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Comment by jebarker | Hacker News Reader

You're making an assumption that OP has the financial security to follow their desires rather than needs.

Neither desire or need was mentioned, only want, which addresses both desire and need. If financial security is what the OP wants, the parent comment already has him covered.

If you can coherently differentiate "want" from "desire", I'd love to hear it. :)

Per the dictionary, want is defined as: "ought, should, or need to do something." That which you ought, need, or should do is not necessarily what you desire. As it relates the conversation, financial stability is not likely a desire in and of itself, but it may be what you need.

There is no "the dictionary". E.g.:

desire: transitive verb: To wish or long for; want

- The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

desire: verb [T not continuous]: (WANT)

- The Cambridge Dictionary

(et cetera ad nauseam)

Yes, words often mean more than one thing. "want" has several commonly used meanings, not to mention that the author can define it however he pleases on the spot.

Right. So I'm sticking with the belief that you cannot coherently differentiate "want" from "desire", which was my point. :)

In context, "desire" is defined as what one would prefer to do absent of any financial constraints. With the stated acceptance of reality, one can want financial independence out of need without it being their desire (per the given definition).

It may be true that some definitions of "want" and "desire" prevent coherent differentiation, but as we established, and you willingly agreed, words do allow for more than one meaning...

I cannot think of a single case where the words "want" and "desire" are not interchangeable.

One might connote a greater or lesser longing or preference in a given context, but I think that will also vary.

To the point:

> one can want financial independence out of need without it being their desire (per the given definition).

This sentence works equally well with the words swapped.

...

Anyway, this is not an interesting diversion. It was intended to point out that the semantics are not worth debating. Hopefully it will be disconnected from the thread and not waste anyone else's time.

By strict application of the most common use, that is effectively true. But in that case needing financial independence before seeking more lofty careers goals is a desire like any other. The premise introduced in the first reply is a false premise if you want to take that angle.

However, to do so shows a gross misunderstanding of the English language. Meanings are not set in stone like that. Meaning is fluid and can change with context. Said reply defines "desire" to exclude financial concerns, but maintains "want" in the original sense. The intent of the comment is quite clear. It fails by false assumption.

With that contextual defining of "desire', these words are no longer interchangeable. "Want" includes the case where one wants financial independence, while "desire" is defined, in context, to exclude wanting financial independence.

I mean, they are different words for a reason.

Then differentiate them coherently for me. Ideally with either prescriptivist justification or descriptivist evidence.

You want someone to teach you the difference, but what you desire is for no one to be able to point out a single difference to you.

I had to try :/

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