Recently I've been playing with Oblique Strategies, using the cards as a kind of oracle, a habit I picked up a while back. I thought I'd try an experiment. Actually, I'm not sure I have any good questions that I want to ask (not that I want to ask publicly, anyway), but, just now, I asked the first thing that came into my head, which was, "Is the world going to end soon?" (this is the kind of 'first thing' that comes into my head), and got the answer, "Is it finished?" This seemed appropriate enough to prompt me actually to go through with the experiment. So, I will type my questions, split the deck, and then write precisely what card I got, without cheating:
Q: You tell me, is it finished?
OS: Is it finished?
Q: I don't know. That's why I'm asking. Is it all over?
OS: Allow an easement (an easement is the abandonment of a stricture)
Q: Okay. I'll try doing that. Do you think it's a good idea to have the BNP on Question Time?
OS: Gardening, not architecture
Q: I must admit, that's pretty obscure. Could you clarify?
OS: Give the game away
Q: Okay, well, I can certainly interpret that, so I'll go on to another question. Is there any point ever having children?
OS: Take a break
Q: Yeah, I agree. I think we need a break. Why don't more people read Chomu?
OS: Change nothing and continue with immaculate consistency
Q: Ah, you have exceptional taste! Okay, now for a biggie. How will I die?
OS: Take away the elements in order of apparent non importance
Q: Hmmm, just like they say, eh? Okay, I suppose I can handle that. I'm going to be self-indulgent now. Do you think my new book is any good?
OS: How would you have done it?
Q: Well, pretty much the way I did do it, I suppose. I mean, I don't think there are no flaws or anything. But you're kind of avoiding the question. Make a critical judgement, please.
OS: Honour thy error as a hidden intention
Q: You minx! I'm not sure how to take that. So, I shall take it as a compliment. Thank you. I'm actually running out of questions. And it's late, and I think I want to go to bed. Maybe one more. Let's see… Should I give up writing this blog?
OS: Don't break the silence
Q: !!!!
You know, you're right. Damn, if only I could follow that advice. I shall try and start now.
Goodnight.
