Crystal ball: (n) a method or means of predicting the future.
Take a walk with me.
You don’t even have to leave your chair.
Let us consider it a mental exercise—a stretching of our reason.
Just answer me a few questions:
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Do human beings have free will?
By the way, it’s kind of a yes or no question. If you answered no, you probably don’t need to go any further on this little thoughtful jaunt. I will just assume that you respect free will.
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Are human beings unpredictable?
Even though we think we gain insight on the character and reactions of others, our closest friends can still surprise us from time to time by turning left when we’re accustomed to their “right ways.”
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Since humans have free will, we cannot guarantee what choices, decisions or options they pursue. Do you agree?
I certainly do.
I think the worst thing I do in my life is when I try to second guess people who haven’t really invited me to guess in the first place.
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Taking all this into consideration, is it possible that people, life, institutions and circumstances can surprise us?
I know it’s a foolish query. Of course they can.
So final question:
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Since we don’t know what people are going to do and we don’t know what’s going to happen, how can the future even exist—except as a hazy space of possibility awaiting our whim?
How about that?
So since there is no future until free-will creatures live it out, how could a crystal ball define what that’s going to be when the unpredictability is just downright unpredictable?
So if you want to find identify a hoax or confirm that something is completely out of whack, feel free to run away from all souls who think they can tell you the future.
Words from Dic(tionary) 