I have struggled with all the facets of meaning of the printed word since I began to post on the internet. I try to imagine the people behind these typed phrases, straining to see the way in which they utter them. In fact few of them type fast enough to write as they speak, so it is hopeless to try to figure the man from the words. There is no way to put emphasis of vernacular upon the lines, so the meaning oft goes astray. So much of what we say is dependent on the physical way we say it. But there are 1000 ways to speak a line, and 999 ways to misinterpret it. You cannot hear the bite of sarcasm in a written word, or snort, or laugh. It's so important. Still less we see the snide comment, or the rhetorical mock as-if. Too often the meaning is taken as if didactically given in the lowest, meanest way, such that is should most hurt our hearts. We give in to our worst imaginings of the way we think others see us.
When I meet the people who post it is often a big surprise. (I will bet few people can imagine I am tall, dark, utterly handsome, well dressed, rich and drive a late model Arnege, smoking herbs from a cigarette holder with a trophy blonde on each arm. Dines got nuttin' on me.)
I think I have koan figured out. He is an expert at kidding people. He has given that he is middle aged, a stock trader, and well off. I think he is probably 16 years old, probably sinosian, and failing grade 10. No shame in that, but he has taken us all in. A hoot sans doot.
EC<:-} |
