Everyday Equations

Sometimes in instant message conversations I like to throw in a small equation in a word based format (if you have no idea what I mean I'll show you in a moment). These tend to make the conversation more light-hearted along with putting the point across. I guess you could argue that in that way they are a form of rhetoric as it can be pleasing and persuading at the same time. Get your friend to laugh and they're more likely to see your point.

Some examples (off the top of my head):

Hayley + Dino hat = Awesome
Therefore: Dino hat - Awesome = Hayley
and Hayley - Awesome = Dino hat


Monk - Infuse = Fail
Therefore: Monk + Fail = Infuse
and Infuse + Fail = Monk


Lion x Penguin = Lenguin
Therefore: Lenguin / Lion = Penguin
and Lenguin / Penguin = Lion


I realise, dear readers, that these are complete nonsense, that they mean nothing in the world of mathematics or indeed any other world. But I wonder what would happen if they did. I'm sure nonsense poetry has been written about more nonsensical stuff. I'm sure that stories have been based on less fact. So what if there were actually a world where things that people wrote down became true. What if taking the awesome out of Hayley produced a Dino hat? Well I guess there wouldn't be much awesome in Hayley anymore.

I love throwing random ideas about like this, because this is the real place that stories come from. Authors pretend they see things, or they base their stories in fact, but the best ones are the ones that begin with the question what if? Usually followed by something so absurd that the people around them give them looks like they're mad.

In reality everything comes from those who think what if? What if we could fly in a machine? What if we could land on the moon? What if we didn't have to farm?

Hmmm... what if...?