Word Power

One thing a communications student learns is that scribal cultures assign a near-magical component to the power of the written word. Accordingly, we will write positive predictions, but are generally less willing to do so if they are negative. Suddenly, we fear that they could come true.

By way of demonstration, one professor asked the following:
Write the birthday of your best friend.
Write the date your best friend wins the lottery.
Write the date your best friend's death.

Even at the age of twenty, only 10 students in a classroom of nearly 200 were willing to write that last date on the paper. I was one of the 10 brave, and even then I cheated. I wrote a date in the past. Why? Words are powerful. The spoken word can soothe or wound, but it is ephemeral. Once spoken, it is gone. Our memory may hold it, but the moment is lost forever. With the written word, there it is -- on the page -- and there is no denying it.

A certain logic should suggest that writing down resolutions would be an inducement to "make it so". However, I suspect that the New Year's Resolution is the perfect argument against the "magical" power of the written word. At least that seems to be the case for me.

Perhaps it is my deep-rooted need to push back against "the system", but no sooner did I commit my ideas to "paper" did I start to rebel. Off The Shelf? Ha! If I am forced to read those boring books lying about, then I will not read at all. If I cannot knit from yarn that I do not already own, then I will ignore my current projects.

How is that 100 miles by April 1 coming along? Calculate the distance from couch to refrigerator by the number of trips, I think it is coming along swimmingly. I am quite tempted to join in the fun with Jen (over at JenLa) get in on the UFO Resurrection Project. As frogging is allowed, I will have to work extra hard to maintain my award.