David Silberstein <davids at kithrup.com> writes: > On 16 Aug 2002, David Dyer-Bennet wrote: > > >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. > > Exactly. > > I find it interesting that Steve is so much in favor of flat, > unambiguous statements when so much of his writing is about characters > who often are quite deliberately ambiguous, or deliberately vague, or > who use carefully worded statements to give a completely wrong > impression of the facts (like Aerich's accusation to Shaltre). > > Sometimes one wishes to be Discreet. I think you're misreading him. He wants the scalpel in the toolbox, but *also* the butterknife. Because they are *both* useful in various situations. The choice of which to use is a practical or artistic decision. -- David Dyer-Bennet, dd-b at dd-b.net / New TMDA anti-spam in test John Dyer-Bennet 1915-2002 Memorial Site http://john.dyer-bennet.net Book log: http://www.dd-b.net/dd-b/Ouroboros/booknotes/ New Dragaera mailing lists, see http://dragaera.info