Sorry to get strict with y’all, but I have now read this cliche one too many times:
It has been said that doing the same thing over and over again while expecting different results is the definition of insanity…
That was the lede of a press release I got last night from Thad Viers. I think he went on to say something about President Obama’s policies (why, I don’t know, since he is a state rep), but I couldn’t go on after that beginning.
And that’s it. I hereby banish it from the realm…
Here’s another that’s skating close to the edge:
As Pogo said (sometimes it is rendered as “as someone said,” but I’m using the proper construction here), “We have met the enemy and he is us!”
I allowed that one once on the blog yesterday — I won’t name any names — but I’m reaching saturation point.
Maybe I’m the only person here bothered by these constructions, perhaps the result of 35 years of editing mountains of copy about politics. I’m oversensitized. In any case, enough is enough.
To explain, these don’t work because they no longer surprise, and their value depended upon your not knowing what came after the opening words. They were awesome when they first appeared. They were less awesome the second time. Their awesomeness is now into the negative numbers.
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Yesterday, I thought the Pogo quote would have been better if it had ended “… and he is SC.”
OK, I just looked, and it turns out that Thad is running for Congress:
“We need your help in our race to bring conservative ideas and principles to Washington. Will you help me raise $10,000 by September 30th? Please donate $100, $50, or $25 to our campaign. Every contribution will bring us closer to having a sane economic policy coming from our leaders in D.C.”
You know what? If Thad Viers is running for Congress, maybe I should, too.
How about it? Would anyone care to contribute to a campaign to run hackneyed phrases out of our nation’s capital? If so, I’m your man. I’m in Joe Wilson’s district. I think he and I might present a sharp contrast on that particular point — give voters a real choice.
Run, Brad, Run!
Wait, didn’t someone else use that slogan–well, not the Brad part?
I’d move to your district to vote for you! My parents (in Aiken) are already there (for now, anyway)
The one about insanity should be outlawed because it would be a stupid definition, in my opinion. Doing the same thing over again can give different results if other variables have changed, and often the doer is aware of that, thus the expectation. There are also situations where repetition is an acknowledged part of the process to eventual success.
Hey…It is what it is.(cringe)
Hey, the definition of insanity or stupidity, or some such is drinking poison and waiting for your enemy to die (I’ve been hearing Mr. Mandela’s quote about resentment misquoted far too often of late).
Depends on your definition of ‘is.’
How about We have meant the enemy and he’s doing the same thing over and over again. Is he insane or what?
Others that should be retired:
At the end of the day …..
He gives 110% effort
It’s a chess match
Class Warfare
The question is, Brad, if you run against Joe Wilson will at least some of the voters in Wilson’s district be willing to resist the urge to once again blindly cast a ballot for him?
Some might contend that repeatedly voting for Wilson while expecting different results is the definition of insanity.
Would anyone care to contribute to a campaign to run hackneyed phrases out of our nation’s capital?
Oh, heck yes. Please make “boots on the ground” and “skin in the game” extinct.
The original “insanity” quote first appeared in print in Rita Mae Brown’s _Sudden Death_ (1983). A variant (which I like better) was published in _Narcotics Anonymous_ “basic text” the year before. It says “Insanity is repeating the same mistakes and expecting different results.”
brings to mind:
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it” Santayana
to be followed by my favorite play on it
“Those who what heard that quote by Santayan are condemned to repeat it” Alex Sanders.