Let's say that we have this Congressional Republican in a box...

[MrScorpio]

While he's in the box, the President signs a historic nuclear weapons accord with the Iranian Government...

If this Republican tweets that President Obama's Iranian accord is in fact a diversion from the problems with Obamacare, then we could classify that Republican to be an asshole. However, we're not sure as of yet that the Republican will tweet such a statement without us observing him.

Now, if some whiner says that we shouldn't call Republicans "assholes" because personal attacks are never appropriate, then that whiner is, by definition, asserting that the tweeting or non-tweeting Republican is not an asshole.

Considering both of these things, one could agree that the Congressional Republican is simultaneously an asshole and not an asshole (Though I'm not one to do that).

Opening the box and observing the Republican is either in the midst of tweeting like an asshole, or not tweeting and not being an asshole at this particular instant…

The question is, how do we know that the Congressional Republican is an asshole or not an asshole without opening the box?



A non-prize to the first poster who answers this question correctly.

[wandy]

1. He's not a cat, he's a republican and is thereby an asshole by defination. nt

[HERVEPA]

2. Ah. Schroedinger's Republican eh.

[Bandit]

3. He was an asshole before entering the box and the box can't change him

He is not a cat faced with dying or living. He is a Republican which by definition is an asshole.

[rock]

4. Let's just forget the whole thing

Especially the repiggie in the box!

[Beearewhyain]

5. The superposition of Asshatery

Before observation the R in question both is and is not an asshole. When observed the R has to be in one of the two states but through careful observation we know that the R is always observed to be an asshole. Therefore, we must reject all theories as presently understood about quantum asshatery and conclude that all R's are macro assholes.

[MrScorpio]

6. You win

Love that answer.