Comments on: That little word “like”…

By: Debby Bruck

Debby Bruck — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 23:10:15 +0000

Dear Richard ~ Came upon your page through twtwall. Very nice to find you and your insights into thought, language and humankind.

We are a composite of our ancestry and personal history in all there facets. Hope to read more.

in light,
Debby

By: Richard Reeve

Richard Reeve — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 20:33:14 +0000

Hi Ted, really interesting associations you have provided. Have you ever read the work of the Swiss philosopher Max Picard. Most poetic of philosophers I’ve had the pleasure to read. Not so easy to find, but his “The Human Face” is really wonderful.

By: ted villa

ted villa — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 20:26:55 +0000

Hi Richard: The thing hat came to mind when I first read this post is the analogy of the cave in Plato's "Republic." We all live at the bottom of a cave and the world we see is but mere shadows oon a wall of the actual objects. The philosophers are the ones who've crawled out of the cave into the sunlight and seen the world in it's essence. They are here to help us see that the chair that we sit on is but a representation of The Chair -- the idea, the essence. Your post was very poetic, and that brought to mind another thing that I'd heard years ago, can't remember the author, but a prof read it to us in a class and it basically said that philosophy was born in poetry and the moment that it was it became no longer poetry. Though you've done well to maintain that poetic genesis. Finally, your last line calls to mind another connection for me: Marshall McLuhan said the medium is the message . . . our expressions from the soul are the message. We express our humanity with every breath and utterance in a finite series such things. ted villa´s last blog post..February Train Ride

By: Richard Reeve

Richard Reeve — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 03:32:09 +0000

Hi Mary,
To be honest, it really, like , like, gets under my, like, skin…

By: Mary

Mary — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 02:55:21 +0000

That’s a beautiful piece of writing, Richard. Interesting how it’s hard to articulate this words-to-symbols process. Your intimations go a long way.
Have to say I appreciate your generous take on the kids’ use of ‘like.’ My interpretation has been less sympathetic: seems to me they’re protecting themselves all the time – if it’s ‘like’ hot, instead of just hot, you are backing away from making any definitive statements. Sounds like a cop out to me. But I’ll attempt to adopt your more charitable view.

By: Richard Reeve

Richard Reeve — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 21:28:46 +0000

Hello Henie,
Great example, so the word ‘appy was like the ice cream… thanks for sharing you insights. What interesting to me is the idea that each individual recapitulates the development of the species, and those that are getting up there in years have the task of mapping out future potential…

By: Richard Reeve

Richard Reeve — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 21:25:33 +0000

Hey Detlef,
You might be right. I think I was a little clearer in the previous post that they were making a point that we are essentially identical genetically for the last 25,000 years and that is also the time where we see the emergence of the arts.

It was really crowded so I might have misread the exhibit. Will see what I can find.

Her first use of Ma was in the middle of the night when during a wail she suddenly and clearly yelled out “maaaa maaaaa.” It worked!

By: Henie

Henie — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 21:23:51 +0000

I love this post Richard! This took me back when my son was 3 years old. Whenever he wanted ice cream he would say "I want appy, mama" and I always knew exactly what he meant. Years later, I had an "aha" about it. His association with "ice cream" originated at birthday parties...whenever Happy Birthday was sung, he got ice cream and cake, thus the "(H)appy." Thanks again for quite a stimulating post! :~) Henie´s last blog post..Sempiternal Glow

By: Detlef Cordes

Detlef Cordes — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 20:35:29 +0000

Hey Richard, I have information that the oldest finds of homo sapiens in Africa are 160.000 years old. Long time without a dentist. Hard times we still bear around with us - giving us a hard time today. Escape or attack! All systems go! Fight for your life! Would be interesting how much your daughter distinguishes the phonetics from the persons or actions. What is "Da" when you are absent? Or if she shouts "Da" and you arrive: pure magic. Detlef Cordes´s last blog post..Think - But Then Move

By: Richard Reeve

Richard Reeve — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 13:27:39 +0000

Thanks for commenting Chas. I recall the image if Jimi kneeling next to the burning guitar, seemingly conjuring out the spirits, and my mind can reframe that image all the way back into the paleolithic…