pm

It's total sh*t. Exceptions disprove rules.

cowtime · Post by **cowtime** » Mon Dec 27, 2004 7:15 pm

jim stone wrote:The exception that proves the rule is the exception that
is an exception for such remarkable or extraordinary reasons,
that it shows why the rule applies in other cases.

I say:

'The people in Appalachia are dirt poor'

You say:

'What about Joe Jenkins? He spent his last dollar
on a lottery ticket and won a million bucks!
He's the only one in the area who owns a
pair of shoes.'

I say:

'The exception that proves the rule.'

I take exception to your exception example.

I'm from Appalachia and I not only have shoes, I've got socks without holes in them!

dubhlinn · Post by **dubhlinn** » Mon Dec 27, 2004 7:20 pm

Those of us who come from less than affluent backgrounds tend to rely on that old Irish phrase - "F%£* de rules",

Slan,
D.