[QUOTE=maratsade]essell!

As for oxymoron, the etymology is pointedly (oxy), or sharply foolish (moros), which itself is an oxymoron. So we're both right.

Well, you should have stayed away from etymology. As a professional writer, that's my turf. Etymology is the study of word origins, not what they mean now. The fact is, what a word ment in Greek 1000 years ago has no place in a debate about its current definition.

Yes, Oxy (from the Greek oxus) means sharp (in taste or smell), pungent, or acid, as in Oxygen, and Moron (from the Greek moros) means foolish or stupid. That does not mean that the word now means sharply stupid.

Currently, the word is used to refer to a phrase that is self-contradictory.

Some common examples are "jumbo shrimp," "known secret," "live television," "modern history," and "peaceful conflict." Liberals think the phrase "military intelligence" qualifies, while conservatives counter with "tolerant liberal" as an example of an oxymoron.

Some other nice ones are "innocent seduction," "unbiased opinion," "we're alone," "act natural," and "targeted spam." "Paid volunteer" and "socialist worker" are another pair of common examples. If you don't like Microsoft, you may think "windows security" qualifies. Too bad. Get over it. Gates is rich, Windows won, and being jealous won't help.

I now return you to your regularly scheduled discussion of caning as it relates to the study of philosophy. I am always interested in these discussions, as they seem to take something simple and try to make it complex. Sadists inflict pain because it turns them on to do so, and masochists let them because it turns them on to feel the pain. Lucky folks like me can get off on either.

If you tire of this debate and want to try something different, I offer these possible subjects.

1. It's bad luck to be superstitious.

2. I'm not paranoid, even though everyone is always saying I am behind my back.

3. If you are 18 and not a liberal, you have no heart. If you are 40 and not a conservative, you have no brain.

4. The only worthwhile meaning of "gun control" is the ability to hit your target.

5. It ain't what you don't know that hurts you. It's what you do know that's wrong.

Thanks,

BDSMBill