Whales change their tune each year.

Humpback whales make an annual visit to Hawaii and sing a song which changes from year to year.

The group soon reaches agreement, which would not be possible if they were unable to hear each other.

So let us conceive of YOU, YES YOU, being a humpback whale.

Last year you went to Hawaii with the group and you had a great time..."we were all singing from the same hymn sheet as it were." Quite.

"But the next year the leader, or whoever it is has decided to sing a different song, I really wish they wouldn't do this. What I can't understand is, which one in the group decided to change the tune, and at what point. And how would s/he know that we would understand.

Luckily I have been reading Wittgenstein before going to Hawaii this year and he says, '...so long as we remain inside language, as we do, when we offer an interpretation of a rule,(I hear this year's new song) nothing is really fixed. The only thing that fixes the import of a rule definitively is the actual practice of obeying it..' I am not sure if I even understand that, do you."

"Bloody long way to Hawaii that's all I can say. Suppose I better sing along... not even sure I like this year's tune."