QUOTE(zeroglyph @ Aug 5 2007, 11:39 AM)
comprehend this:
if i prefer foodX over foodY simply because i like foodX better, am i comparing the two? no, it's just i like foodX better because my taste buds prefers it. i hate foodY, but that doesn't mean i will not try it from time to time to change taste according to my preferences. am i contradicting myself here? no, because i didn't hate foodY enough to a level where i won't try it ever again. preference and hate is a subjective matter, comparison is more logical. preference is a matter of free will and comparison need not necessarily be involved. comparison however, is most of the time based on preference. not the other way around.
you put a bigmac and kfc's chicken on a table and give to me for free. would i actually compare the two before choosing? no, i'll simply pick the one i prefer at the time. do you see any comparison at work here? can't really say can you? there could be and there could not. it's subjective. savvy?
if i compare the two movies and the 2007 movie came out with all the pros. will i still prefer the 2007 movie? no, because the human mind does not really need logics to choose. you see how my preference affects my comparison and how my preference is NOT affected by the logical comparison?
so you can't say "when you prefer something, there must be comparisons. If not, the preference would not exist in the first place, right?". unless you're being narrow.
lol, long story. But yes, I get the gist of what you are trying to convey.
When there is preference, it means that there will always be at least 2 items in question regardless if you compare it subconsciously or consciously and whether it is affected by any other external factors.
For example, you subconsciously want to have chicken, then you will definitely compare the bigmac with the KFC chicken. Ultimately, you'll take the chicken as the bigmac does not contain the chicken that you crave for or vice versa if you crave for beef.
And I concur, it is subjective to ppl and preference varies with time. Nonetheless, comparison does exists IMHO.