-1 * -1 = .... -1?

[madbaker]

"Dumb-ass" is a negative.
The opposite of "dumb-ass" is "smart-ass".

But "smart-ass" is a negative. Math /= Language.

Edited to add: Looking at it with a bit more mathematical rigor, perhaps the apparent contradiction is a result of applying a function incompletely, i.e. inverting only half the phrase ("dumb" -> "smart") when it should be applied to both halves of the phrase.

So, what's the opposite of "ass"? I nominate "elbow" (as utilized in the phrase "He doesn't know his ass from his elbow", which relatively clearly implies opposition).

Therefore, the opposite of "dumb-ass" would be "smart-elbow".
Since this phrase is nonsensical, the attempt to reconcile the contradiction by fuller application of the function is disproved.

Comments

[goldenstag.livejournal.com]

There are (IMHO again) many factors in this. The media, who have fallen into the trap of believing their own hype, make it easy for folk to listen to them, instead of to educated people. Listening to educated people means work, and Americans seem to be, by and large, lazy. It's a real shame, but ... look at the American Work Ethic -- compare it to 100 years ago. Heck, compare it to 50 years ago ... this is one of those things that I think we can poke at for years and never get a single answer to.

The government takes funding away from the education system for whatever pet projects they feel are more important than educating kids.

Those kids turn to the media. The media caters to them, and brings the level down ...

It's another of those catch-22 situations.

tangent

[cvirtue.livejournal.com]

I remember being extremely surprised while watching TV in England; they asked an Anglican Bishop to come in and give opinion on something that wasn't religion-related.

Re: tangent

[goldenstag.livejournal.com]

Well, no matter what else you can say, the schools there are pretty good, and folk are generally pretty well educated.