Stalagmite
Just what is a "druther", anyway? People are always talking about how things would be different if they had theirs, but what I want to know is—ok, you don't have yours, so who does? Or does no one have your druthers? Maybe your druthers are out there somewhere, like an ore, that you have to locate? But what, then, makes it your druther?
People say things like, "if I had my druthers, I wouldn't even be dressed before 10:30 every day.". But what if I had that person's druthers—would I then be in that person's state? (Or what if I only had some of that person's druthers? For that matter, what if that person only had some? Would h/s only be partially dressed by 10:30? But partial dress is a mode of "not being dressed". Maybe the effect of a druther on a life is like that of a photon on an electron, with multiplicity substituted for energy: there needs to be a certain amount, or there's no effect at all.) Would my possession of h/h druthers mean that I don't get dressed before the appointed hour, or what?
Comments
on 2006-02-14 18:56:49.0, A White Bear commented:
So, is this like wondering, if someone took my virginity when I was 19, did he give it to the next person he slept with? Who has my virginity now? If I sleep with the right person, can I get it back?
and, further, on 2006-02-14 18:59:39.0, ben wolfson commented:
Those are excellent questions as well!
and, further, on 2006-02-14 20:03:30.0, Jacob Haller commented:
If I had a boat I'd go out on the ocean, and if I had a pony I'd ride him on my boat.
and, further, on 2006-02-15 6:45:25.0, Matthew Harvey commented:
I'm not sure if you're actually asking what a "druther" is, or if you're just riffin', but just in case it's the former, I believe it's a contraction of "I'd ruther" which is a corruption of "I'd rather."
Now, gimme back my damn druthers.
and, further, on 2006-02-15 21:29:48.0, bitchphd commented:
If you did get your virginity back, what would you do with it? You'd just lose it again, b/c you're careless like that.
and, further, on 2006-02-15 21:36:30.0, ben wolfson commented:
The thing about virginity is that it's an abstract quality—virginitas—and when we say that it's been "taken" or "lost", it's just a manner of speaking. We don't mean that anything has actually been taken, which someone else then has in his or her possession, merely that one is no longer correctly characterized by the adjective to which the property corresponds—one is no longer virginal.
Consider the case of olive oil: virgin olive oil is taken from the first pressing of the olives. It's not as if the olives actually had some physical attribute, not-having-been-pressed-before, and then after they lost that attribute, something else had to have taken or gained it. It's only a side effect of the way our language works that makes it appear that there's actually something gained or lost which can be exchanged the way, say, my lost watch can be.
I have no particular reason to believe that druthers are like this, though.
and, further, on 2006-02-15 21:46:31.0, bitchphd commented:
I get the feeling you are playing favorites here.
and, further, on 2006-02-15 21:48:23.0, ben wolfson commented:
I refer you to our exchange of 15 minutes ago.
and, further, on 2006-02-15 21:49:52.0, bitchphd commented:
No wonder they call it a "Wolfson indiscretion error."
and, further, on 2006-02-15 21:52:24.0, ben wolfson commented:
Huh.
and, further, on 2006-02-15 21:54:32.0, bitchphd commented:
Two can play that game, but I wouldn't want anyone to think I'm insensitive.
and, further, on 2006-02-15 21:54:55.0, ben wolfson commented:
Always helpful, you are.
and, further, on 2006-02-15 21:56:13.0, bitchphd commented:
It's because I'm so insecure, and I want people to like me.
and, further, on 2006-02-15 21:57:55.0, ben wolfson commented:
Well, that strikes me as a sensible, if predictable, way of proceeding, if you really are insecure.
and, further, on 2006-02-15 22:02:57.0, bitchphd commented:
Yes, but it lacks independence.
and, further, on 2006-02-15 22:07:30.0, ben wolfson commented:
I have to say, in response to feeling challenged w/r/t favorites, you've certainly shown your self-assertiveness here.
and, further, on 2006-02-15 22:08:40.0, bitchphd commented:
I can't resist being overdramatic, and my pride was threatened. What can I say?
and, further, on 2006-02-15 22:11:08.0, ben wolfson commented:
You could show some flexibility.
and, further, on 2006-02-15 22:13:07.0, bitchphd commented:
That would require confidence.
and, further, on 2006-02-16 14:14:37.0, Matt Weiner commented:
I thought the first pressing was extra-virgin?
...extra-virgin seems to necessarily be the first pressing, but the first pressing may also be virgin. Does virgin have to be the first pressing? My sources are not clear.
and, further, on 2006-02-16 19:45:26.0, Becks commented:
My sources are not clear, either, but this much is for sure: extra-virgin must come from the first pressing, virgin may come from the first pressing, neither may be chemically treated, and extra-virgin has a lower level of acidity, although the acceptable levels of acidity for both grades are in dispute.
and, further, on 2006-02-16 19:46:30.0, Standpipe Bridgeplate commented:
Ben, what in Heaven's name have you done to Geoff Pullum?
and, further, on 2006-02-16 19:49:54.0, ben wolfson commented:
He works for me now.