Conference quark::human_relations-v1

223.0. "Communication Illusions!" by MSDSWS::RESENDE (Do all things in moderation!) Thu Feb 26 1987 17:20

    This is stretching the domain of HUMAN_RELATIONS a bit, but I guess it
    is an example of something that humans do, which is communicate very
    poorly or cleverly at times.  Anyway, for my fellow H_R friends,
    consider this a walk on the lighter side - you probably can add some of
    your own! 
    
    Learned a new word today, compliments of my local talk radio station.
    Seems a good candidate for fruitful activity from the Noter community. 

    "Jumbo shrimp and other almost perfect oxymorons" is the title of a
    recently published book (paperback) by Warren S. Blumenthal which
    contains the following among its pages. 

    Oxymoron, noun, a combination of incongruous or contradictory words
    which make absolute sense. 

    There are two types of them.  What follows are the few I managed to
    write down during the program and are not to be construed as an
    editorial comment by anyone! 

    True oxymoron - in it's natural state it is independent of personal
    values. 

	Misc -
		zero deficit
		jumbo shrimp
		talk show
		serious humor
		important trivia
		good grief
		almost perfect
		freezer burn
		divorce court (think about it)
		slightly pregnant
		even odds
		good loser
		bitter sweet
		parting is such sweet sorrow
		arrogant humility
		fast food (bread and water 'fast')
		first deadline
		diamond ring
		baby doctor
		intense apathy
		president reagan
		bad sex (say what?)
		safe sex (in relation to AIDS)
		airline food
		clever professor
		lessor evil
		Mary Tyler Moore
		tender trap
		academic salary
		radio job
		media talents
		full-time hobby
		sci fi creature
		kick stand
		exact estimate
		limited immunity
		partial amnesty
		faulty logic
		full time free lance professional writer
		slightly preoccupied
		clearly confused
		passive neglect
		taped live
		hell's angels
		acceptable errors
		extremely average (Frank Burns from M.A.S.H.)
		real life
		social psychologist
		maybe so
		firm maybe
		probably certainly
		stand fast (nautical term)
		distant relative
		simply superb
		three originals
		original copies
		black and white
		clean bomb
		civil war
		holy war
		gross income!
		tax reform
		tax refund
		newspeak (1984)
		{permanent} guest host (Joan Rivers?)
		most unique
		somewhat unique
		incredibly real
		vaguely aware
		strawberry blond
	       	high tech
		internal exile
		soviet journalist
		backup forward (basketball player)
		good grief
		Roman catholic (local universal)
		definite possibility
		firm maybe
		happy marriage
		holy wedlock
		fail safe
		foul play
		enough time

    Quasi-oxymoron - same as true oxymoron but contain element of sarcasm.
    Exist in the eye of beholder.  Can be put-down humor, a "ah ha!"
    experience. 

	Examples of quasioxymorons -
		Amtrak schedule
		military intelligence
		sophisticated New Yorker
		educated yuppie
		Falcon's Football/Brave's Highlights (for Atlanta fans!)

	Cities -
		Intercourse, PA
		Virgin, UT
		Peculiar, TX
		Humble, KY
		Wisdom, TX
		Only, TN
		Hazard, KY

	Movies -
		M.A.S.H. - movie
		Mr. Mom - movie
		Garbo Talks - movie
		oh god, you devil - movie
		land of the living dead
		clockwork orange - movie ?
		I was a male war bride - Cary Grant movie
		father goose - Cary Grant movie
		little big man - movie
		Up the down staircase - movie
		Sand pebbles - movie
		Back to the future - movie

	Music -
		soft rock
		rock opera
		light rock
		grateful dead
		led zeppelin
		a hard day's night
		hurt so good - John Cougar song
    

    Steve

    There is an entire conference devoted to just this sort of discussion.
    
    It's lots of fun for people who like to play with words.
    
    Hit KP7 or SELECT or type ADD ENTRY UCOUNT::JOYOFLEX.
    
    Let's move this discussion there.
    
    Tamzen

    Thanks!  I just knew there had to be a conference somewhere.