I once found a lampshade back when I was working the sales floor at Lighting Plus. The shade had a tag attached to it that read "One of a Kind." At the time I joked that in this instance "one of a kind" was code for "That's one ugly lampshade. Please take it off our hands." Fortunately this particular lampshade was perfect for a lamp I had sitting in my apartment, and together lamp and shade weren't at all ugly, so I bought it.
Then I thought about those words, "one of a kind," a bit more.
Interpreted literally, "one of a kind" should really mean that this is one lampshade of a particular kind. In other words, there are lots of lampshades just like this one, and this is only one example of the kind. I think of an episode of Rugrats wherein Chukkie, pretending to be an ice-cream 'man, asks Lil what kind of ice-cream she would like. Lil responds, in that cute little toddler voice, "I want all the kinds."
Of course in actual usage "one of a kind" means that an object is unique, that there are no other objects that are like it. Usually the words "one of a kind" are paired with "original." Or maybe I'm mistaken. In reality "one of a kind" may actually be short for "one of a kind original" in which case current usage begins to make more sense.
6 comments:
Kelly, I enjoy the fact that you think about what words really mean. I do that too, tho' not as much as you perhaps, but I think it's important.
I've taught my kids not to say "I love that candy" or "I love that movie." I've told them that they shouldn't love something that can't love them back. I should probably amend that, because we are called to love those who don't love us, but at least they are people with eternal souls, and have the potential to love. Maybe I should tell them to save their love for God and people, but I can already think of 2 exceptions: pets, and our country, and the Word (I thought of a 3rd as I went along).
Anyway, I enjoyed your consideration of "alright" as an answer to the ubiquitous "How are you?"
Here's a question for you: what is a good question to ask a friend when you see them and want to catch up on their status? Is "how are you?" the best? How about "What's new?" "How are you doing lately?" "How are things going for you?" What I would like to say, probably, is "What's your heart like lately?" but that sounds like something a counselor would say. I could say that to few people.
I like using a different phrase than "How are you?" in order to signal that I truly am interested in the answer. If I don't want to know, I don't ask. Thoughts?
Jamey, I felt compeled to put in my 2 cents (where did that phrase come from?). In Campus Life, they teach us as a part of ministry to get to really know people - to get them to open up. I think that is what you are after, correct? Well they taught us a great way to do that, which is to "ask questions without question marks." Such as, "Tell me about what's going on in your life" and "Tell me about how school's going" or "I'd like to know what you've been thinking about lately." This can go lots of different ways, these are just a few I thought of off the top of my head. I hope that's some of what you were looking for.
I love that my little sister had an answer to Jamey's question. I am very and proud of her.
When I just happened to run into Alice last weekend she asked me what was new in my life. Unfortunately at the time I had no answer for her because I wasn't in a situation where I could take the time to think about my response.
My other favorite that Jamie mentioned was "What have you been thinking about lately?" because that one may be specific enough to make it easier to answer. In my case, I've been thinking a lot lately about what Chesterton says about love in the course of making an entirely separate point. I've been dwelling on these words: "...to love [anything/anyone] with a transcendental tie and without any earthly reason (66)." Chesterton goes on to talk about when you love someone/something you want it to be its absolute best. My wish is that I could love anyone/anything that way. It's the same sort of thing Fred preached on about a month ago, that sort of love leads to speaking the truth in love.
That's a great idea, Anna Grace! I'd imagine that saying it that way promotes a longer conversation, whereas asking a question can elicit a brief answer ("Much the same," "Alright," etc.).
Kelly touched on something important. Narrowing the scope of the question is helpful. Even I believe that the person wants a real answer and even when I want to give one, when someone asks me "How are you?" or "What's been going on?" I am paralyzed by the breadth of the question. Nothing comes to mind, many times. But, with a little direction, I can answer much easier and better.
Sometimes, it's not a matter of opening up or remaining concealed; but instead it's brain shock.
I get brain shock when someone asks me what I did this week, or what I did yesterday, etc.. I almost have to look at my calendar to be able to put life into a time frame. Just one more piece of evidence that I'm a "P" and not a "J" on the MBTI scale.
Kelly, I think you like being asked what you've been thinking about because you are a thinker. I guess, we may even need to tailor our questions to individuals based on their personality, etc.. People who are not as reflective might be baffled by that question.
A good phone question I once heard was from my sister's friend in high school, Bruce LaCharite. I don't remember why I had to call him, but I was embarrassed to do so since he was a senior and I was a freshman. His telephone protocol put me at ease immediately, and was very multi-purpose and open-ended. He said, "Hi. What's on your mind?" That's good for people calling with a specific agenda, like to find out something, and also for those wanting to "hang out" on the phone.
Shelly G. also has a good one she uses when we're trying to make plans: "What are you thinking?"
Post a Comment