Oct 30, 2009
We can love something and have no interest whatsoever in specific examples of that thing.
Though we love books, we dislike most individual instances of the concept book.
This isn’t contradictory.
Anything else like this?
People, perhaps?
* * * * *
Music,
photographs.
If I didn’t know any better, I’d say that the latter example in your post is what gave rise to the earlier. Or perhaps I’m just projecting how I would have come up with this observation.
And I’ll add blogs.
Reminds me of the character, I think he’s a doctor, in The Bros. Karamazov who is in love with mankind, but hates man individually.
Teaching.
Amen to teaching
also big dogs
and small children
I think it tends to work the other way for me…
but certainly it is the opposite with people.
en masse = not interested
individually = very much so
I was reminded of a quote from the movie Men in Black: “A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky, dangerous animals and you know it.”
This may be the first quote from Men in Black to make it on Twenty-two Words. Nice!
awesome quote!!
I agree, Charlotte. I’d probably give up on “people” if it weren’t that I keep being confronted with this person or that person whose life and love gives me hope and courage and comfort and…..
Sure, those same one-on-one people frustrate me at times. But the good in individual relationships keeps me coming back to the value of people. Whereas, humanity in general tends to discourage me.
Exercise seems like a good example.
I’d also put camping on the list. In theory: oh so great. In practice: rainy, wet, uncomfortable, bad sleep bad food, bad breath.
Christmas.
Giving money to the poor.
Sports teams is the first thing I thought of.
Most people love the idea of “God” but have no interest in Jesus Christ.
I’d say it’s not contradictory only because it’s two different things. You may love a concept of books, but if you don’t love the actual book then your concept and the actual thing don’t match.
Which is just a long way of saying you don’t really love books.
Your post raises an age-old question. Is there essence without substance?
saturday night live
brilliant! would “more cow bell” also work?
I would add truth. I love the concept of truth, but like it much less when it collides and calls for reconciliation with falsehood in my own life.
This is so true. Nothing stings like living you life claiming to have some deep love for truth and then one day, when something undeniably true is presented to you, and you shrink back in disgust as it shatter the way you live life and you realize that all along you did not love truth quite as much as you had once claimed. The evidence then of love may not always be what your first reaction to something is, but the choices you make in pursuing that thing
Perhaps we need to know what “love” is first, then things would not seem so contradictory.
Rigney said ‘blogs’ and made my day.
Right on, again! Thanks for the laugh (guilty one, that is!)
Proudly sporting a mustache…
Isn’t your logic backwards? Don’t we love things because of specific examples? We just forget the specific examples overtime.
How about being married. I love marriage namely because of my experience in my specific marriage.
Or, perhaps I’m an idiot and don’t understand your point (this is usually the case).
we spent too much time together this week, didn’t we?
worship music
Amen Jared!
Deutsch
German speakers.
Handmade things
YouTube videos.
I certainly know what you mean … and experience it. Someone was right to mention teaching. But what do you do with it? I think it is a disorder of some sort.
Sermons.
Preachers.
Computers. I remember saying this to myself in the past, but I only admire most things Apple. Maybe the occasional PC netbook (until Apple gets one). Interesting point for sure. BTW – dig the new commenting setup!
Food.