Dragaera

OT: Subjectivity vs. Objectivity (was: bois...)

Fri Aug 16 11:33:49 PDT 2002

----- Original Message -----
From: "David Dyer-Bennet" <dd-b at dd-b.net>
To: <dragaera at dragaera.info>
Sent: Friday, August 16, 2002 2:29 PM
Subject: Re: OT: Subjectivity vs. Objectivity (was: bois...)


> Chris Olson - SunPS <Chrisf.Olson at Sun.COM> writes:
>
> > > We say, "I'm involved in a relationship with Susan."  What does
> > > "relationship" mean in that context?  Do you know?  Can you define it?
> >
> > In regards to this, would qualifying it be better?
> >
> > If one was to say "I have a purely sexual, open and honest
> > relationship with Susan", would that be a more accurate use
> > of the word?  I'm actualy really curious about this one, as
> > the word is used constantly, and I've always had trouble with
> > it...
>
> "Relationship" is a case of deliberate vagueness, and as such is very
> useful.  Most people neither need *nor want* to know "Susan and I
> screw like minks on every flat surface at every opportunity".  I think
> this vague use of "relationship" is generally understood to mean
> "ongoing emotional/sexual entanglement".  A one-night stand is not a
> relationship.

There's certainly a case to be made for deliberate vagueness, even when the
result is misleading.