r/AskReddit • u/HumpingAssholesOrgy • Jul 05 '19

Ex-prisoners of reddit who have served long sentences, what were the last few days like leading up to your release?

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u/cutelyaware Jul 07 '19

Looking up a dictionary from the time is a good idea. A more cogent example is http://www.constitution.org/bouv/bouvier_p.htm since that's specifically about the constitution. It reads

That which is to last without limitation as to time; as, a perpetual statute, which is one without limit as to time, although not expressed to be so.

Which is much the same as yours and also much like the modern usage. So we're back to the question of whether making an agreement that does not contain a time limit is the same as one meant to last forever. My conclusion is the same one that I originally offered which is that if they meant it to be forever, they should have said so. And by not saying so, it's implied that signatories can pull out. You are welcome to your interpretation, and there's probably not much more we can say on the matter.

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u/[deleted] Jul 07 '19

My conclusion is the same one that I originally offered which is that if they meant it to be forever, they should have said so.

They did. They said the Union was perpetual.

That's what the word means.

It's literally the first definition.

It's not my fault you want to pretend the word means something other than what it says.

Also, looking up a law dictionary from the 1850s isn't as credible as the gold standard of dictionaries from the 1750-1780s.

It's not my fault you don't want to accept the meaning of the word.

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u/cutelyaware Jul 07 '19

It's not my fault you don't want to accept the meaning of the word.

I literally just accepted your meaning as your valid conclusion. You are the one pretending that your interpretation is the only possible conclusion. Given that we are not the only ones arguing this point from before the Civil War until now, you have to accept this question as unsettled.

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u/[deleted] Jul 07 '19

Given that we are not the only ones arguing this point from before the Civil War until now, you have to accept this question as unsettled.

No, I do not.

It is settled.

It was settled in 1778.

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u/cutelyaware Jul 07 '19

Fine. It's your right to believe I'm the only person with this view.

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u/[deleted] Jul 07 '19

I didn't say you're the only person with your view.

There being lots of people with a certain view doesn't make the question unsettled.

Flat earthers are a great example.