Standards and adaptations

Last month, I found a way to alleviate my restlessness, one that goes some way to deal with that quandary overseas. Now to deal with blisters and friction burns, as well as stages of learning new movements in a school based on adapting to different sparring partners with different builds. I like knowing what the standards for these moves are. No, I won't be able to perform them all the standard way, especially considering the way I'm built. But I'd rather know what the baseline is for the average human, understand how it's used and how it affects the opponent, before getting into too many of the adaptations, thanks. The way I think about this process is tied to how I think about words. I like knowing what the standard definition is. Having a standard definition, a standard way of using the word, is the base from which alternative uses can be developed. Familiar with something called a sisyphean task? In mythology, Sisyphus was sentenced to roll a rock to the top of a hill. (Wow. That can't possibly be hard.) Just at the point where he's about to reach the top, the rock rolls back down. Each. And every. Single. Time. Oh, did you think you'd finished that last project and could finally go to bed? Well, guess what - you've got another one due in an hour! Sleep? Not for you! (Faceplant into keyboard.) The point is, would the word 'sisyphean' hold any meaning if there was no awareness of the myth it's based on, and therefore, nothing to compare to and use on a modern-day example? For those who scream and demand something new, how about the meme with the baby and his little fist, then? That's slightly more contemporary. Without any words on it, it's just a photograph of an adorable bitty scowl and a clenched hand. Why is that facial expression seen as triumph?

The kid might be cute, but why isn't the scowl seen as anger ('I shall crush you like a bug in my palm') or frustration ('I can't get rid of this squished bug in my palm') or disgust ('I just ate a bug and spat it in my palm')? Is it because that's the face used in every other post on mini-examples of win? Like it's some kind of standard now? There's a story behind 'sisyphean' that gives it its meaning, just like there's a story behind (well, around) the photo that gives it the meaning of triumph. These are just two more examples showing that, despite all these variations in individual methods, there really isn't anything new, just new to you.