What the heck does this quotation mean?

[LuckyTaxi]

Professor gave it to us in class. Extra credit for anyone who can explain it.
I may have this wrong cuz I dont have the exact phrase with me, but here goes.

"If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, then it has to be a duck."

Something like that. What does it mean? BTW...this is for a music class, so I am
assuming it has to do something with music!

 

[Tauren]

Essentially, if it appears to be something and it has all the characteristics of that something, then the logical conclusion is, that is is what it appears to be.

 

[iamwiz82]

i'll do it in terms of a terrorist(first thing to come to my mind)

If he looks like a terrorist(beard)
talks like a terrorist(arabic)
he must be a terrorist.

Just because someone has a beard and speaks arabic does not make him/her a terrorist.

Its a stereotype.

 

[LuckyTaxi]

<< Essentially, if it appears to be something and it has all the characteristics of that something, then the logical conclusion is, that is is what it appears to be. >>



Thats exactly what I think it is, but I just think there's another meaning to it.

 

[b0mbrman]

<< i'll do it in terms of a terrorist(first thing to come to my mind)

If he looks like a terrorist(beard)
talks like a terrorist(arabic)
he must be a terrorist.

Just because someone has a beard and speaks arabic does not make him/her a terrorist.

Its a stereotype. >>



All ducks do is quack and walk so it's not a fair comparison since humans can do more than quack and walk. If someone's got a kilo of C4 in their backpack and they're wearing a t-shirt that says "I hate USA" then you've got a fair comparison

 

[Skyclad1uhm1]

Your teacher likes roasted duck.

 

[Arschloch]

I thought the saying was, "If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it must be your blind date."

 

[Baffler]

<< If someone's got a kilo of C4 in their backpack and they're wearing a t-shirt that says "I hate USA" >>


Like a terrorist would be THAT stupid huhu

 

[iamwiz82]

<<

<< If someone's got a kilo of C4 in their backpack and they're wearing a t-shirt that says "I hate USA" >>


Like a terrorist would be THAT stupid huhu

>>



yeah, the C4 is in their shoe

 

[bacillus]

<<

<< If someone's got a kilo of C4 in their backpack and they're wearing a t-shirt that says "I hate USA" >>


Like a terrorist would be THAT stupid huhu

>>


he could be operating in a non-American loving country!

 

[jjones]

<< I thought the saying was, "If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it must be your blind date." >>


lol

 

[Jzero]

As those crazy cats Trout Fishing In America once said:
If it looks like a duck and it quacks like a duck and there's duck doo on your pickup truck,
well, you can bet your bottom buck:
IT AIN'T NO ARMADILLO!