"No M&M's" True or False?

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  • Xniphobe
    Confirmed User
    • Jan 2008
    • 295
    #1

    "No M&M's" True or False?

    Here's the scenario:

    We're sitting on the couch. There is a bowl in front of us on the coffee table. In the bowl are more than 40 green M&M's. Additionally, there are 2 red M&M's in the bowl. (There is nothing in the bowl except the 40+ green and 2 red M&M's.)

    You ask me how many M&M's are in the bowl.

    Here's my response: "No M&M's"

    You say to me, "But, there are more than 40 M&M's in the bowl, and there are two red M&M's in the bowl."

    Here's my response: "Yes, but I don't count the green ones."

    Now, I'm curious to know your opinion: Is the statement "No M&M's" true or false in this situation?

    This is not a trick question. I'm just looking for your instinctive, common-sense response to the question: Is the statement "No M&M's" true or false?
    Tags: None
    • Quagmire
      Confirmed User
      • Jul 2005
      • 6490
      #2
      Crack is a horrible, horrible drug.

        Comment

        • Brother Bilo
          Confirmed User
          • Jun 2007
          • 4193
          #3
          I don't get it

            Comment

            • Xniphobe
              Confirmed User
              • Jan 2008
              • 295
              #4
              "crack is a horrible drug"

              lol...fair enough.
              Last edited by Xniphobe; 03-24-2008, 01:47 PM. Reason: typo

                Comment

                • Quagmire
                  Confirmed User
                  • Jul 2005
                  • 6490
                  #5
                  Originally posted by Brother Bilo
                  I don't get it
                  I rest my case.

                    Comment

                    • WarChild
                      Let slip the dogs of war.
                      • Jan 2003
                      • 17263
                      #6
                      You're not making any sense.
                      .

                        Comment

                        • Xniphobe
                          Confirmed User
                          • Jan 2008
                          • 295
                          #7
                          Originally posted by Brother Bilo
                          I don't get it
                          Neither do I...figuratively speaking, there are 40+ green M&M's and 2 red M&M's in the bowl, and someone keeps telling me, "We don't count green M&M's. Therefore, it's correct for us to say 'No M&M's.'"

                            Comment

                            • Xniphobe
                              Confirmed User
                              • Jan 2008
                              • 295
                              #8
                              Originally posted by WarChild
                              You're not making any sense.
                              My point exactly!

                                Comment

                                • After Shock Media
                                  It's coming look busy
                                  • Mar 2001
                                  • 35299
                                  #9
                                  Fuck lost me too, all I know is the red ones color comes from a crushed up insect.

                                  [email protected] ICQ:135982156 AIM: Aftershockmed1a MSN: [email protected]

                                    Comment

                                    • tranza
                                      ICQ: 197-556-237
                                      • Jun 2003
                                      • 57559
                                      #10
                                      Are you daltonic? Is that it??
                                      I'm just a newbie.

                                        Comment

                                        • BusterBunny
                                          perverted justice decoy
                                          • Aug 2005
                                          • 19291
                                          #11
                                          Originally posted by Xniphobe
                                          Neither do I...figuratively speaking, there are 40+ green M&M's and 2 red M&M's in the bowl, and someone keeps telling me, "We don't count green M&M's. Therefore, it's correct for us to say 'No M&M's.'"
                                          even if you dont count the green ones there are still 2 red ones there...thus there are m&m's in the bowl
                                          my sig caught gonoherpasyphilaids and died

                                            Comment

                                            • moeloubani
                                              Confirmed User
                                              • Dec 2007
                                              • 4235
                                              #12
                                              there might not be "M&M's" but there sure is "M&M"s ??

                                                Comment

                                                • Xniphobe
                                                  Confirmed User
                                                  • Jan 2008
                                                  • 295
                                                  #13
                                                  Originally posted by BusterBunny
                                                  even if you dont count the green ones there are still 2 red ones there...thus there are m&m's in the bowl
                                                  I agree! There are M&M's in the bowl!! There are 40+ green M&M's and then there are also 2 red M&M's...so how can it be that "No M&M's" is true!?! "No M&M's" must be false, right?

                                                    Comment

                                                    • Aquarius
                                                      Confirmed User
                                                      • May 2004
                                                      • 4754
                                                      #14
                                                      42 W&W!

                                                      8chsrs

                                                        Comment

                                                        • Xniphobe
                                                          Confirmed User
                                                          • Jan 2008
                                                          • 295
                                                          #15
                                                          Originally posted by moeloubani
                                                          there might not be "M&M's" but there sure is "M&M"s ??
                                                          Yeah, except for the fact that it's standard English to place an apostrophe after abbreviations to indicate both the possessive and plural forms.

                                                            Comment

                                                            • BusterBunny
                                                              perverted justice decoy
                                                              • Aug 2005
                                                              • 19291
                                                              #16
                                                              Originally posted by Xniphobe
                                                              I agree! There are M&M's in the bowl!! There are 40+ green M&M's and then there are also 2 red M&M's...so how can it be that "No M&M's" is true!?! "No M&M's" must be false, right?
                                                              correct.....and for the record i dont think you are on crack....but you should lay off the acid
                                                              my sig caught gonoherpasyphilaids and died

                                                                Comment

                                                                • Xniphobe
                                                                  Confirmed User
                                                                  • Jan 2008
                                                                  • 295
                                                                  #17
                                                                  Originally posted by moeloubani
                                                                  there might not be "M&M's" but there sure is "M&M"s ??
                                                                  Yeah, except for the fact that it's standard English to place an apostrophe plus "s" after abbreviations to indicate the plural, thereby avoiding awkward formulations such as "M&M"s.
                                                                  Last edited by Xniphobe; 03-24-2008, 02:03 PM. Reason: typo

                                                                    Comment

                                                                    • moeloubani
                                                                      Confirmed User
                                                                      • Dec 2007
                                                                      • 4235
                                                                      #18
                                                                      Originally posted by Xniphobe
                                                                      Yeah, except for the fact that it's standard English to place an apostrophe plus "s" after abbreviations to indicate the plural, thereby avoiding awkward formulations such as "M&M"s.
                                                                      hence the ?? at the end

                                                                        Comment

                                                                        • Xniphobe
                                                                          Confirmed User
                                                                          • Jan 2008
                                                                          • 295
                                                                          #19
                                                                          Originally posted by BusterBunny
                                                                          correct.....and for the record i dont think you are on crack....but you should lay off the acid
                                                                          lol...I'm with you. I feel your pain...because of course in actuality, I'm the one on the receiving end of this nonsense!

                                                                          My site has over 40 full-length streamed videos, and a couple of my own. However, someone has posted online that my site has "No videos." When I ask them to change this, they refuse, on the basis that they don't count the streamed vids. And, there is no indication on this page that by "No videos" they really mean "mostly streamed videos and a couple proprietary ones."

                                                                          To make matters worse, they have this "No videos" statement listed as one of the "Cons" of my site.

                                                                            Comment

                                                                            • Xniphobe
                                                                              Confirmed User
                                                                              • Jan 2008
                                                                              • 295
                                                                              #20
                                                                              Originally posted by moeloubani
                                                                              hence the ?? at the end
                                                                              hehe...oops

                                                                                Comment

                                                                                • Rhesus
                                                                                  Confirmed User
                                                                                  • Aug 2004
                                                                                  • 2009
                                                                                  #21
                                                                                  Huh, I'm not a native speaker, but since when is it standard English to place an apostrophe behind an abbreviation to indicate the plural form?

                                                                                    Comment

                                                                                    • D
                                                                                      Confirmed User
                                                                                      • Jan 2006
                                                                                      • 7412
                                                                                      #22
                                                                                      Originally posted by Xniphobe
                                                                                      This is not a trick question. I'm just looking for your instinctive, common-sense response to the question: Is the statement "No M&M's" true or false?
                                                                                      OK, then... False.



                                                                                      Maybe you're confused because there's only one "m" printed on each candy... and for "m&m's" to be valid, you'd need at least 2 sets of them (4 candies for 2 sets of "m&m", thus giving them a plural)?

                                                                                      But, the individual candies are actually called "an m&m"... so that logic would be flawed... and, even if that's not where you're coming from, green m&m's are still m&m's... so you're a crazy bastard for not counting them in the first place.

                                                                                      -D.
                                                                                      ICQ: 202-96-31

                                                                                        Comment

                                                                                        • Rhesus
                                                                                          Confirmed User
                                                                                          • Aug 2004
                                                                                          • 2009
                                                                                          #23
                                                                                          (plus an s of course)

                                                                                            Comment

                                                                                            • testpie
                                                                                              Mostly retired
                                                                                              • Apr 2006
                                                                                              • 3231
                                                                                              #24
                                                                                              Originally posted by Xniphobe
                                                                                              Here's the scenario:

                                                                                              We're sitting on the couch. There is a bowl in front of us on the coffee table. In the bowl are more than 40 green M&M's. Additionally, there are 2 red M&M's in the bowl. (There is nothing in the bowl except the 40+ green and 2 red M&M's.)

                                                                                              You ask me how many M&M's are in the bowl.

                                                                                              Here's my response: "No M&M's"

                                                                                              You say to me, "But, there are more than 40 M&M's in the bowl, and there are two red M&M's in the bowl."

                                                                                              Here's my response: "Yes, but I don't count the green ones."

                                                                                              Now, I'm curious to know your opinion: Is the statement "No M&M's" true or false in this situation?

                                                                                              This is not a trick question. I'm just looking for your instinctive, common-sense response to the question: Is the statement "No M&M's" true or false?
                                                                                              If there's 2 red M&M's and you aren't counting green M&M's, then there can never be "No M&M's" unless you are also not counting red M&M's.

                                                                                              And unless you've been to some shitty little villagesque festival which has a game to "Guess the number of M&M's to win a prize", put that crackpipe down.

                                                                                              Affiliates: DogFart ~ Domain parking: NameDrive ~ Traffic broker: Traffic Holder

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                                                                                                • Rhesus
                                                                                                  Confirmed User
                                                                                                  • Aug 2004
                                                                                                  • 2009
                                                                                                  #25
                                                                                                  the apostrophe in "M&M's" only indicates possessive form, if that wasn't clear (Mars and Murie's)

                                                                                                    Comment

                                                                                                    • Rhesus
                                                                                                      Confirmed User
                                                                                                      • Aug 2004
                                                                                                      • 2009
                                                                                                      #26
                                                                                                      The question and the metaphor were so unclear this thread has gone way beyond its original intents...

                                                                                                        Comment

                                                                                                        • Xniphobe
                                                                                                          Confirmed User
                                                                                                          • Jan 2008
                                                                                                          • 295
                                                                                                          #27
                                                                                                          Originally posted by D
                                                                                                          OK, then... False.



                                                                                                          Maybe you're confused because there's only one "m" printed on each candy... and for "m&m's" to be valid, you'd need at least 2 sets of them (4 candies for 2 sets of "m&m", thus giving them a plural)?

                                                                                                          But, the individual candies are actually called "an m&m"... so that logic would be flawed... and, even if that's not where you're coming from, green m&m's are still m&m's... so you're a crazy bastard for not counting them in the first place.

                                                                                                          I couldn't agree more. Any way you slice it, if there are M&M's in the bowl, whether they be green, red, fuchsia, etc. it is false to say "No M&M's." So, how can it be true to say "No videos" as one of the "Cons" of my site, when in fact my site has over 40 videos?

                                                                                                            Comment

                                                                                                            • D
                                                                                                              Confirmed User
                                                                                                              • Jan 2006
                                                                                                              • 7412
                                                                                                              #28
                                                                                                              Originally posted by Rhesus
                                                                                                              Huh, I'm not a native speaker, but since when is it standard English to place an apostrophe behind an abbreviation to indicate the plural form?
                                                                                                              K, pulling the memory from my writing instruction...

                                                                                                              Lowercase letters and acronyms or abbreviations with punctuation at the end (example: "m," "k," "P.H.D.," "C.I.A.," and "in.") use an apostrophe before the "s" when making them plural.

                                                                                                              But you really shouldn't use periods in acronyms and abbreviations, anyways, unless it's to avoid confusion (such as in "in." for "inches", as "in" is actually a word with another meaning).

                                                                                                              Technically, it wouldn't be proper in the case of capital letters and acronyms or abbreviations without punctuation (example: "M," "K," "PHD," "CIA," and "in"), but it's often used.

                                                                                                              So, technically, "M's" - though used often - would be incorrect. "Ms" would be correct. "M&Ms" is actually correct while "M&M's" is, technically, incorrect, I believe

                                                                                                              The plural, "m's," would be correct, and "ms" would be incorrect, no matter how you slice it. Same for "m&m's" (correct) and "m&ms" (incorrect).



                                                                                                              Still, I, personally, find myself applying apostrophes to the end of acronyms and abbreviations all the time, even though it's not, technically, correct to do so... it's kinda become accepted (though incorrect) practice for all letters, acronyms, and abbreviations when, in fact, it's only correct for lower-case letters and abbreviations or acronyms ending in a period.
                                                                                                              -D.
                                                                                                              ICQ: 202-96-31

                                                                                                                Comment

                                                                                                                • baddog
                                                                                                                  So Fucking Banned
                                                                                                                  • Apr 2001
                                                                                                                  • 107089
                                                                                                                  #29
                                                                                                                  Off topic: Did you get my ICQ about the text links?

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                                                                                                                    • Elli
                                                                                                                      Reach for those stars!
                                                                                                                      • Apr 2003
                                                                                                                      • 17991
                                                                                                                      #30
                                                                                                                      errr... there are plenty of M&Ms in the bowl.
                                                                                                                      email: [email protected]

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                                                                                                                        • Phoenix
                                                                                                                          BACON BACON BACON
                                                                                                                          • Nov 2002
                                                                                                                          • 35475
                                                                                                                          #31
                                                                                                                          there is no spoon
                                                                                                                          Telegram PhoenixBrad
                                                                                                                          https://quantads.io

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                                                                                                                            • Jet - BANNED FOR LIFE
                                                                                                                              So Fucking Banned
                                                                                                                              • Sep 2002
                                                                                                                              • 7515
                                                                                                                              #32
                                                                                                                              Originally posted by Xniphobe
                                                                                                                              lol...I'm with you. I feel your pain...because of course in actuality, I'm the one on the receiving end of this nonsense!

                                                                                                                              My site has over 40 full-length streamed videos, and a couple of my own. However, someone has posted online that my site has "No videos." When I ask them to change this, they refuse, on the basis that they don't count the streamed vids. And, there is no indication on this page that by "No videos" they really mean "mostly streamed videos and a couple proprietary ones."

                                                                                                                              To make matters worse, they have this "No videos" statement listed as one of the "Cons" of my site.
                                                                                                                              holy fuck, you should go get your head checked, you fucking loon.

                                                                                                                                Comment

                                                                                                                                • XMaster
                                                                                                                                  Poker Player
                                                                                                                                  • Jul 2003
                                                                                                                                  • 2945
                                                                                                                                  #33
                                                                                                                                  Originally posted by tranza
                                                                                                                                  Are you daltonic? Is that it??
                                                                                                                                  I think we have a winner
                                                                                                                                  still moneyhere

                                                                                                                                    Comment

                                                                                                                                    • D
                                                                                                                                      Confirmed User
                                                                                                                                      • Jan 2006
                                                                                                                                      • 7412
                                                                                                                                      #34
                                                                                                                                      Originally posted by Xniphobe
                                                                                                                                      I couldn't agree more. Any way you slice it, if there are M&M's in the bowl, whether they be green, red, fuchsia, etc. it is false to say "No M&M's." So, how can it be true to say "No videos" as one of the "Cons" of my site, when in fact my site has over 40 videos?
                                                                                                                                      Well... in that case, I guess it would depend greatly on the definition of term "video."

                                                                                                                                      I have no idea what you're referring to, or who said what, but, in my ignorance of those facts, I can say that, technically, video stills are still regarded as "video" but I doubt anyone boasting nothing but 2 gigs of video stills would claim to have "video" on their site.

                                                                                                                                      I guess the same concept could be expanded to incorporate other, more specific, definitions of "video"... I mean, if you're talking 40 2-minute clips, and a couple full-length scenes, maybe the whole thing would be better served by better qualifying the word... instead of using "video," use "limited selection of video" or what-have you however fits the situation.

                                                                                                                                      But, for what it's worth, imho... in that scenario, you'd still have m&m's.
                                                                                                                                      -D.
                                                                                                                                      ICQ: 202-96-31

                                                                                                                                        Comment

                                                                                                                                        • Xniphobe
                                                                                                                                          Confirmed User
                                                                                                                                          • Jan 2008
                                                                                                                                          • 295
                                                                                                                                          #35
                                                                                                                                          Originally posted by D
                                                                                                                                          ...Still, I, personally, find myself applying apostrophes to the end of acronyms and abbreviations all the time, even though it's not, technically, correct to do so... it's kinda become accepted (though incorrect) practice for all letters, acronyms, and abbreviations when, in fact, it's only correct for lower-case letters and abbreviations or acronyms ending in a period.
                                                                                                                                          Yes, but don't you see D, that's just it!! Usage and correctness...there is a point at which they become impossible to untangle from one another. I say that's where the capitalized acronym/abbreviation plus apostrophe+"s" in the case of plurality dwells currently, while you say it yet resides outside the sheltering umbrella we call standard English.

                                                                                                                                          Who is to decide?

                                                                                                                                          And another question...just what the fuck, exactly, is "M&M"...is it an acronym or abbreviation at all? Is it just a name? And if that's true, then where the hell does that leave us?
                                                                                                                                          Last edited by Xniphobe; 03-24-2008, 02:58 PM. Reason: typo

                                                                                                                                            Comment

                                                                                                                                            • D
                                                                                                                                              Confirmed User
                                                                                                                                              • Jan 2006
                                                                                                                                              • 7412
                                                                                                                                              #36
                                                                                                                                              Originally posted by Xniphobe
                                                                                                                                              lol...I'm with you. I feel your pain...because of course in actuality, I'm the one on the receiving end of this nonsense!

                                                                                                                                              My site has over 40 full-length streamed videos, and a couple of my own. However, someone has posted online that my site has "No videos." When I ask them to change this, they refuse, on the basis that they don't count the streamed vids. And, there is no indication on this page that by "No videos" they really mean "mostly streamed videos and a couple proprietary ones."

                                                                                                                                              To make matters worse, they have this "No videos" statement listed as one of the "Cons" of my site.
                                                                                                                                              Ahh... missed this post earlier...

                                                                                                                                              Well, not having heard the reviewer's side yet, that sounds kinda goofy.

                                                                                                                                              "No (or 'minimal') Downloads" sounds a lot more apt.
                                                                                                                                              Last edited by D; 03-24-2008, 03:00 PM.
                                                                                                                                              -D.
                                                                                                                                              ICQ: 202-96-31

                                                                                                                                                Comment

                                                                                                                                                • Rhesus
                                                                                                                                                  Confirmed User
                                                                                                                                                  • Aug 2004
                                                                                                                                                  • 2009
                                                                                                                                                  #37
                                                                                                                                                  Originally posted by D
                                                                                                                                                  K, pulling the memory from my writing instruction...

                                                                                                                                                  Lowercase letters and acronyms or abbreviations with punctuation at the end (example: "m," "k," "P.H.D.," "C.I.A.," and "in.") use an apostrophe before the "s" when making them plural.

                                                                                                                                                  But you really shouldn't use periods in acronyms and abbreviations, anyways, unless it's to avoid confusion (such as in "in." for "inches", as "in" is actually a word with another meaning).

                                                                                                                                                  Technically, it wouldn't be proper in the case of capital letters and acronyms or abbreviations without punctuation (example: "M," "K," "PHD," "CIA," and "in"), but it's often used.

                                                                                                                                                  So, technically, "M's" - though used often - would be incorrect. "Ms" would be correct. "M&Ms" is actually correct while "M&M's" is, technically, incorrect, I believe

                                                                                                                                                  The plural, "m's," would be correct, and "ms" would be incorrect, no matter how you slice it. Same for "m&m's" (correct) and "m&ms" (incorrect).



                                                                                                                                                  Still, I, personally, find myself applying apostrophes to the end of acronyms and abbreviations all the time, even though it's not, technically, correct to do so... it's kinda become accepted (though incorrect) practice for all letters, acronyms, and abbreviations when, in fact, it's only correct for lower-case letters and abbreviations or acronyms ending in a period.
                                                                                                                                                  Thanks for the explanation. I think M&M's (where the 's indicates possessive form) is in itself already a 'plural' unit (like water). I don't think you can call the individual chocolates "an M&M" (or "an M&M's", for that matter).

                                                                                                                                                  The thing with the period-restricted abbreviations is interesting, I guess it would indeed look strange to have a period, then an s. But seeing PC's or CD's for sale really irritates me!

                                                                                                                                                    Comment

                                                                                                                                                    • Xniphobe
                                                                                                                                                      Confirmed User
                                                                                                                                                      • Jan 2008
                                                                                                                                                      • 295
                                                                                                                                                      #38
                                                                                                                                                      Originally posted by Phoenix
                                                                                                                                                      there is no spoon
                                                                                                                                                      one hand, clapping.

                                                                                                                                                        Comment

                                                                                                                                                        • Xniphobe
                                                                                                                                                          Confirmed User
                                                                                                                                                          • Jan 2008
                                                                                                                                                          • 295
                                                                                                                                                          #39
                                                                                                                                                          Originally posted by D
                                                                                                                                                          Ahh... missed this post earlier...

                                                                                                                                                          Well, not having heard the reviewer's side yet, that sounds kinda goofy.

                                                                                                                                                          "No (or 'minimal') Downloads" sounds a lot more apt.
                                                                                                                                                          yeah.

                                                                                                                                                          ...oh well, fuck it. Anyhoo, at this point, for me, it's really all about the semantic implications, the linguistics at the heart of the matter.

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