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A comment on Is zero an even number?. Parent comment

Re:Is zero an even number? by lazerwalker on Sunday December 02, 2012 @02:18PM (#4862151)
If that's the case, one could argue that "even number, including the number zero" would be an equally idiot proof but more technically accurate phrasing.
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Re:Is zero an even number? by dkarl on Sunday December 02, 2012 @02:42PM (#4862238)
If that's the case, one could argue that "even number, including the number zero"

Then the hypothetical gas station attendant would argue that the instructions were self-contradictory and he was just doing his best to enforce them. It isn't just idiot-proofing, it's argument-proofing, making sure some self-important nit-picker doesn't disingenuously try to throw everything into chaos to prove that authority is stupid.

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Re:Is zero an even number? by StavrosK on Sunday December 02, 2012 @02:26PM (#4862176)
Indeed it would. However, Bloomberg wasn't making a mathematical proclamation, he was telling people when they could get gas after their house was demolished. This isn't even an issue.
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Re:Is zero an even number? by Heliosmaster on Sunday December 02, 2012 @03:16PM (#4862350)
One then might argue that the "or" is not exclusive in this context... but let's not be that geeky.
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