2011-10-01

Finding Our Way

"My car's navigation computer is broken! How will I get to the show now?"
"You could always use ... this."
"Wow, an old-fashioned paper map! Does it still work?"
"Look, here is where we are now..."
"Right under your finger, ha ha, yeah."
"So you follow this road to here, then turn here, then —"
"Wait, no! There's a break in the road!"
"What? Where?"
"Here!"
"That's a rip in the paper because of the fold."
"So how do I get past the break in the road?"
"It's not a break; it's a rip."
"Semantics! You say rip; I say break!"
"The rip isn't part of the map!"
"Look right there! Are you saying that's not part of the map?"
"From the point of view of the map, it's not there."
"The map has a point of view?"
"No, no. Listen: the map is not the territory."
"So they say."
"Right. And that rip isn't there in real life."
"But ..."
"Lord! For millenia people have used maps successfully! What's your problem?"
"It doesn't make sense, is all. You and your invisible rips!"
"Okay, forget that. I have a different idea."
"What now?"
"I'm sure you already have one of these, but ... here."
"A compass?"
"Yes. If you use this and heed the signs, you'll get to where you need to go."
"How does it work?"
"Magic. It works by magic. It has always worked by magic. Just use it intelligently."
"So, sense of direction, common sense, and paying attention. Anything else?"
"Yes. Enjoy your journey!"

1 comment:

  1. The information on the medium is to be held separate from the medium. The information (map) is not the paper (medium).

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