Remembering fun LO3580

Tobin Quereau (quereau@austin.cc.tx.us)
Wed, 1 Nov 1995 17:12:33 -0600 (CST)

[Host's Note: msg reference??]

Bernie, thanks for the reminder about play being its own reward. I'll be
delighted to steal (and credit) your phrase--"Fun is the father of
invention!" I actually use the other version in creativity seminars as
part of an activity I call "Creative Cliches". It goes like this...

I ask people in small groups to make a list of as many cliches as they can
think of--A penny saved is ..., Early to bed and ..., etc. Then when each
group has at least ten to fifteen, I give them the next assignment. Take
any one of the cliches that is on the list and transform it slightly such
that it is still recognizeable, but means something very different _and_
equally wise!

Examples: (and here you can see why I like this particular cliche so much)

Invention is the mother of necessity. (now we all _have_ to have
computers) Necessity is the invention of mothers. (probably from a male
participant) Invention is a necessity for mothers. (most likely from one
who knows) Believing is seeing. (of course!)

You get the drift, I hope. We have had some hilarious and mind-expanding
transformations of the obvious into the innovative and we all get a
workout with shifting perspectives and challenging assumptions at the same
time.

Perhaps "Necessity is the invention of fathers" even works better....

Any favorites you (or anyone else) can think of? If there is interest on
the list, I have a collection of the ones I have enjoyed most which I will
be glad to pass along (if I can find it...) to anyone who gives me one for
the collection themselves. (It is no fair asking for the answers before
you have played with the process yourself.) Please send your samples to me
directly so that we don't clog up the Serious Work of the list with
frivolities. (I can always send out a collected list later one if it is
called for!)

--
Tobin
quereau@austin.cc.tx.us