Mind
Wandering is Good for the Soul
Sitting
down to today’s Wordplay Wednesday
work, I was all seriousness and solid focus. This week’s word certainly follows
that path … but my impish muse had other ideas as I considered a combative …
WHIFFLER (hwifʹlɘr)
n. – a person who vacillates or shifts position frequently in argument. [WW #263]
So it begs the question … which came first … the
Wiffle Ball or the whiffler? LOL Sorry, just couldn’t hold it back. My muse danced with glee when I
segued into Wiffle Balls before settling down to work.
Well, we could argue the point that in the hotly
contested Wiffle Ball contests (tongue-in-cheek), a player could become a whiffler, as he/she argues with the base umpire … right?
Of course, that would mean taking the game of Wiffle Ball* seriously. “Back in
the day,” (it was a ‘60s backyard favorite) my younger brother, Donnie, loved
the game and begged me to play. Sometimes I even let him win … or maybe I cheated,
as I liked hardball and wasn’t that good at the Wiffle-thing. His memory is all
I have of him now, but it’s a good one!
Do you have a fun Wiffle Ball memory? Feel free to share and if
appropriate, will post asap. Sometimes it’s good to let your mind wander off a
bit for a breath of fresh (sometimes silly) air—just remember to rein it back in
before the day gets away. Which reminds me …
Back to the Wordplay whiffler … this type of whiffler takes advantage of confusion
in an argument and basically seeks the case that will result in a “win.” It
isn’t necessarily a bad thing … depending on the topic of the argument …
but it can
be annoying to the person trying to refute the whiffler’s original claim.
Victory by chaos? It’s been known to happen. Wonderopolis.org
comments, “We get our English word ‘war’ from the High German (‘werran’)
and Old English (‘were’) words that mean ‘confusion’ or ‘to confuse.’” And
there you have it. Or rather, the whifflers have it.
So writers—can’t you just see a whiffler scenario in
your fiction characters—especially spousal arguments; or a nonfiction real-life
conflict? We know there are more than a few whifflers in politics, for example.
Word Challenge:
WHIFFLER. Think about the nuances of a good—or bad—argument, as you fit whiffler into your week of contentious writings.
* By
the way, moms-and-dads-at-home-with-kids … the Wiffle Ball link above takes
you to a terrific place for parents to find games of ALL kinds! Board games /
card games / classroom games / Holiday games & more! Click here: Game On Family’s official site. And no, I don’t
receive compensation for links and mentions I make on any of my sites. I just
love to share a good find.
Learning knows no prejudices or boundaries, and it isn’t fattening!
Expanding your mind is a no-cost, simple joy. Do you feel that way too? What’s
your inspiration? Share your creative genius and Wordplay Wednesday comments below.
Write first for yourself … only then can you write for others. (L.Rochelle)
[LinDee Rochelle is a writer and editor by
trade, and an author by way of Rock & Roll. She has published two books in
her Blast from Your Past series (of
three) about pioneering R&R Radio DJs. True behind-the-mic tales make GREAT
Holiday and anytime Gifts available on Amazon (eBook and print): Book 1 – Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The First Five Years
1954-1959; and Book
2 – Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The Swinging Sixties. Coming soon … The Psychedelic
Seventies!]
*Note: 1) Dictionary
definitions are quoted from Webster’s New World College Dictionary. Yes,
we sometimes present them out of “official” context—but that’s half the fun!
Think of it as “creative context.” 2) Neither I (LinDee Rochelle) nor Penchant
for Penning are responsible for how you use information found here, that may
result in legal action.
E-N-Dzzzzzzzz
