That someone found some good weed.

The first one makes sense, Duff. I don't understand where you got the second two?

@jmo, cute, but I'm still curious what you think the statement means?

@Duff: there is no context, I'm trying to figure out what in means to people in the abstract

Thus making the context that of the person who posts. I thought it would make for an interesting discussion

I think of it as a twist on "home is wherever you are." The speaker doesn't have strong ties to any particular location when asked where he is from.

If I were asking a girl "where are you from?" and she answered that, she'd be shooting me down. The question could very well be part of some sort of romantically-intended smalltalk, so it's plausible.

For the last...if you were trying to be friendly and ask someone where they're from (either because you just wanted to know about them or perhaps to know what their timezone is, or other useful geographical information), it would be a blowoff answer from someone who doesn't really want to tell you and is being rude about it.

I DUNNO MAN

A vague idea that he exists somewhere

And what is your evaluative judgment of someone saying it to mean that, THM? What does that idea make you think!

think?* lmao

It's ambiguous an answer between "I'm from where I am from" (tautological and super rude) or "I'm from where I am now" (which fits my first definition). I think some people may be missing that.

And also missing that the likely context is in answer to the question "Where are you from?"

Meaning what, ssoren?

Ahh I see, Duff. So you interpret as a metaphorical tool to convey non-answer to the question "where are you from?" That makes sense, hadn't thought of that. Interesting that your initial impression is that it must be meant sarcastically.

Do you think it could mean anything in the abstract, without such a context as you were filling in, Duff?

How much does everyone think the meaning is changed if it becomes "Where I am is where I'm from."?

It's impossible to divorce any linguistic entity from its context. The best you can hope for is some sort of abstract default context with the broadest possible application, which would mean something like "whatever it's generally understood to mean without more information being provided."

Given the conversational canon "people say things to convey information," if "I'm from where I am" means "I am from where I am from," an entirely tautological, UNinformative statement on its own, one should seek some other information this statement could possibly convey (keeping in mind that the information canon is a regulative concept, and shouldn't be taken to mean everything said MUST be informative). It could convey a person's boredom or pique at being asked the question "Where are you from?"

"I'm from where I am" means "I am from where I am from," an entirely tautological, UNinformative statement on its own"

I'm going to take this as your interpretation of it in the abstract then, lol.

Yes it's true everything has a context, so how about you use the present context as the context: Thucydides is asking you discuss it out of context. Haha

If I knew nothing else, I could consider it to mean "My current location is the place where I grew up."

More context is needed to determine meaning. But it's a dismissive statement.

I mean "would" consider it to mean, mea culpa.

Interesting now two see it as a dismissive statement to their eye. What belies that? Does it seem to be inherently meaningless? Meaningless in the abstract anyway?

Not everything is meaningless in the abstract, mind, so you can't always say that's true. A phrase like "human rights violation," though abstract, will have legions of people willing to offer their interpretation, both of you included I reckon and if not that, something else. And so I'm curious what it is about this statement that makes you feel that way.

"Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)" - Marvin Gaye
That's a poetic way of saying the same thing imho

It's saying none of your fucking business!!! Otherwise why be vague?

Yes, linguistic entities are meaningless in the abstract.

Showing me an example where tons of people are giving context is...on my side. Not yours.

Giving context just amounts to applying an abstract definition to a particular circumstance. It doesn't stop us from understanding things abstractly, making metaphors, etc.

Hammac: alright, I can see that too. Would you say that's a platitude, or do you think it means anything?

Thucy what have you been on lately? this is like your second thread about a very odd topic. My opinion on OP is that someone doesn't want you to know where they live because they are afraid you capitalized Thread.

don't worry about the Thread

I'm high on Christ

makes sense his blood IS wine.

Don't let Thucy fool you, he was in Jamaica for a while.

ahh explains a ton. (can i get some +1's on that Christ joke though?)