Cliff
You present a correct definition for rhetoric, but my use was not as
a classical rhetorical device. The etymology I presented is correct.
Military intelligence is often called an oxymoron. If you have been
in the military, if you have seen the way they (indeed the way most
rigid bureaucracies work) you will inderstand that military
intelligence is indeed an oxymoron, in the root sense of moronic
brilliance. Besides, intelligence as used here is an inflation of
words; intelligence is used to mean information.
Existence of an object does not prevent the words used to describe
it from being an oxymoron. Indeed Giant Shrimp exist, but that
certainly does not mean that the two words don't contradict each
other and in the root sense. Giant shrimp is indeed an oxymoron.
While I enjoy this, many won't and it is really off topic, so I
encourage you to continue this by private email.
David
On Fri, 18 Aug 2000, Cliff Wise wrote:
>
> An oxymoron is an element in classical rhetoric in which opposites are
> combined to sharpen a point, not to contradiuct it. An example would be *His
> empassioned plea was met by thunderous silence*. Giant shrimp probably exist
> as does the oft quoted non-oxymoron military intelligence.
----- Original Message -----
> From: David Teague <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Cc: <debian-user@lists.debian.org>
> Sent: Friday, August 18, 2000 2:33 PM
> Subject: Re: Hardware Modems
>
>
> >
> >
> > On Thu, 17 Aug 2000 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> > [about hardware modems that don't work under linux and why.]
> >
> > Romeu:
> >
> > Well /explitive censored/ That is just awful. My 33.6 Modem says I
> > get 66K throughput when compression is ineffect too.
> >
> > You ask "what is an oxymoron" .... a self contradiction.
> >
> > Oxy means sharp, in german, oxygen is 'sour stuff" (approximately)
> > or sharp stuff. And moron means dull or blunt. so an oxymoron is
> > 'sharp-dull' or a self contradiction.
> >
> > Giant Shrimp for example.
> >
> > --David
> > David Teague, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > Debian GNU/Linux Because software support is free, timely,
> > useful, technically accurate, and friendly.
> > (I hope this is all of the above.)
> >
> >
> >
> > --
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> /dev/null
> >
>
>
> --
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>
--David
David Teague, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Debian GNU/Linux Because software support is free, timely,
useful, technically accurate, and friendly.
(I hope this is all of the above.)
