Wow. You know how when you're overexposed to a word, it starts to lose its meaning and turn into nonsense syllables? Turns out that the word "banal" is like that for me.. I got to the end of these comments and now it's a weird collection of symbols and sounds rather than a word with actual connotations.
You can do this with almost any word. It works better if the word isn't too common, but the effect is really weird if you do it to a common word. Sometimes when I'm bored, I'll say a word over and over and over until it loses its meaning. It allows one to have an appreciation for the actual sounds of English without comprehension getting in the way.
* The inherent worth and dignity of every person * Justice, equity and compassion in human relations * Acceptance of one another * A free and responsible search for truth and meaning * The use of the democratic process * The goal of world community
(credit to the Rev. Dr. Davidson Loehr)
Oh, and it often rubs me the wrong way when someone I don't know says, "Have a good one!"
From the page: Pagan Pride Day event Some Unitarian Universalist church members are questioning why the congregation is hosting a day to "educate the public about what paganism is and isn't."
01:00 AM EDT on Friday, September 15, 2006 BY RICHARD C. DUJARDIN Journal Religion Writer
PROVIDENCE -- stirs church controversy The First Unitarian Church plans to host a Rhode Island Pagan Pride Day tomorrow, but not everyone in the church is pleased. The daylong program has drawn fire from critics who say that Unitarian Universalism is a rational congregation that has tried to steer clear of superstition. In a letter being circulated among members, one critic called the scheduled series of pagan workshops "a potpourri of flaky spiritualities and ancient occult practices resembling a medieval Dungeons and Dragons festival." "The sad and scary thing," the critic wrote, is that it will probably draw a bigger crowd than discussion on how Unitarians might lead a "long overdue reform" of liberal religion. The writer added: "On the other hand, we are supposed to be committed to diversity. Therefore, instead of criticizing this travesty, maybe we should contribute to it, say, by providing booths to promote Voodoo, Santeria and the ancient Greek Olympian deities. . . . After all, what better way to exorcize the God myth than to adopt and worship a couple of dozen deities."
Because of a recent ton of spam and weird insulting comments from a brand-new poster, I'm putting in comment moderation for a bit. I'm planning to do comment moderation "Ms. Kitty Style," as in, with a very light touch and kicking only off-topic and unreasonably insulting posts.
Wow- normally I'm banal accidentally; I don't believe I've ever tried to be banal on purpose... I had spaghetti three times last week.
ReplyDeleteOoh. When I make meals too often, that often gets me in trouble. Most often it's been burritos recently.
ReplyDeleteI also find being purposefully banal somewhat difficult.
CC
I looked up the etymology of banal:
ReplyDelete"trite, commonplace," 1840, from Fr. banal, adj. form of ban "decree, legal control" (see ban (v.)).
Can I take this to mean that any government decree is banal?
Banal sayings or banal things?
ReplyDeleteBanal things:
Applebees, Outback Steakhouse, most chain restaurants
Reality shows
Formulaic books, e.g. romances or westerns
The way most Homeowners Associations would prefer you paint/landscape
Fast food
Most political speeches
Most modern romance movies
I had been specifically thinking of banal things, but banal sayings will come in handy too.
ReplyDeleteThanks, guys. These are spiffy. Keep 'em coming.
CC
Wow. You know how when you're overexposed to a word, it starts to lose its meaning and turn into nonsense syllables? Turns out that the word "banal" is like that for me.. I got to the end of these comments and now it's a weird collection of symbols and sounds rather than a word with actual connotations.
ReplyDeleteYou can do this with almost any word. It works better if the word isn't too common, but the effect is really weird if you do it to a common word. Sometimes when I'm bored, I'll say a word over and over and over until it loses its meaning. It allows one to have an appreciation for the actual sounds of English without comprehension getting in the way.
I agree,
ReplyDeleteNice Blog.
Powderblue -- the one Donovan came up with was "Jennifer Juniper". He was good with those -- "Lilania" is good too.
ReplyDeleteBanal? Television. Sports. Talking about your kids. Fast food.
Joyce says: Spearmint chewing gum. Coca Cola.
For some reason, Supercuts immediately came to mind.
ReplyDelete* The inherent worth and dignity of every person
ReplyDelete* Justice, equity and compassion in human relations
* Acceptance of one another
* A free and responsible search for truth and meaning
* The use of the democratic process
* The goal of world community
(credit to the Rev. Dr. Davidson Loehr)
Oh, and it often rubs me the wrong way when someone I don't know says, "Have a good one!"
(A good what?)
I have heard tell that the Seven Principles of UUism are banal to say nothing of U*Uism itself. . . Then again I have been told of "the banality of evil". For some reason U*Us have inspired me to come up with the term "the evil of banality" but I somehow failed to post that to the internet yet.
ReplyDeleteI dare say that intolerant and abusive fundamentalist atheist "Humanist" Unitarian Universalists (aka U*Us) intolerantly bashing a 'Pagan Pride Day' event put on by Pagan U*Us in Providence, Rhode Island is a fine example of rather banal U*U evil. . .
ReplyDeleteFrom the page: Pagan Pride Day event
Some Unitarian Universalist church members are questioning why the congregation is hosting a day to "educate the public about what paganism is and isn't."
01:00 AM EDT on Friday, September 15, 2006
BY RICHARD C. DUJARDIN
Journal Religion Writer
PROVIDENCE -- stirs church controversy
The First Unitarian Church plans to host a Rhode Island Pagan Pride Day tomorrow, but not everyone in the church is pleased.
The daylong program has drawn fire from critics who say that Unitarian Universalism is a rational congregation that has tried to steer clear of superstition.
In a letter being circulated among members, one critic called the scheduled series of pagan workshops "a potpourri of flaky spiritualities and ancient occult practices resembling a medieval Dungeons and Dragons festival."
"The sad and scary thing," the critic wrote, is that it will probably draw a bigger crowd than discussion on how Unitarians might lead a "long overdue reform" of liberal religion.
The writer added: "On the other hand, we are supposed to be committed to diversity. Therefore, instead of criticizing this travesty, maybe we should contribute to it, say, by providing booths to promote Voodoo, Santeria and the ancient Greek Olympian deities. . . . After all, what better way to exorcize the God myth than to adopt and worship a couple of dozen deities."