I don't believe in pedantry

[BroccoliSpears]

It should be "I don't believe in practising pedantry" or "I don't believe that abortion should be allowed". Alternatively, "I don't agree with..." could be substituted.

PAPERCLIPS?!

Ahhh... so I'm right! Huzzah!

Well, they can of course say that they don't believe in paperclips. However it would only be correct if they were delusional

I once heard someone say that they didn't believe in bicuits.

*biscuits!

What a thread to make a typing error.

hangs head in shame.

I don't believe in bicuits either.

I don't believe in semantics

I don't believe in santa either.

I don't believe in pentapeptides

at the risk of boring everyone, the formula "I don't believe in x" is an expression. You are right that those phrases are not literally true, but then neither are mangers usually "moving forwards" (they're usually sat on their fat bums), and there isn't really a box of thoughts in the first place, never mind any stray thoughts outside it.

So, Brocolli, you are not really correct to think of demonstrating any existential truths to these people. But you would be correct to wonder why they can't just say what they mean, without the use of a tired cliche.

I want to believe in pentapeptides. There should be such a thing as a pentapeptide.

Pentapeptide, pentapeptide, pentapeptide. The more you say it the lovlier it gets.

Disagree (gently) with SP. 'I don't believe in' is a daft thing to say about something that demonstrably exists, such as paperclips.

'I can't believe it's not butter' is fair enough in terms of use of English although I doubt the statement is actually truthful...

It's just an inappropriate use of a word. "Moving forward" and "thinking outside the box" are descriptive.

how is "moving forward" (used in the management sense of "in a few years when i get round to it", or the other management sense of "get it done now, you lazy bastard") descriptive, when "I don't believbe in paperclips" (in the sense of "I think it's a waste of time to use papoerclips") isn't?

Surely it's just a completely acceptable colloquial abbreviation of formulae like 'I don't believe that paperclips are a good solution to document organisation'; or 'I don't believe that abortion is a morally acceptable solution to unwanted conception.'

edam, can't you disagree with me vehemently for once?

I assumed you meant "moving this project forward" as in progressing it to another stage - sensible - as opposed to "I don't believe in air" - demonstrably wrong.

I agree with the OP - and I would say that the more common expression is "I don't agree with paperclips" which is, of course, fine.

Except in the sense that paperclips don't argue

'I don't agree with...' is exactly on a par with 'I don't believe in..'

Each is equally nonsensical if you take it literally and equally sensible if you accept a more colloquial approach.

I don't believe in gravity

but projects don't move though do they? that's my point. It's a figure of speech, just like "I don't believe in..." can be a figure of speech.

Belief is about whether or not you think something is true.

Agreement is about whether or not you think something is RIGHT.

So no, I don't believe that they are exactly on a par.

I think it's an acceptable use of English and I agree with SenoraPostrophe.

I suspect if I could be bothered to get up from my sofa to find my dictionary, it would endorse this use.

FWIW I "don't believe in paperclips" either. They were banned in the last office I worked in because bits of paper used to get stuck in the wrong pile by accident.

PS Pentapeptides vs Pontipines. I vote Pontipines.

I don't believe in paperclips either. I have never seen one and I don't believe people who say they have.

Hurrah! I opened this to say 'don't believe in it if you like, but it does exist you know'

however, you have preempted me.

I always vote Pontipines