Friday, February 24, 2012

CombatWords, February 24, 2012: Framing


CombatWords, February 24, 2012: Framing

Multiple Choice, True/False, or Narrative? In the framing of the question, I express a preference. Likewise, the way we think about problems in the world can often be expressed as Multiple Choice, True/False, or Narrative. I suppose you could argue that we are culturally programmed to think that way, but I don't really care about the why, so much as the what—and the what entails the methods of epistemology. Positivists and rejectionists locked in their fact-based deathmatch of derivability versus negation; schools of thought versus schools of thought versus schools of hard knocks—even the storyteller imposes a framework upon the various modes and datapoints—all of them frame the haecceity (the 'thisness') of phenomena.

Combat Expiration: 12am PST, February 27, 2012

Critique Expiration: 12am PST, February 29, 2012 with a 24 hour rolling extension for in-depth critiques.

Bonuses/Penalties: +2 if posted before 9pm PST, February 24, 2012; +1 if posted before 12am PST, February 25, 2012; -1 if posted by 6am PST, February 27, 2012; -2 if posted by 12pm February 27, 2012



Subscribe in a reader

Friday, February 10, 2012

(Im)Patience [Combatwords Feb 10, 2012]




(Im)Patience [Combatwords Feb 10, 2012]

“Fools rush in,” as a wise man once said. The element of surprise too soon exhausts itself; ambusher becomes ambushee. Impatience is even celebrated as a virtue! What a madhouse (get me out of here!)! It is impatience that sabotages my best efforts. Impatience is the enemy of permanence. It is only through discipline and patience that we become our best selves. Furthermore, impatience is often used as an antonym to complacency. “The authorities tell us that the people need patience...” 'No! We won't be patient!' Say the mob of sixteen to twenty five year old males. Have you ever tried to ask a mob to be rational? Ha! So in the spirit of revolution, the middle classes adopt the nihilistic rejectionism of young men who want all or nothing. It leads to the cozy radicalism.

Combat Expiration: 2/13/2012, 12am PST

Critique Expiration: 2/15/2012, 12am PST with a 24 hour rolling extension for in-depth critiques.

Bonuses/Penalties: +2 if posted before 9pm PST, February 10, 2012; +1 if posted before 12am PST, February 11, 2012; -1 if posted by 6am PST, February 13, 2012; -2 if posted by 12pm February 13, 2012


Subscribe in a reader

Friday, February 3, 2012

Fate or Intersection? [Combatwords, February 3, 2012]

Fate or Intersection? [Combatwords, February 3, 2012]

From even before the time you were born, the means to dispose of you was being devised, revised and deployed. Am I allergic to wasp stings? I won't know until I'm in anaphylactic shock. That's an easy one. What about the little deaths? I mean those nemeses in cashmere sweaters and worsted wool suits who kill you with commands—how long have they been brewing? I know, I'm so morbid. I could have started out by asking you about your first love, except that we all die and not all of us love (some of you are real sick fucks...). Therefore, you can write all about kismet, serendipity or any other airy-fairy frippery. I don't care. Just write and fight each other if you can.

Combat Expiration: 12am PST, February 6, 2012

Critique Expiration: 12am PST, February 8, 2012 with a 24 hour rolling extension for in-depth critiques. Come on people, this side of the combat is underutilized, but is probably the most important feature of Combatwords. Don't be chicken. Critique.

Bonuses/Penalties: +2 if posted before 9pm PST, February 3, 2012; +1 if posted before 12am PST, February 4, 2012; -1 if posted by 6am PST, February 6, 2012; -2 if posted by 12pm February 6, 2012

The Rules: http://combatwords.blogspot.com/2010/07/official-rules-for-combatwords-updated.html Subscribe in a reader