Great one-liners from PF members

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Discussion Overview

This thread invites members to share and discuss humorous or insightful one-liners from Physics Forums, highlighting wit and cleverness in responses related to various topics in physics, mathematics, and science in general. The scope includes pithy remarks, humorous exchanges, and notable quotes from members, as well as some commentary on broader themes in science and reasoning.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants share one-liners that reflect humor in scientific discussions, such as comments on relativity and the limitations of crayons.
  • One participant notes the irony in the assertion that "thinking outside the box" requires understanding what is inside it.
  • Another humorous remark discusses the absurdity of "table/pillow duality" in relation to everyday objects.
  • A quote from a departed member emphasizes that interesting scientific questions often arise amidst conflicting ideas.
  • Several participants share humorous takes on homeopathy, including a quip about overdosing on homeopathic medication.
  • One exchange humorously highlights the redundancy of stating that wood is as strong as wood.
  • A participant reflects on the challenges of estimating forces in a humorous context, suggesting a light-hearted take on serious topics.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally share humorous observations and witty remarks, but there is no consensus on the validity or implications of the statements made, particularly regarding homeopathy and scientific reasoning.

Contextual Notes

Some remarks may rely on specific contexts or definitions that are not fully explored, such as the nature of homeopathic remedies and their purported effects. Additionally, the humor in some exchanges may depend on shared knowledge of prior discussions or scientific concepts.

  • #211
sysprog said:
Hey, when I started the thread, I said "Sometimes I see a line (or maybe a brief multiline) post...
Fake news. Do you have a video?
 
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  • #212
sysprog said:
Isn't "In fact, maybe" rather fence-straddling? :wink:
Ah, yes,... thank you. I'd been wondering what was causing that pain between my legs.
 
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  • #213
Vanadium 50 said:
Post.
Now fixed.
I prefer the original. Come to think of it, there are plenty of posts here and elsewhere that are sorely inviting of an "oost". [Does anyone know whether an "oost" emoticon exists? And is/was there a corresponding internet meme?]

Vanadium 50 said:
There is a link to the original post, in the quote. Click the little arrow.
TIL how and when to use the "multiquote" button. :oldsmile:
 
  • #215
Mayhem said:
Quantum chemistry: When lonely physicists decided that their psychotic ideas should be my problem.
 
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  • #216
Vanadium 50 said:
Hey, don't "like" my post. I have my 8000. Go "like" the original by @Nugatory!
Didn't @Greg Bernhardt recently establish a new award for 12,000? Could you be resting on your laurels prematurely?
 
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  • #217
This one perhaps should go without saying, but @anorlunda said it so well:

"Just saying that you believe something without giving the foundation won't get you very far on PF."
 
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  • #218
For you, the problem is that you aren't looking at the math. You're looking at various people's attempts to describe what the math is saying in ordinary language. And there is no way to do that with 100% accuracy because our ordinary language simply doesn't have the words or the concepts required. ##-## @PeterDonis (I added underlining)
 
  • #219
sysprog said:
For you, the problem is that you aren't looking at the math. You're looking at various people's attempts to describe what the math is saying in ordinary language. And there is no way to do that with 100% accuracy because our ordinary language simply doesn't have the words or the concepts required. ##-## @PeterDonis (I added underlining)
You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother - Einstein.

This is true. Ever since my dear grandmother passed I don't understand a thing.
 
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  • #221
. . . you can't just say "tachyons" and have a fully consistent theory appear out of nowhere. ##-## @Vanadium 50
 
  • #222
sysprog said:
. . . you can't just say "tachyons" and have a fully consistent theory appear out of nowhere. ##-## @Vanadium 50
I don't understand the fuss. I've measured them before with a tachyometer.
 
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  • #223
Ivan Seeking said:
I don't understand the fuss. I've measured them before with a tachyometer.
Last time I was at the hardware store, all the velocimeters they had were bradyometers ##-## :confused:
 
  • #224
sysprog said:
Last time I was at the hardware store, all the velocimeters they had were bradyometers ##-## :confused:
Check Amazon
 
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  • #225
Vanadium 50 said:
As they say "it is difficult to tell where one error ends and the next begins."
 
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  • #226
I'm sure it's not original. Probably comes from a referee report I got.
 
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  • #227
russ_watters said:
Heck, there's even a version you tell your 6 year old when he asks you at bedtime to explain what a black hole is. And it doesn't start with, "Well, son, for a static, spherically symmetrical spacetime..."
 
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  • #228
Vanadium 50 said:
Everything is better with explosive bolts.
 
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  • #229
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  • #230
You will learn much less by watching videos of people solving problems than you will solving problems. ##-## @Vanadium 50
 
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  • #231
OP:

What I've gathered from reading your post is this: You are enamored of the grand concepts of physics, but you don't have the patience, discipline, and drive to work through the fundamentals. Physics is like many other fields: There's the fun stuff, and there's the not-so-fun stuff (what is fun and what is not-so-fun depends on the individual). But to succeed at the fun stuff, you also need to succeed at the not-so-fun stuff. That applies to geology and astronomy as well as to physics and math. So you should re-examine your attitude.

@CrysPhys

This definitely needs to be said to a lot of new posters. Not to berate them but rather give them an encouraging wake up call.
 
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  • #232
PeroK said:
The clocks and particles themselves are blissfully unaware of our choice of reference frame.
 
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  • #233
There comes a point where physics cannot be explained any further and you need to do the calculations for yourself. ##-## @PeroK
 
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  • #234
Vanadium 50 said:
Timbo (was concerned that high energy particles found by the ANITA detector were a global threat)

'Am I the only one understanding this article?'

Vanadium 50

'I think you're the only one misunderstanding them.'
 
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  • #235
When a newbie asked in the Feedback forum if they could post questions about homeopathy...

phinds said:
Homeopathic treatment should be payed for with homeopathic cash ... that is, an envelope that used to have money in it but now doesn't.

:smile:
 
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  • #236
berkeman said:
When a newbie asked in the Feedback forum if they could post questions about homeopathy...
:smile:
Brilliant. I think that is in my top 5.
 
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  • #237
In a thread aksing if a transformer load current always returns to the transformer.

Dullard said:
If you can come up with a good way to persuade people who are simultaneously certain and wrong, I'd love to hear the details.
Wouldn't we all!
 
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  • #238
Not a 1-liner, but still a classic. From the Academic Advising forum... :smile:

BvU said:
(*) everyone wants to study only the essentials and everyone only wants to buy winning lottery tickets (especially management types ?:)). The only way to find out what is core is to study the lot. And the only way to make certain you buy the winning ticket is to buy all tickets...
 
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  • #239
Too much honour ...
Must have been a weak moment ... :rolleyes:

##\ ##
 
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  • #240
Motors require current to keep them running. Is that not obvious? ##-## @Dale
 
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