the distance between words and wisdom

An aphorism is literally a distinction or definition, from the Greek αφοριζειν "to define". It is a very concise statement of a phenomenology expressing a 'general truth or wise observation', often in a clever way.

A gaffe is a verbal mistake, usually made by saying something that is 'true, but inappropriate'. In statistics, a "mistake" is the difference between a computed, estimated, or measured value and the true, specified, or theoretically correct value.

So a gaphorism is a repurposed aphorism. Gaphorisms recognise linguistic wisdom, but add to, or change their meaning or direction to give them new relevance. Consensus reality is based on embedded semantics; we love to reduce complex ideas and emotions to bullet points and jargon, ostensibly to aid in the transfer of meaning. Eventually, the meaning blurs and fades, but the words remain and the associated wisdom clings to them like the smell of dying roses.


Friday, 11 May 2007

hate the brand, not the branded

Aphorism: 'Hate the player, not the game'
1. Dropped by de homies, when an acquaintance, (whos sins too closely match their own) screws up. 1.a. Often used to deflect responsibility for one's actions
hate the brand, not the branded
Ah yes - The Brand. It's long overdue a gaphorism of its own. Especially since aphorisms are branded wisdom. Aphorisms have got to rate up there with idiom as a way of defining demographics. By 'owning' a turn of phrase, you communally agree to it's past and present meanings.

hate the brand, not the branded
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1 comment:

Anonymous said...

..but its the branded that perpetuate the brand...

18 May 2007 at 07:44

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