Names/Ownership
Posted by Cheryl on January 27, 1998 at 00:33:15:
In response to Naming things, written by Hil on January 26, 1998 at 18:11:30
] Can you name something without necessarily 'appropriating it'?
If you are struggling with an idea or a problem, being able to put a name to it enables you to understand and cope better. Sometimes it's helpful when others can name it for you thereby helping you along the way to understanding, so I suppose naming can be non-appropiating. I think it depends upon the namer's motives. Are they being altruistic, naming for your benefit, or are they naming for a selfish purpose, as Oscar's father is.
But usually, if it is something precious to you, some secret, personal object or feeling, to have someone else name it does seem to belittle it in our eyes. Suddenly it's not magic or divine intervention, it's just a stone. Hard to have your beliefs brought down to mere science!
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