sweep

I don't mean in the sense that - "I've just finished a great book". more to the tune of:

"I'll just go and grab a coffee" or
"don't just sit there. get up and help your mother"

It seems that people need to convey the opinion that their actions are 'right' and shouldn't be questioned. perhaps this has something to do with culture. I am not sure whether people in europe or america use this word in the same way.

when have you ever heard anyone say:

"I'll just go and bugger that young girl" or

"hang on a mo. Just having a crap on you carpet"

any thoughts?

Glory

Actually, I have heard the word just used in exactly the manner you describe. It's ironic humour. The implication is that the person believes this outrageous act to be nothing unusual or consequential. The use of the word just as in,"I'll just finish my coffee and we'll be off.", implies that this single action is the only thing one intends to do before getting on with something else. It also implies that this preliminary action is not of much import. I think we use the word in exactly the same way that you do. Or have I completely missed your point?

Glory

[ November 01, 2002: Message edited by: Glory ]</p>

sweep

no, you haven't missed anything glory-

this part seemed fruity

what does it mean?

The Other Michael

Sweep,

Have you ever read Pirsig's "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" (which, like many books/CDs etc can be purchased through IIDB from Amazon.com - and we'll be glad to look up how you do that if anyone is interested)?

Pirsig addressed the problem of "just" in his discussion of Quality, in which the statement "Quality is just what you like". He found that excising "just" from that statement helped his search for "quality". I'd go into more detail but it has been quite some time since I last read the book, and beyond his finding that "just" unneccessarily diminished "what you like", I can't really recall the details of his argument.

cheers,
Michael

Glory

What part?

Now you have lost me I'm afraid.

Glory

sweep

this part glory- don't be afraid, unless someone is frowning at you. I must have been totally off it last night- didn't even post the quote. now I'm the fruitbat.

I'm really glad you mentioned that book "the other Michael" Thanks! I have read it many times but it had never occurred to me that was one of the pointers in Pirsigs book. I even read that part lots of times so that it would sink in. Perhaps It sunk in but it took someone else for me to recognise that.

In fact I even recall one line that goes:

"why should what you like be 'just'?"

Glory

Sweep,



That bit is the irony I spoke of. Of course, crapping on someone's carpet or buggering a young girl is a big deal. When one uses the word "just" to describe these actions he is juxtaposing the actions against something mundane. Thus, he points out the very outrageousness he denies by his use of the word.

When one uses "just" to describe what they like, they may be trying to give the impression that their tastes are simple or homespun.

"I just want regular coffee, none of that fancy capucino stuff."

He may also be pointing out that he is not wanting something exceptional but merely the same thing everyone wants, expects, and feels justified in asking for.

"I just want service with a smile when I go to a restaurant."

Now how did the word "justified" end up in there? Does it reflect on the word "just" in this context?

Glory

[ November 02, 2002: Message edited by: Glory ]</p>