this post was submitted on 13 Jul 2023
42 points (95.7% liked)

Showerthoughts

29723 readers
1297 users here now

A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. A showerthought should offer a unique perspective on an ordinary part of life.

Rules

  1. All posts must be showerthoughts
  2. The entire showerthought must be in the title
  3. Avoid politics
    1. NEW RULE as of 5 Nov 2024, trying it out
    2. Political posts often end up being circle jerks (not offering unique perspective) or enflaming (too much work for mods).
    3. Try c/politicaldiscussion, volunteer as a mod here, or start your own community.
  4. Posts must be original/unique
  5. Adhere to Lemmy's Code of Conduct-----

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
vatlark@lemmy.world
forkball@lemmy.world
quinten@lemmy.world
Thekingoflorda@lemmy.world
42
If wetness is the property of having water on something, what is the property of something in water? (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by rockSlayer@lemmy.world to c/showerthoughts@lemmy.world
39 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

I'm firmly on the side of "water is not wet" in this debate, but it's a question that I was asked while I was high and have no answer to it. Water cannot itself be wet because you can't get water on water. However, what is a fish in a lake? It can't be wet until it's taken out of the water, but it's not dry either. Is it something else?

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[โ€“] deepthot@lemmy.sdf.org 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

So, just to understand your position - is a soaked sponge not wet?

I think a fish in water is still wet (i.e. in contact with some amount of water) but that's superseded by the fact that it's immersed in water, and thus not a very meaningful attribute.

[โ€“] rockSlayer@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I've never seen a sponge sink on its own, so in some sense they will always either wet or dry when not in use. If something holds a sponge under water, it becomes immersed and gains this mysterious new property