The World's Smallest Postings

Steve Himmer (or should that be Opt Himmer? 5 Himmer?) subtly started something yesterday* that was intriguing to say the least:

Is brevity really the soul of wit? Or, more precisely, am I capable of saying anything without rattling and rambling for 1000 words at a time?

Included with this paragraph is a link to a new weblog, OneWordMeal, containing one word attached to a link to another weblog:

gumshoe

Gumshoe? Gumshoe.

According to dictionary.com gumshoe is defined as:

gum·shoe (gmsh)
n.
A sneaker or rubber overshoe.
Slang. An investigator, especially a detective.

Was Steve's use of "gumshoe" in reference to the other weblog author's travels through Argentina (travels - walking - shoe - sneaker - gumshoe)? Or was it in reference to the term "closed room" mentioned in several of the postings (closed room - mystery - detective - gumshoe)?

Possibly it was a subtle connection to the weblog author's literary discussions threaded throughout the weblog (literature - book - type of book - detective book - detective - gumshoe).

By linking to the weblog with the one word, Steve is pushing the limits of our ability to fill in the gaps and make the necessary connections, all within a context that lacks both shared experiences and environment.

For instance, I can point to something and say one word, and my roommate will easily deduce what I'm saying, fill in all of the verbs and adjectives and nouns, develop the appropriate mental image and link all of this back to the one word. But then, my roommate and I have both a shared history as well as home: all the 'clues' are in place.

Can Steve do the same in weblogging? I'm not sure, but the concept is fascinating, to say the least (pun not intended). I eagerly await the next entry in OneWordMeal.

*or Steve was in a mood of wimsey yesterday and the weblog and the posting was all a joke, using gumshoe because he stepped in some gum and got it on his shoe, but then I called the idea both intriguing and fascinating and now he has to follow through, which will teach him not to fool with Mother Blogger.

Posted by Bb at July 11, 2002 08:49 AM