An Avocado is a Fruit

It's been a privilege to explore deeply an issue that, on the surface, seems straight forward. I hope I've shown that this issue, like so many others, is not black and white. < > I assume my opponent means to bring this up in support of his claim that my sources are less accessible to common researchers. However, the difficulty he had finding my sources (a) has no bearing on the veracity of the data contained therein and (b) does not show that all people would have the same trouble. < > My opponent has assumed that regular people will go online to research the proper definition of an avocado. He does not back this claim. I submit that people classify items based on similarities to other classifications. The first time someone encounters avocado, they are likely to classify it according to what they already understand fruits and vegetables to be. If the encounter is that of a savory recipe, they would not be remiss in classifying it a vegetable. If they encounter it hanging from a tree, they would not be remiss in classifying it as a fruit. The point is, there is no axiom that states, "people turn to dictionary. com for answers to everyday classifications. " My opponent then attempts to strengthen his argument by listing two online dictionary definitions. So, I'll offer a couple definitions from the same websites: Cucumber - the fruit of a vine (Cucumis sativus) of the gourd family cultivated as a GARDEN VEGETABLE. (. http://www.merriam-webster.com...) [emphasis added] Squash - 1. Any of various tendril-bearing plants of the genus Cucurbita, having fleshy edible fruit with a leathery rind and unisexual flowers. 2. The fruit of any of these plants, EATEN AS A VEGETABLE. (. http://www.bartleby.com...) [emphasis added] Both definitions recognize these items both as botanical fruits and culinary vegetables. What is an online researcher to do when they encounter these definitions, when both classification are offered in the same sentence? In essence, my opponent argues that avocados are fruits because the dictionary says so. Well, the dictionary also says that tomatoes are fruit (. http://www.merriam-webster.com...), but that doesn't stop society from accepting it as a garden vegetable. Relying on the dictionary does not save the day. The dictionary simply regurgitates the botanical classifications. This is not sufficient evidence for botanical classifications having more meaning in lay society. Note that my opponent did not contest my culinary classification of avocado. Instead, he insists that the botanical classification supersedes it. Therefore, for him to be consistent within this line of reasoning, he must insist that cucumbers, bell peppers, jalapenos, zucchini, green beans, pumpkins, and all other botanical fruits be recognized as such. I submit, however, that such logic reduces to absurdity. Society has unilaterally accepted all these foods as vegetables. Today I shopped at Safeway, and the avocados where book ended by onions on the left and potatoes on the right--right in the middle of the vegetable aisle. If people classify by association, then it is hardly surprising that so many people think of the avocado as a vegetable. I showed how the avocado is a culinary vegetable, a classification that comes naturally given its use in the kitchen and its more savory flavor. I showed how the culinary classification is superior to the botanical one. I showed how culinary classification is more meaningful and common. Therefore, avocados--like tomatoes and zucchini--are vegetables. P. S. The cat video was pretty funny.