Life Is Gray

Fortunately.

Too often people try to paint everything as black and white, when, in fact, nothing is. We are confined to a reality between theoretical extremes that only exist in our minds.

I got thinking about this topic when I saw someone correct someone else about the improper use of a phrase like "almost unique". It triggered memories of elementary school when I learned that the phrase "more perfect"--right from the US Constitution--is improper English. Rubbish.

Words like perfect and unique are extremes. Denying the use of adverbs with them in comparisons is basically saying that you are not allowed to compare anything to them.

Surely if there are only two of some object in the world, then it is almost unique. It is also not unique. But it is more unique than something of which there are a million copies.

What is a perfect sphere? It is a set of all points in three dimensions that are the same distance from a common point. Do any exist? No. But we use the definition to compare real objects to. The Earth is a more perfect sphere than a Rubik's Cube.

Language is complex, subtle, and vitally important. Let's not handcuff ourselves with it. Leave that to the lawyers.

Life and games are full of shades of gray between the two extremes of every measurable property. Embrace the gray.