On Being an “A”, a “The”, or…
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Just wondering… Seth Godin posted a good one recently that’s been bouncing ‘round the cerebral cortex for a few days; it’s so short I’ll repeat here.
The article in the Times didn’t set out to say something vitally important about marketing, but it did. In starting off a profile it says,
“For the past couple of years Jun Kaneko, the ceramic artist…”
It didn’t say “a ceramic artist.” No. It said, “the ceramic artist”.
The entire tone of the piece changes. It’s so much better to be a ‘the’ not an ‘a’.
Which are you?
I don’t think it’s a trivial distinction. In fact, I’d argue that it’s worth an enormous amount of your time and your budget to focus on becoming the.
Pretty profound distinction, wouldn’t you say? So does that make me “the six-word stories guy”, at least for a few weeks? (But I wasn’t the only one, according to Google.) “The Middle Zone Musings guy”? “The strange and weird blue shark guy”? One thing’s for sure: I would be far more pleased to be a “the” than an “a”! (Aack! I think my grammar checker just exploded.)
But there’s yet another possibility: What if you’re “that” whatever? Is it better than, less than, or the same as being a “the”? I’ve been trying to recall instances of when someone or something is described as that, but my brain has turned to mush today, so no help there.
Just wondering… what’s your opinion?
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9 responses so far
Middle Zone Musings is a comfortable place to stop, have a cup of coffee and exchange ideas, big or small, with applications in the real world. I don't ask for much, just a bit of your brain every now and then. Have a seat, take a load off, and relax...
I’d rather be “the” insurance blogger rather than “that” insurance blogger (as a for instance) any time! I think “that” is often reserved for the undesirable — and celebrity is definitely in that group! We all know “that” Paris… or “that” neighbour who makes us crazy. I think “that” is more often used to separate out the bad from the good, than the good from the bad…
David, I think the rest of the world is willing to let you be the only one because they’re in awe! 299 words? I mean, c’mon!
Besides, if anyone else tries it, they’ll have to do 301 words or something. Being the first at something can reserve the position of “the”, too. Xerox, for example.
Roger, thanks for reminding me - I’ve been meaning to drop it - they’ve annoyed me for the last time too.
Gone!
Interesting: “the” vs. “that”.
As in “that” annoying “snap” window that opens when you go to leave a comment
I made a conscious decision to set up my blog to produce something nobody else was doing. Either it was a bad idea, or it’s not worth copying, or the rest of the world is willing to let me be the only practitioner of 299-word flash fictions called Very Short Novels. So far, that makes me “the Very Short Novelist”. It feels just fine.
As far as I’m concerned, you are “the six-word stories guy,” Bob! Thanks for spending time at my blog!
Hey, you’re good! I like that analysis, Karin, and maybe that helps explain why “the” is more desireable.
Also… is that what (subconsiously?) helps us to identify when the use of “the” doesn’t ring true, such as in PR patter?
No, don’t want to be a ‘that’, rather a ‘the’ or at least an ‘a’.
‘That’ is so unpersonal, so ‘far-away’, so ‘nothing to do with me/us’.
An ‘a’ has that a bit less, but a ‘the’ speaks of knowing something better, closer, personal.
But that’s a personal opinion of course.
Monique, I’m glad you said that, because it’s what I was thinking too… at least until Karin posted her comment! You’re both right, of course.
The question is, do you want to be a ‘that’, and I’m thinkin’… not me!
Hi
Insteresting, I immediately thought about a negative association with ‘that’, where Monique assaciates it with celebrity (or is that supposed to be a negative issue too ;-)?)
Like ‘that’ boy did it, or ‘that’ car is blocking my driveway.
I’d associate “that” with celebrity, which I suspect isn’t really what anyone wants. I think “the” is perfect…