What is a magic paragraph? (This place really needs an FAQ)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Matt the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat"
<mpkundert@students.wisc.edu>
To: <moq_discuss@moq.org>
Sent: Monday, July 09, 2001 2:27 PM
Subject: Re: MD Watch this:
> Chris,
>
> Okay, I'm beginning to see...
>
> You're in the business of creating aphorisms. But seriously Chris, you
> sound like you're selling something (other than the idea).
>
> I've checked out the site again and I can see how Magic Paragraphs could
> help. They can help with research (say, if you logged in a shite load of
> research and you want to find a specific quote) and they can help with
> inspiration.
>
> But I don't think this is a new way of knowing. And I don't think it will
> replace, say, an essay. M-Ps will only augment it, or at least the
process.
>
> I don't believe any "Progress" was made in your little example. If you
> stopped there, all you could say was that you came up with a few
paragraphs
> about what a few people said on the topic. You can't make an argument in
a
> paragraph, you can only state a position or viewpoint. That's all
> aphorisms really are: a particular insight. Anybody could come by your
> collection of quotes and shoot them down, one by one, with any number of
> their own insights. Aphorisms are clever remarks made about the topic,
but
> they have no coherence between them. That's what essays and books do.
>
> Maybe you think aphorisms are the end all, be all of knowledge. If so, I
> should think Nietzsche was the smartest person ever to walk the earth and
> we should live in his shining example.
>
> But I don't think that. I don't think producing the most aphorisms will
> make you the best or brightest.
>
> So, here's an aphorism:
>
> "Aphorisms are catchphrases, mottos, slogans, buzz words, and clichés. A
> collection of aphorisms is a Dictionary of Quotations."
>
> That'll be my new maxim. Aphorisms are cute and fun, but they are not all
> there is.
>
> Maybe everyone likes aphorisms. Maybe everybody agrees with Chris. Maybe
> I'm making a big stink over nothing, just making myself look like a big
> ass. Maybe I should take a lesson from the East and just shut-up.
>
> And I think maybe I will.
>
> Shutting-up,
>
> Matt
>
>
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