Call a spade

...wait, i know i adhere to all the forms and functions of a spade, but what if i don't want to be called a spade!

A mathematical concept is typically delivered by a definition – succinct, precise, and likely polished over decades, or even centuries at a time, to achieve the universally accepted structure. A proper understanding of a definition can unlock the insight into many a connected concepts, and failure to do so can breed compartmentalization, where concepts stand alone and are often in contradiction with each other.

What is explicit and accepted often without argument and further contemplation in maths, is however far from what we claim to practise in life. Definitions are too restrictive, we proudly say. Let us keep an open mind, One size doesn't fit all etc. etc. etc. Oh, but we all have moulds that we try to fit others into, be it unknowingly or surreptitiously. And what are moulds but our own personal definitions?

And sometimes we want to know how we are defined by others.

We drive ourselves crazy trying to read between lines, scurry to catch runaway signals and extrapolate beyond point of application. All in the hope of knowing Who am i?

Who am i to you?

Last night i was watching the SATC rerun, one where Carrie is settling for an undefined relationship with Mr. Big. In a nutshell, they are seeing each other frequently, exclusively and in addition, are sleeping together. By Merriam-Webster definition (A frequent or regular male companion in a romantic or sexual relationship) that defines Mr Big as Carrie's Boyfriend. See, in maths, that will be that! Yo, boyfriend!

Alas, in this imprecise world of ours, the objects have a say. So even while abiding by all the forms and functions of a boyfriend, Mr Big reserves the power to veto the definition. What's a Carrie to do?

Absolument rien.

Tsk-Tsk...

Man, i love maths for a reason!