Klarinet Archive - Posting 001152.txt from 2000/02

From: Tony@-----.uk (Tony Pay)
Subj: RE: [kl] Toys and tools
Date: Tue, 29 Feb 2000 05:31:47 -0500

On Mon, 28 Feb 2000 16:16:09 -0800, kevinfay@-----.com said:

> Final thought -- what is a toy? One possible definition I'll proffer
> is a piece of hardware whose use inspires happiness. At that level,
> is the clarinet itself not a toy?

I suppose a toy is something the use of which *on its own* is
satisfying. As soon as you use it for something *beyond itself* it
becomes a tool.

It could still be thought of as a toy -- but somehow the special frame
around it has blurred, so that's less satisfying.

Compare Mark Twain and the Mississippi.

Perhaps the toy/tool distinction in posts is a useful one. From my own
experience, I can understand why people want the 'best' toy, even if
that's relatively unconnected to what makes it the best, and even if
it's an incoherent want.

On the other hand, your idea of why you want the best tools is sharpened
by your developing use of them.

A way of putting it that I think is useful is that toys come out of
have --> do --> be, whereas tools come out of be --> do --> have.

Tony
--
_________ Tony Pay
|ony:-) 79 Southmoor Rd Tony@-----.uk
| |ay Oxford OX2 6RE www.gmn.com/artists/welcome.asp
tel/fax 01865 553339

... I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy!

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