Comments on: Writing in a Procrustean bed

By: andreaskluth

andreaskluth — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:57:55 +0000

Perhaps you have a point. I must raise that with the editors.

By: Thomas Stazyk

Thomas Stazyk — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:03:36 +0000

Play on words or profound insight? I don’t know, but it’s worth some thought. Thanks!

By: Richard Manchester

Richard Manchester — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:03:55 +0000

… and, as you say, Exuvia, do we have the time? Maybe, lay yourself down and allow time to pass? It is an illusion anyway.

By: exuvia

exuvia — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:35:08 +0000

“if all lies are Procrustean beds, not all Procrustean beds are lies”.

Time – deadlines – and space – 2000 characters max – are of the essence and they always run out. If they are elements of truth they are not here forever; even we are cut short in our aspirations to live. Life is a procrustean bed.

Is it a lie?

By: Peter G

Peter G — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:56:57 +0000

I totally understand the fiddlitude issue. Most editors, presumably, aren’t violinists.

Regarding problem #1, however, this seems to be merely a matter of marketing. After all, record companies have been selling extended-play bonus tracks for decades, and they wouldn’t be doing it if hurt sales of the regular three-minute song versions.

By: Cheri

Cheri — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:20:33 +0000

You are way too quick for me. I give up.

By: andreaskluth

andreaskluth — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:45:59 +0000

Philosophically, this might lead somewhere. But if all lies are Procrustean beds, not all Procrustean beds are lies. Sometimes, you don’t want to lie, you just have to stretch/chop and in the process dilute/distort.

By: andreaskluth

andreaskluth — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:44:04 +0000

Ahem. I have no idea what you’re talking about. None.

By: andreaskluth

andreaskluth — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:43:40 +0000

Indeed. Yet another reason for thinking that these Procrustean beds (ie, newspapers with fixed publication schedules) will disappear, as Phil also suggests below.

By: andreaskluth

andreaskluth — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:41:21 +0000

Aha. This, Peter G, would be: logical, reasonable, obvious.

Therefore it … cannot happen.

Seriously, I see a few problems.

1) We would, in effect, be saying “here is the version we had to make when stretching/chopping to make it fit our print edition, which we would quite like you to keep buying for its excellent writing, and here is the better version, written to its natural length.”

2) It requires effort and fiddliness, and is thus assured instant death in our organization.

By: andreaskluth

andreaskluth — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:37:43 +0000

I agree with Mr Crotchety. I think you would be invited back.

(Unless, they are pedants and will scold you for mixing metaphors with a Goth, a bear and a bed.)

By: andreaskluth

andreaskluth — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:36:18 +0000

Thanks, Aardvark,

By: exuvia

exuvia — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:49:39 +0000

Cut to size, the outcome has defined the cause.

Isn’t this the modus operandi of a lie? fitting the facts to the necessary conclusion.

The bed will not accommodate so whatever is a testimony to its flaw must suffer for telling.

How much room does truth finally have? Must it always sleep under procrustean care?

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 10:11:16 +0000

Is this why so many Economist articles lack concluding sentences?

By: Cheri

Cheri — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 04:51:43 +0000

Dammit. I meant Present Participle.

By: Cheri

Cheri — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 04:51:04 +0000

For your readers who have forgotten, I will chime in here:

Present Past Past Participle

to lie (recline) lie lay have lain

to lay (place or put) lay laid have laid

By: Phil

Phil — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 01:58:59 +0000

The Procrustean bed for news writing may become progressively redundant as news publishers abandon printing for the web.

By: Mr. Crotchety

Mr. Crotchety — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:29:33 +0000

…or they might agree and offer you another drink.

By: Mr. Crotchety

Mr. Crotchety — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:28:31 +0000

One could apply this to the full volume of all newspapers to the extent that the paper will always fill up with ‘news,’ whether there is any or not. The Wikipedia news is an interesting counter-example because it doesn’t have a daily pace.

Mark Twain said (approximately), “I read the news yesterday and I read it today. I’m amazed at how little can be accomplished by a billion people in twenty four hours.”

By: Peter G

Peter G — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:11:28 +0000

Why don’t websites simply post both versions, the pre-Proscrustean one as well as the print version, so the reader can choose? For instance, post the print version and add a link to the full version, or vice versa? TV shows routinely air trimmed-down versions of interviews and then provide weblinks for viewers who would like to watch the whole thing online.

By: Thomas Stazyk

Thomas Stazyk — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:37:31 +0000

Procrustes bed–another beautiful reference of increasing obscurity.

Thanks for dusting these off. But I’m a little worried that the next time I’m at a dinner party I might tell the host and hostess that their unkempt, Goth teenager “looks like an unlicked bear who has been victimized by the Procrustean Bed of adolescent conformity.”

That may be the last time I’m invited to their house!

By: andreaskluth

andreaskluth — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:07:21 +0000

* Please don’t say “lay” here.

A guest lies in Procrustes’ bed, unless Procrustes himself lays him there.

Since this happened in the past, the guest lay in bed, unless Procrustes laid him there.