Monday, January 19, 2009

I don't know. I don't think my self-imposed system of putting a time constraint to my posts is working. In retrospect it matters little. I'm supposedly supposed to write for me. That works I guess. Bygones.

So would you believe me if I said that all I have to say is up in my head and I'm too lazy to type it out. Fat chance I'd say. This leads however to an interesting paradox. Well, it's not really THAT interesting like the birthday paradox or I don't know, something else. Although if you think about it, the birthday paradox isn't really that surprising. Right, so if one thinks about it, one should realize that fat in Chinese culture means prosperous. In other words it's an indication of wealth, happiness, fortune, you know, good stuff. So-if you can't see where I'm going with this you must be pretty dense frankly speaking-if fat is a symbol of good fortune, then shouldn't the phrase "fat chance" be used to describe a relatively favourable situation. Rephrased, shouldn't the term "fat chance" be used in a sentence where by the outcome(s) or intended outcome(s) in question are favourable/likely?

Example:
A: Oh, the grass is going to be green tomorrow!!
B: Fat chance!

OR

A: Is Murray going to win the Australian Open this year?
B: Fat chance man.-Based on how he's playing, I really think he's going to win by the way-

See?

BUT

Such...ah...cognitive thinking-sounds about right-fails under inspection. Realize that the word fat in this "proof", if you will is, biased. I have taken an utterly one sided view in this argument i.e. the that only Asian people-Chinese was too narrow a group-associate fat people with prosperity. And since social norms are set by society at large and the general consensus is that "fat chance" is to be a negative remark, at times cynical, it has remained so. Probably due to the stigma that fat people are ugly. Of course many of would beg to differ while simultaneously condemning my remark, however it is alas true. After all, do you not call a person fat when you feel particularly vindictive after a period of absence? The list goes on. Society wills it. Of course there's also the fact that fat people are generally unhealthy. That frankly is probably where it all started, the stigma I mean. Obviously the Buddhists didn't see the link between heart attacks and getting fat. And from there who knows. Maybe fat bookies were always lucky. Or maybe there was a guy named Fat who gave lousy odds. Speculations.

Fact is, my paradox is quite localised. But what can I say eh? Love those societal norms!

Thats about it. By the way, any good books? Most of the books I'm reading are by dudes who've been dead for at least 20 years. I figured I needed something...ah...fresh. Meh. Fat chance anyone's going to reply me frankly.

No comments: