Seats on a bus: A Tristansque Reflection
Why does the man bother asking the polite question if he is going to sit down anyway? This is the point I would like to dwell on. Here is what is wrong with us:
1. Why do we say things we do not mean?
2. Why do we say things we do not know what it means?
3. Why do we lack the courage to defy the norm?
4. Why do we care for such petty, trivial things?
* * *
1. What have we done to language? We do not speak anymore. We merely mutter words that does not make sense. When the man ask "May I have this seat?", this supposes an answer that could go either way: yes, or no. Yet the man assumes the answer to be yes. Then we no longer mean what we say; rather, we mask what we really want to say with mere politeness. "It is polite to ask, and it is polite to say yes." From beginning to end we know what is going to happen, so why bother with the game?
2. The question "May I have this seat?" means that the friend has ownership to the chair. Furthermore, it means that it cannot be taken over by force (or else there is no point in asking the question). Finally, as mentioned before, "may" supposes two possibilities. If this is the case, then does the man know what he is actually saying? He never considered "no" as an answer, never cared for the ownership of the chair, and took the chair by force. Him asking this question makes absolutely no sense. Of course, criticism arises: why do you pick on the poor guy? Why are you just twisting words and putting them into his mouth? Cruel sophist!
But this is not the only case: listen to the people around you, and you will often find that they use words in which they do not have a firm conception or definition in mind. "That's cool." "He's such a nerd." "Nationalism rules!" "Human rights." What do all these mean anyway?
3. I'm no Overman; I cannot have an entire world made up of noble enemies.
4. Have we, who mutters non-sense, render "politeness" to mere lip service? (How about a certain Algerian, who refused to cry at his mother's funeral, who then was hang for this crime?) Do not say what you do not mean. Take the seat if you will, do not ask for my permission for such petty things. You are all nobel, and I am forgetful - these things do not worry me. I much rather be rude to everyone, and say my thanks when I actually mean them, than showering people with thanks everyday. I shall love not because of politeness; I shall hate not because of rudeness.
* * *
Language needs defamiliarization. The friend should have said "no" for the sake of bringing the problem of language to attention. Such a defamiliarization should shock the man to his awareness of himself and his social being-in-the-world, instead of wandering day in and day out in the midst of the world.
1. Why do we say things we do not mean?
2. Why do we say things we do not know what it means?
3. Why do we lack the courage to defy the norm?
4. Why do we care for such petty, trivial things?
* * *
1. What have we done to language? We do not speak anymore. We merely mutter words that does not make sense. When the man ask "May I have this seat?", this supposes an answer that could go either way: yes, or no. Yet the man assumes the answer to be yes. Then we no longer mean what we say; rather, we mask what we really want to say with mere politeness. "It is polite to ask, and it is polite to say yes." From beginning to end we know what is going to happen, so why bother with the game?
2. The question "May I have this seat?" means that the friend has ownership to the chair. Furthermore, it means that it cannot be taken over by force (or else there is no point in asking the question). Finally, as mentioned before, "may" supposes two possibilities. If this is the case, then does the man know what he is actually saying? He never considered "no" as an answer, never cared for the ownership of the chair, and took the chair by force. Him asking this question makes absolutely no sense. Of course, criticism arises: why do you pick on the poor guy? Why are you just twisting words and putting them into his mouth? Cruel sophist!
But this is not the only case: listen to the people around you, and you will often find that they use words in which they do not have a firm conception or definition in mind. "That's cool." "He's such a nerd." "Nationalism rules!" "Human rights." What do all these mean anyway?
3. I'm no Overman; I cannot have an entire world made up of noble enemies.
4. Have we, who mutters non-sense, render "politeness" to mere lip service? (How about a certain Algerian, who refused to cry at his mother's funeral, who then was hang for this crime?) Do not say what you do not mean. Take the seat if you will, do not ask for my permission for such petty things. You are all nobel, and I am forgetful - these things do not worry me. I much rather be rude to everyone, and say my thanks when I actually mean them, than showering people with thanks everyday. I shall love not because of politeness; I shall hate not because of rudeness.
* * *
Language needs defamiliarization. The friend should have said "no" for the sake of bringing the problem of language to attention. Such a defamiliarization should shock the man to his awareness of himself and his social being-in-the-world, instead of wandering day in and day out in the midst of the world.
posted by Tristan at 6:57 p.m.
1 Comments:
Although it doesn't pertain to this entry in particular, i have a general comment for you. Perhaps you've heard it before from Jenny. There is something about your writing that lacks conviction. I told you that the poem you wrote me was one of your best yet because there was a sincerity to it which i thought reflected you.
You piece together the many ideas from the lectures you've heard, or the books you've read or the debates you've had but how much of it have you taken to heart? How much do you believe in? That is not to say that you cannot write about what you do not agree with, but rather, that when you write, you must believe in what you think about it. Be passionate about what you write, and as you were discussing... say what you mean and mean what you say. You need to expand the breadth of your compositions, not by the complexity or abstractness of the content, but by breathing life into it.
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