Thursday, February 18, 2010

A different way of thinking.

Cliches and Conundrums...

"You Learn Something New Every Day"
Actually, you learn something old every day. Just because you've just learned it doesn't mean it's new. Other people already knew it, Columbus is a good example of this. Edison and Einstein are the exception.

"The Sky's The Limit"
Well, how can the sky be the limit? The sky never ends. What kind of a limit is that? The earth is the limit. You dig a hole and what do you keep getting? More earth. The earth is the limit.

"You Get What You Pay For"
Clearly this is not true. Have you been shopping recently? Only a very naive person would believe that you get what you pay for. In point of fact, if you check your purchases carefully, you'll find that you get whatever they feel like giving you. And if corporations get any more powerful, you soon might not even get that.

"Everything Comes in Threes"
Not true. In reality, everything comes in ones. Sometimes, when three "ones" come in a row, it seems like everything comes in threes. By the way, in medieval times it was widely believed that everything came in twenty-sixes. They were wrong, too. It just took them longer to recognize the pattern.

"Nice Guys Finish Last"
Not true. Studies have shown that, on average, nice guys finish third in a field of six. Actually, short guys finish last. By the way, in medieval times it was widely believed that nice guys finished twenty-sixth. You can see how limited those people were.

"If You've Seen One, You've Seen Them All"
Do we even have to talk about this one? This should be obvious. If you've seen one, you've seen ... one. If you've seen them all, *then* you've seen them all. I don't even understand how this one got started.

"It Takes Two to Tango"
Sounds good, but simple reasoning will reveal that actually it takes only one to tango. It does take two to tango together, maybe. But one person is certainly capable of tangoing on his own. He just might look a little silly.

"If It's Not One Thing, It's Another"
No, not always. Sometimes if it's not one thing, not only is it not another, but it turns out to be something else entirely.


13 comments:

Sister--Helen said...

oh Patty you are just way too sharp today...

Arkansas Patti said...

Great job of expression busting. Can't argue with any.

Reader Wil said...

Ha, ha... yes proverbs, expressions and sayings must have started somewhere when they sounded very logical.

Twisted Fencepost said...

Boy, whoever wrote that one sure had a negative attitude! Poor soul must live a sad life. tee hee

Sunny said...

I think I like my old way of thinking better! LOL
Sunny :)

dyanna said...

He he. I think I've used some of them at some point. Others are are a bit too...old. Have a nice day.

Anonymous said...

The last time I went to Arcanum I did take my camera along to take pictures of the buffalo but they were not out.

mommanator said...

unusual thought s today Patti

Margaret Cloud said...

These were some mouth full,I am with Sunny on this. Thanks for coming by, have a great weekend.

Renie Burghardt said...

Hmm, well, there go some old stand-by's!

I have one for you: The things that come to those who wait will be the things that were left by those who got there first!

Glad your niece came through the surgery well. Still holding her in my prayers.

Have a nice evening, Patty.

Renie

Clytie said...

I love it! So funny! So true!

Beth Niquette said...

Hahahaa...OOoooh! SO true!

(grin)

And Edison might just have tapped into knowledge once known by our ancestors--I'm thinking back on those pictures of Egyptians painting underground with giant light bulbs...

Hahahaa...

Tom said...

As a very fat, over weight male I really found this funny Patty...
Give my regards to Abe