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Domain: m-w.com
Stories and comments across the archive that link to m-w.com.
Comments · 2,532
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Re:Not to be a smartass, but its "speech"
> I fucked up my spelling. I'm really, really, sorry. Now could you please attack the substance
> (or lack thereof) of my post so we can have one of those healthy, on-topic debates I keep hearing about.No way!
Oh, BTW, I couldn't help noticing that your spell checker wouldn't help you with your usage of "metered" when you probably meant meted.
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Re:What would this thing produce?webster's also defines isotopes as having the exact same chemical properties.
No, it doesn't.
(emphasis mine)
Main Entry: isotope
Pronunciation: 'I-s&-"tOp
Function: noun
Etymology: is- + Greek topos place
1 : any of two or more species of atoms of a chemical element with the same atomic number and nearly identical chemical behavior but with differing atomic mass or mass number and different physical properties
i can play pedant just as well as you can. you seem to enjoy it though, so knock yourself out.
You're not being particularily pedantic when you "nearly identical" becomes "exactly identical". Now, if your post had said "isotopes have nearly identical chemical properties" you'd have been right. If your post had said "isotopes have qualitively the same chemical binding properties" (but different quantative properties, such as bond distance and energy) you would have been right. But that's not what you wrote at all.
And it's your 'pedantry' that started this. You wrote a completely bogus 'correction' to someone else's post saying they had the exact same chemical properties. Which is completely wrong. You then went on to say that chemical properties had nothing to do with heavy water toxicity. Which is also completely wrong. -
Just keep those chickens coming...
Geek
Function: noun
Etymology: probably from English dialect geek, geck fool, from Low German geck, from Middle Low German
1 : a carnival performer often billed as a wild man whose act usually includes biting the head off a live chicken or snake -
Re:check out that portrait
the church provided unprecedented support for scientific study in Europe across hundreds of years
yes, the dark ages were in fact a flourishing time of unprecidented discovery. all this wonderous achievement occurred under the watchful hand of the Church. Read your history.
Was he tortured? No.
Torture is the inducement of agony of body or of mind . Galileo was under the threat of death. (see Giordano Bruno) He was imprisoned. Asking if he was "comfortable at home" or not is irrelevant - he was under threat of violence if he strayed from the Church.
The interesting point here isn't whether Galileo had trouble with the Inquisition (he did),
It's odd that the motivations of the Inquisition aren't questioned in your post. That Galileo had trouble with the Church is at the heart of the problem - the Church had no business telling Galileo what he could or couldn't do. It was true then, it is true now - keep the Church and all churches out of the business of ordering people around.
American funding mechanisms in the scientific establishment are very much like the Catholic church all those years ago. You want to study HIV? Cancer? Great, we have hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for you. Money everywhere. Want to study the evolution of organisms? Fantastic, great, let us write a check. You want to study the possibility that evolution is wrong, and that another explanation makes more sense? BZZZT, wrong answer. No dice. No funding.
That's right. Because Cancer, HIV, etc. are all real problems that science can tackle using the scientific method - the same method Galileo advocated. One doesn't set out to question any theory. Science does not work that way. And to think it does is to woefully misunderstand science and the scientific method. Before a theory is put on the gallows, so to speak, there must be observed and uncontested evidence that directly contradicts the theory. Until that happens, any questions about the theory are rightly called mysticism.
And if you try to publish any of your ideas, you are ostracized, a laughingstock, labelled "not a scientist".
You've tried this? You've tried publishing something about evolution and you've been rejected? Or you know some biologist who has tried this? Once something emerges from the anti-evolution community which contributes to the discussion and knowledge of evolution - and if this can be tested, conjectured about and possibly refuted via some test (all good scientific theories are refutable via testing), then - and only then - will there be a "debate" about evolution. Until then, it's just a well-orchestrated propaganda campaign. -
Re:Unusual?
When you call something rare your not just talking about how often something happens, but what % of the time it happens.
Well, duh. What you fail to understand here, genius, is that you cannot talk of "how often" something happens without first defining the time period under discussion. If you're talking geological or cosmological time then this even isn't even remotely rare or unusual. If you're talking femtosecond time periods then this is an unparalleled rarity. The article says this is an "unusual" event without going into any discussion about what constitutes unusual. So, you're argument is basically worthless because, like the original poster, you fail to understand the meaning of "unusual" or "rare."
Here, let me help you out a bit. -
Re:Bashing? Subjective at best
The word portmanteau is retarded? You're going to have to explain what you're talking about because it's not self-evident.
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Re:Oh, lord.
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Re:Oh, lord.
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Re:but no analysis of performance / $ with wattage
Also, since I always like to better myself, I went and looked up the definitions of price and cost, and it turned out both of my usages were correct. I invite you to definition 4 of
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Diction ary&va=price&x=0&y=0 -
Re:No Fair Use
Unlawful means that the TV station or distributor or somebody has to come sue you for infringing upon their copyright. No jail time. Illegal means that somethings is a crime - the copyright holder just has to notify the cops, they can pick you up and you might face jail time (although now is not the time to go into criminal sentencing procedure).
Do you have anything to back this up? By origins, by common usage, and by online dictionaries illegal just means unlawful, not necessarily criminal, so I'd be interested if you could show that to be wrong. -
Re:This is bad?
If you want to know the difference between Free and free, just look them up in a thesaurus
By the way by thesaurus, I mean dictionary and vice versa.
Hmm, all this reminds me of Alice in Wonderland
'To be sure I was!' Humpty Dumpty said gaily, as she turned it round for him. 'I thought it looked a little queer. As I was saying, that SEEMS to be done right -- though I haven't time to look it over thoroughly just now -- and that shows that there are three hundred and sixty-four days when you might get un-birthday presents -- '
'Certainly,' said Alice.
'And only ONE for birthday presents, you know. There's glory for you!'
'I don't know what you mean by "glory,"' Alice said.
Humpty Dumpty smiled contemptuously. 'Of course you don't -- till I tell you. I meant "there's a nice knock-down argument for you!"'
'But "glory" doesn't mean "a nice knock-down argument,"' Alice objected.
'When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, 'it means just what I choose it to mean -- neither more nor less.'
'The question is,' said Alice, 'whether you CAN make words mean so many different things.'
'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master - - that's all.' -
Re:This is bad?
If you want to know the difference between Free and free, just look them up in a thesaurus
By the way by thesaurus, I mean dictionary and vice versa.
Hmm, all this reminds me of Alice in Wonderland
'To be sure I was!' Humpty Dumpty said gaily, as she turned it round for him. 'I thought it looked a little queer. As I was saying, that SEEMS to be done right -- though I haven't time to look it over thoroughly just now -- and that shows that there are three hundred and sixty-four days when you might get un-birthday presents -- '
'Certainly,' said Alice.
'And only ONE for birthday presents, you know. There's glory for you!'
'I don't know what you mean by "glory,"' Alice said.
Humpty Dumpty smiled contemptuously. 'Of course you don't -- till I tell you. I meant "there's a nice knock-down argument for you!"'
'But "glory" doesn't mean "a nice knock-down argument,"' Alice objected.
'When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, 'it means just what I choose it to mean -- neither more nor less.'
'The question is,' said Alice, 'whether you CAN make words mean so many different things.'
'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master - - that's all.' -
Re:This is bad?
If you want to know the difference between Free and free, just look them up in a thesaurus
By the way by thesaurus, I mean dictionary and vice versa.
Hmm, all this reminds me of Alice in Wonderland
'To be sure I was!' Humpty Dumpty said gaily, as she turned it round for him. 'I thought it looked a little queer. As I was saying, that SEEMS to be done right -- though I haven't time to look it over thoroughly just now -- and that shows that there are three hundred and sixty-four days when you might get un-birthday presents -- '
'Certainly,' said Alice.
'And only ONE for birthday presents, you know. There's glory for you!'
'I don't know what you mean by "glory,"' Alice said.
Humpty Dumpty smiled contemptuously. 'Of course you don't -- till I tell you. I meant "there's a nice knock-down argument for you!"'
'But "glory" doesn't mean "a nice knock-down argument,"' Alice objected.
'When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, 'it means just what I choose it to mean -- neither more nor less.'
'The question is,' said Alice, 'whether you CAN make words mean so many different things.'
'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master - - that's all.' -
Re:I looked it up.The original point of this thread was that some people object to United States Citizens defining themselves Americans since by their (IMHO wrong) reasoning every resident of North & South America is an American.
You mean here? Where I wrote that "Canadians are Americans too"? Please explain to me how it follows that I object to US citizens calling themselves Americans from the fact that residents of North and South America are Americans.
Oopsies! You've already accused me of being jealous of the US. Now you accuse me of not being able to follow my own thread. And you "explain" what I meant to me! A linky just for you
Again, for those who are having trouble following the thread, people can call themselves whatever they want. My only point is that American is the unique and proper term reserved for citizens of the United States of America.
And you're wrong. An American is (1) a citizen of the United States; (2) an inhabitant or native of North or South America. http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictio
n ary&va=American&x=0&y=0If you disagree, take it Merriam Webster. I'm sure they'll throw out all their research of common English usage when you report their omission to them.
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Re:Scarce
"But that's only the first criteria."
And our grammar Nazi says:... "criteria is a plural, when a singular was needed. Try criterion next time". -
Re:Statist Musical Chairs
Main Entry: 4 found
Function: transitive verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French fonder, from Latin fundare, from fundus bottom -- more at BOTTOM
1 : to take the first steps in building
2 : to set or ground on something solid : BASE
3 : to establish (as an institution) often with provision for future maintenance
Source: mw.com http://m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?va=found -
Re:Is that really a word ?Ha! Crustal would seem it was made up, but according to Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary it's real:
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictio
n ary&va=Crustal&x=19&y=17 -
Re:Still puzzled...
Socialism says that society should try its best not to simply abandon people...
Ah, I see. Thanks for the clarification. I never studied this political stuff at school -- too busy with math and science. But these goals sound very nice! May I ask, however, where "society" gets the massive resources needed for this noble mission?
I didn't study this stuff in school either, my degree is in Computing Science. But I've read a hell of a lot of Philosophy, and have my own opinions on the matter.
Like it or not, this stuff comes from your taxes. Yes, it's impossible to actually collect enough taxes to pay for everything you could possibly do. Yes, it does boil down to a system of Government. According the Webster, the definition for "state socialism" (definition number 4 of socialism) is as follows:
Main Entry: state socialism
Function: noun
: an economic system with limited socialist characteristics introduced by usually gradual political action
That would be a fair description of what has happened in many countries over the world. It's by no means a perfect system, but it's a hell of a lot better than callously deciding that you don't fsck'ing care.
However, I can guarantee that there is no country on Earth where you have to pay no taxes, nor be expected to contribute to the operating costs of your government, not be expected to have even a glimmer of a responsibility for everyone else.
Not even your precious old US of A has this. There already exists medicare and unemployment assistance in the US, so identify one country in which you wouldn't have to pay taxes for such stuff, and I'll show you a place where life is exceedingly cheap. So cheap, in fact, that nobody gives a shit if you live or die.
If there is any level of taxes which help pay for common elements, and/or help pay for desireable elements for more than those who can pony up the cash, than to some extent, you are in a situation in which some level of socialist ideas have crept in.May I assume that in order to get the resources to meet the noble goals "society" finds it necessary to take money and labor by force from -- I suppose I would've naively said rob -- certain people in order to give to others?
Yawn. That old hack about Taxes being theft? Well, here is my only response to that, I won't debate it with you because I know how polarizing these things can be.
Why, yes, we could even debate that old Ayn Rand saw about how imposing taxes on people involves theft at gun-point, and is therefore morally abhorrent. That was cute back in my college days, but quite frankly, she talks out of her ass quite too much for my tastes nowadays. Her absolutist position which says "screw you, I've got mine" attempts to summarily dismiss anything not thought of by Her Divine Eminence of Capitalism, and mostly boils down to "because I said so". So I'm not really interested in doing that either. But you could yell at a few rocks if you feel compelled.
Look, like it or not, the direction that most countries are taking is a move towards at least some levels of socialism/social consciousness/not being Ayn Rand. In Canada, that we've done this is quite evident. You can go ahead and continue to believe that the Capitalist Utopia exists, or can exist anyplace. You wil be arguing for a political system which has never existed.
In the mean time, the rest of us will examine what is actually happening in the world.
Cheers -
Re:Our Great Democracy
The two are not mutually incompatible. We are both. Before you argue back at me, look in a freaking dictionary, moron. Excuse me, pedantic yet incorrect moron. If it's too fucking hard for your idiotic brain to do that, here's a link to the word in a prominent dictionary. I particularly suggest looking at definition 1A, and thinking about what the word "especially" implies about whether or not "only" applies, and definition 1B, and thinking about the words "or indirectly".
Sorry, but you have struck a pet peeve of mine, and I'm an asshole. -
Re:In a related story...Here we do again. Empty arguments to justify stealing.
Since digital media has no per-unit costs,
First error. Here's how unit cost is calculated: Production cost + (Manufacturing cost * Number of units)/Number of units. People always seem to forget the production cost when saying it costs nothing per unit. Do you even know how much it costs to develop a TV series or a movie or a video game? Millions of dollars. So just because it doesn't cost much to manufacture a copy, it's still really expensive to produce the material, and the production company deserves to be compensated for it. NOT STEAL as stealing is removing ownership of a tangible object from its rightful owner and placing said ownership in my hands
That's completely incorrect. Stealing has nothing to do with tangible objects.
Stealing is inappropriately acquiring someone else's property. Note that the type of property is NOT specified
But don't take my work for it:
Merriam-Webster Online
Dictionary.com
Cambridge Dictionary online
WikiPediaCould you please provide references to your definition?
do you think it is fair to say the producers of the content I watch are losing money from my viewing?
Of course. Your using their product, but you didn't pay for it, so they're out x$.
I'm not saying it's okay for another party to profit either in case you were wondering.
Like you for instance? Because you are profiting from watching their TV show without paying for it.
Phemur
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Re:if I worked at HBO
Huh? That doesn't make sense. Stealing books OR downloading movies online is NOTHING like breaking into someone's premises. Now you're talking about three totally different, unrelated things.
Please, consult a dictionary ASAP. -
Re:Correction again
You potheads are using two different definitions of the word imply (definition 2 vs definition 3 or 4). Now before you try to prove each other wrong, go eat some cheetos and get over it.
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Re:anything with a roman god name
Det er jo fordi vi tævede anglerne omkring sidste årtusindeskifte... The ancient Norse tongue actually had a lot of effect on the English language; many one- or two-syllable words have directly evolved from Norse. A good example would be 'sky', which is descended from the same Norse word for cloud.
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Re:lately...
I'm a literalist. Look at a definiton of Fascism: "tendency toward or actual exercise of strong autocratic or dictatorial control." (Merriam-Webster Online, http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?va=fascist ) Now consider the effect of closed-source, proprietary formats, e.g. Micrsoft says it has unilaterally decided how its products will be developed and marketed, and how your content will be formatted in order for you to access it. Open standards are an expression of free-thinking people asserting their indpendance from such autocratic and dictorial control imposed by a single corporation.
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Gigawatts/Jigga-watts
Many Back to the Future fans don't realize that what they hear as "jigga watts" is actually the preferred pronunciation (notice it's listed first) of the SI/metric prefix giga.
With respect to computer-related units, the hard g is of course strongly preferred, but 1.21 gW is certainly not a made up unit. -
Someone needs to come up with an ad-blocker...This site is one of those annoying sites where random words thoughout the pages are higlighted and link to some sponsor. Nothing is more annoying!
I also can't imagine that any of the clicks the advertisers get are legit. It's probably mostly accidental clicks as people are navigating around.
Of course, the best thing would be to encourage people to make their sites a little more user-friendly with more than a few words of text on each page. But barring that, some form of ad blocker that finds and kills these things would be a good idea. Maybe someone can write one for Firefox and Internet Explorer?
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Re:The article is poopy, but I'll comment anyways
I would say that you shouldn't trust either as a primary source for information. The NYT has been caught in outright fabrication on more than one occasion.
Mirriam-Webster is much more reputable. It implies something closer to what Wiktionary said:
Main Entry: golly
Pronunciation: 'gä-lE
Function: interjection
Etymology: euphemism for God
-- used as a mild oath or to express surprise
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Diction ary&va=golly
If you checked the etymology from the OED, I imagine you would find that it really was "God's Body" or something quite similar. -
Re:apk apk apk+++++
Oh, c'mon, being sophmoric is no fun. Be entertaining in other ways, puleaze?
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Re:What's there to fight?
The legal term for theft/stealing/robbery is larceny, defined by Miriam-Webster as "the unlawful taking of personal property with intent to deprive the rightful owner of it permanently". The Wikipedia article goes into more detail. The key part of those definitions is the word "deprive." Illegitimate file sharing does not deprive the copyright holder of any property (compensation isn't mentioned anywhere here), so larceny and its related words (theft, stealing, etc) aren't suitable.
Copyright infringement really is the pertinent term. The record label (copyright holder, whoever) owns the exclusive right to reproduce the works it creates, and to license and control those rights. The United States Code itself calls the violation of copyright "copyright infringement," not theft or larceny.
I think the main reason that copyright infringement cannot be simplified to theft is that theft implies that the owner no longer has something that is his. Downloading a song or movie illicitly does not deprive the copyright holder of anything. (It does not deprive them of profit, as downloading has nothing to do with whether or not one has or may purchase the work legitimately, nor do they have the currency you owe them in the first place to be stolen)
I do not claim that file sharing is legal, proper, or the like, but it is not theft, stealing, or larceny. It is copyright infringement, no more, no less. -
Re:Want companies to adopt GIMP?
- http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=gimp
- http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictio
n ary&va=gimp&x=0&y=0http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/g imp - http://www.google.com/search?q=define:gimp
None of those entries says anything about GIMP meaning beautiful or attractive in any sense. You do know its an acronym right?
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Re:Biotech isn't computer tech"Computer technology is basically ephemeral. But Biotech leads to medicines and other discoveries that are both difficult to discover and inherently valuable."
Do you know the definition of ephemeral?
"Function: adjective
Etymology: Greek ephEmeros lasting a day, daily, from epi- + hEmera day
1 : lasting one day only
2 : lasting a very short time
synonym see TRANSIENTHow do you come to term computer technology ephemeral?
Computer technology encompasses concrete inventions and abstract inventions.
Speaking to abstractions, it's likely some computer algorithms will be around much longer than some of the hardware.
"Biotech leads to medicines and other discoveries that are both difficult to discover and inherently valuable"
Do you think sound algorithms are somehow less difficult to discover?
As to "...inherently valuable... I'm schooled in Economics and Commerce, along with other areas. I've read deeply in the subject of value from Aristotle on up, and, to say biotech discoveries are inherently valuable is to state the trivial. Any discovery is "inherently valuable". It is the nature of information that it is valuable, to speak of it as "inherently" valuable is some kind of voodoo.
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Re:How about LEARNING the English language?
Hmm. What would it take to make bug-free computer programs?
How about a competently taught highschool programming class?
Seriously, people...learn to use the language...you'll be better off.
You can replace programming or English with any skill that the computer replicates.
I never have understood why so many people are opposed to grammar checkers. Everyone makes mistakes. Yes, Clippy is a pain sometimes. However, I'd rather have five false positives and two real errors underlined than two errors published because I was too tired to catch them.
By the way, High School is two words. -
Re:How interesting...Maybe you missed one of the rules in the section you so helpfully pointed out:
Use an apostrophe and an 's' to make a singular noun possessive.
"Surname" is a singular noun, the last time I checked. Ummmm, yep!
I agree that the construction is somewhat awkward, but it's certainly acceptable.
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Re:Uh?
Not really because you have the definition of decimate is wrong. http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictio
n ary&va=decimate&x=0&y=0 -
Bound Girded Redundant Loinsgirded loins definition
Main Entry: 1gird
Pronunciation: 'g&rd
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): girded
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English gyrdan; akin to Old English geard yard -- more at YARD
transitive senses
1 a
2 : PROVIDE, EQUIP ; especially
3
intransitive senses
- gird one's loinsSounds like girding one's loins would indeed be like a jock-strap rather than a cup. Although, I believe Sumo wrestler loincloths provide some protection by pushing the testicles up and out of the way. (Although, even though it's alluded to in a Bond movie, they do not have the rumored ability to actually retract them back into the body.)
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Re:PowerYes well, while it may seem logically that Wikipedia is filled with inaccurate information, it doesn't actually bear out in truth. While it may not be hard to "make stuff like that up", you can do research elsewhere and check the information.
This is an age old Slashdot debate, but I have found through several hundred hours of browsing topics I know very well that Wikipedia very rarely has an error that lasts for any significant time. Too many people check the "recent changes" for significant errors to go unnoticed.
If you care to do further research, you'll find that sites like Merriam Webster also list the perferred pronunciation of Giga- to be with a soft g.
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Re:mod parent up
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Re:Guantanamo vs. China Prison
I can see how people might morally equivocate the two.
That's an interesting use of the word. Was it intentional or did you mean "equate"?
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Re:Power
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Re:how much am I payed?
the dictionary says it has to do with adding slack to a rope
probably a nautical term, but not having to do with sealant or decks
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=payed
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Diction ary&va=payed&x=0&y=0 -
Re:Odd story about Katrina victims.
Merriam-Webster maybe you have heard of them? Refugee
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Re:Billiards
Not at all.
You, however, are trying to cover up how deeply personally you take all of this. It's also worth noting that your condescending tone is asinine, as your poor tact and terrible use of argument betrays how truely puerile you are.
I haven't felt a need to be rude about this matter, I really think that you should reconsider your tone. With every post, you make yourself look worse. Since you've chosen to condescend to me, however, I'll allow you to burn yourself as you see fit. -
Re:Billiards
Not at all.
You, however, are trying to cover up how deeply personally you take all of this. It's also worth noting that your condescending tone is asinine, as your poor tact and terrible use of argument betrays how truely puerile you are.
I haven't felt a need to be rude about this matter, I really think that you should reconsider your tone. With every post, you make yourself look worse. Since you've chosen to condescend to me, however, I'll allow you to burn yourself as you see fit. -
Re:Billiards
Your attempts to win this one are impotent
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Re:Billiards
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THIS IS NOT libertarianism
This is NOT libertarianism!
THIS IS ANARCHY in the city! NOTHING LESS.
ANARCHY ANARCHY ANARCHY!
According to http://www.m-w.com/ Anarachy:
1 a : absence of government b : a state of lawlessness or political disorder due to the absence of governmental authority
Libertarianism involves a civilized society. I am sure you can Google to find lots of books and essays on the subject. But a few requirements for libertarianism:
- LIMITED government (not non-existant)
- free markets
- personal responsibility
- individual freedoms
The main philosophy behind libertarianism is 'your rights go so far until they impede on other people's rights"
DO NOT spread misinformation like this; it is iresponsible, and ignorant! -
Re:But what are they wanting?
This is not a grammar issue, but a usage issue. Also, while many agree with you, it is certainly not a hard and fast rule. From http://www.m-w.com/:
1 : constituting a more limited number [less than three]
2 : of lower rank, degree, or importance [no less a person than the president himself]
3 a : of reduced size, extent, or degree b : more limited in quantity [in less time]
usage The traditional view is that less applies to matters of degree, value, or amount and modifies collective nouns, mass nouns, or nouns denoting an abstract whole while fewer applies to matters of number and modifies plural nouns. Less has been used to modify plural nouns since the days of King Alfred and the usage, though roundly decried, appears to be increasing. Less is more likely than fewer to modify plural nouns when distances, sums of money, and a few fixed phrases are involved [less than 100 miles] [an investment of less than $2000] [in 25 words or less] and as likely as fewer to modify periods of time [in less (or fewer) than four hours]. -
Re:Billiards
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Re:same oldYour previous claim about $1000, however, was absurd... So put up or shut up already.
I agree with everything you say. I clearly struck a nerve; such was not my intention. Still, I stand by the wording in my original post, and I humbly refer you to this definition for hyperbole, a tool people sometimes use to make a point. I must need more practice at using that tool, or maybe I should begin employing the <hyperbole> tag.
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Re:Caffeine disturbs the central nervous system.
You seem to be trying very hard not to explain why you think it's poisonous. Let's review the definition of poison (M-W):
1 a : a substance that through its chemical action usually kills, injures, or impairs an organism b (1) : something destructive or harmful (2) : an object of aversion or abhorrence
2 : a substance that inhibits the activity of another substance or the course of a reaction or process
Caffeine does not usually kill, injure, or impair humans. It is not significantly destructive or harmful in regular doses. It does not inhibit the activity of the human body; it stimulates the nervous system.