[Buddha-l] the true authority on meanings

[Joy Vriens]

Mike Essex,

>'When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said, in a rather scornful tone,' it 
>means just what I choose it to mean, neither more nor less.' 
>'The question is,' said Alice, 'whether you can make words mean so many 
>different things.' 
 
>'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master - that's 
>all.' 

The following authentic anecdote was not written by Lewis Carrol, but does star Humpty Dumpty:

<Begin anecdote>
....
Wittgenstein paid a visit to John Maynard Keynes and his new 
bride, Lydia in 1925. 'Lydia remarked to Wittgenstein, no doubt 
brightly, 'What a beautiful tree,' Wittgenstein glared at her: 'What do 
you mean?' Lydia burst into tears.' 
...
<End anecdote>

Yes what could she have meant? What meaning could have possibly satisfied or even have been simply accessible to our Humpty Dumpty? 

<Begin me channeling the Keynes's home after the incident>
....
Lydia runs out of the garden and enters the house crying. She swings open the door of John Maynard's office and shouts: "I want that man to leave our home immediately!" and explains what happened. John Maynard: "For Chrissake Lydia, you know Ludi, if you wanted to convey a meaning you should have stuffed it in a properly used proper word! Learn the rules and stick to them, woman!"
....

<End channelling session>

Joy