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"The definition of insanity...." Lame Cliche
    #11139795 -

So you know that quote; "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." ~Einstein/Mark Twain/whoeverthefuck

Am I in the minority in that I find this saying trite, annoying, and just plain dumb?

In searching out others on the inter-nebs who share my distaste for this cliche and found this blog:

http://blogs.oreilly.com/digitalmedia/2006/10/the-definition-of-insanity-is.html
Quote:
--It isn't the definition of insanity. Duh. Nor is it an indication in any way of insanity, instability, or even pimples.

--It is harmful advice (with the possible exception of any use it might see in the fields of math, logic, or theoretical science).

--It contradicts the notions of experimentation and practice.

--It is not make up for being harmful and wrong by being particularly funny.

--It is not known to come from Franklin.


If you read the comments section, you'll see that a pretty lively argument raged on over a matter of years about the value of the saying. Most people seemed to think it was a helpful saying and that it was good advice.

Of the few cynics, I found this humorous quote that pretty much sums up my who attitude toward the thing.


Quote:
And because it is falsely attributed to Benjamin Franklin or Albert Einstein or whomever, and usually quoted in all seriousness as though it were actually a definition from Webster. When someone quotes this to me, I usually laugh a little bit inside at them and then pretty much ignore anything else they have to say.


Am I alone in this or what?


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"This day is a lover..."

~Rumi

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Re: "The definition of insanity...." Lame Cliche [Re: Nunbuh_Chrubble]
    #11139820 -

poll:
Do you think this is a dumb saying?
Users may choose only one (20 total votes)
Yes
-
8 40%
No
-
5 25%
Who cares?
-
5 25%
STAL
-
2 10%
Votes accepted from 09/27/09 11:05 PM until the end of time


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"This day is a lover..."

~Rumi

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Re: "The definition of insanity...." Lame Cliche [Re: Nunbuh_Chrubble]
    #11139838 -

I don't believe the quote was, "the defition of". Therefore that nullifies a lot of those arguments.

--It contradicts the notions of experimentation and practice.

Experimenting is "a test, trial, or tentative procedure; an act or operation for the purpose of discovering something unknown or of testing a principle, supposition, etc."

Now, if you are testing the same thing over and over and expect different results, that is insane.

I love the quote. I can't believe people actually have a problem with it.

Edit: It's a quote, not a definition. Stop looking to deeply in to it because you are completely missing the point of the quote. Either that or you are just refusing to see the point of teh quote because you are too stuck on it being a definition for a word.


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Confucius say, "Man who go to bed with itchy butt, wake up with stinky finger." :strokebeard2:

Edited by tokingnome (09/27/09 11:10 PM)

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Re: "The definition of insanity...." Lame Cliche [Re: tokingnome]
    #11140626 -

Yeah yeah yeah. I get the quote. I understand what it means.

But it's like the whole "you know how they say we only use 10% of our brains..." thing. It's just one of those cliches that make a person sound dumb when they say it because it's just not true. Of course there is some element of wisdom that shines through the colloquialism, but for me it's just not enough.

Besides, it's not just about splitting hairs over the "definition" part. It's just annoying how often and frivolously this saying is used. People just whip it out for anything, attribute it to whoeverthefucksaidit, and it's been repeated so many times that it has lost any shimmer of meaning or significance.

It's not that clever. It's not that insightful. I wish people would just stop using it.


--------------------


"This day is a lover..."

~Rumi

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Re: "The definition of insanity...." Lame Cliche [Re: Nunbuh_Chrubble]
    #11140818 -

I think it's a great quote.


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koods said:
Young male going by the name "Bassfreak" entered Worcester General complaining of a sharp pain in his buttock region after attending EDM event. Attending physician considered a possible diagnosis of acute rave anus, but upon further investigation it was determined there was nothing cute about patient's anus.
Life-long trip report

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Re: "The definition of insanity...." Lame Cliche [Re: Nunbuh_Chrubble]
    #11141234 -

To say it is bad or good is one thing
(I DO think it is a usable definition, whether portraying stupidity
or something else)
And having an argument over it is probably snobbery.


--------------------

"I'm looking at you looking at it"

SUBSCRIBE TO MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL PLEASE! www.youtube.com/apollyphelion



Creator of the World's Worst Comic Book

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Re: "The definition of insanity...." Lame Cliche [Re: Nunbuh_Chrubble]
    #11141249 -

I don't know, seems pretty fucking dumb to do the same exact thing over and over and hope for something new to happen.
Obviously it's situational as well, but it doesn't take a genius to figure out when this applies and when it doesn't.


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!

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Re: "The definition of insanity...." Lame Cliche [Re: Nunbuh_Chrubble]
    #11141363 -

I've always hated it, right there with ya man.

What about rolling dice? Same things, over and over, different results...

THINK ABOUT IT MAN


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My recipe for a good time:

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Re: "The definition of insanity...." Lame Cliche [Re: skateordont]
    #11141376 -

It's the same thing over and over with the same thing over and over.
To roll dice and not expect a random outcome would be pretty dumb.
Hence why "It's a roll of the dice" is also a phrase.


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!

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Re: "The definition of insanity...." Lame Cliche [Re: jewunit]
    #11141436 -

...no!


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My recipe for a good time:

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Re: "The definition of insanity...." Lame Cliche [Re: skateordont]
    #11141624 -

if you know the actual definition of insanity, dum bass quotes like this don't matter one way or the other. git r done.


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goodbye sober day / hello milky way

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Re: "The definition of insanity...." Lame Cliche [Re: megaman]
    #11141752 -

It's obviously not the definition of insanity but this quote does have some truth to it. When I'm learnin something new or trying to improve how I do something I don't keep doing the same thing over and over again (with the exception of a few things) I try different ways of doing it to find the easiest and most efficient/practical way of doing it. Soo... I agree and disagree with you

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