Hi all,
Wonder if any of you have read “The De Bono Code™ Book”, by Edward De Bono.
He is adovcating that, well, we sort daily language expressions into codes.
For example:
Code 5/1 - “I’m sorry, this matter is not of interest to me”
Code 1/3 - “I need very specific and very detailed information on the matter indicated.”
Code 10/9 - “I am depressed. I am going through a phase of depression.”
Code 1/1 - “This is a friendly greeting. There’s no request attatched to it.”
How does those code work? Well…take 5/1 for example. I suppose when Snoopy sent another “It is a dark and stormy night” novel to the publisher, they will just send back his manuscript with a rejection slip with “5/1” stamped on it. Snoopy is supposed to know what “5/1” means…and then he will start rending his garments and complaining why they are not sending him a million instead.
Or when I meet you on the streets, I will just shout out “1/1”.
Those are what I interpert from the writer’s work. Here are his examples:
1/3 information on medication for malaria prevention.
The alarming thing about his ideas is that intimate relationships are to use the codes too. For example 10/9. Going up to the pyschologist and saying “Help! 10/9!” may effectively cut consultation time from half an hour to half a second. 10/2 means “I’m very happy today”, so I suppose we shall all just sing
“10/2 birthday to you,
10/2 birthday to you,
10/2 birthday to you,
10/2 birthday to you!”
10/1 is the code for asking people’s mood. So don’t be surprised if next time someone called up and so “Hey duke, 10/1?”
10/20 is “I appluad your success. Well done.” Well, how will you feel if after digging up weeds, watering the plants, raking the floor, mowing the lawn for six hours on a summer day for your dad and all he says to you is “10/20!”
At the end of the book. he presents a system of subsititng the entire English language by numbers alone.
Granted, this system is perfect when clear communication is needed, like in the Police (I believed they already have such a code), or in computer systems (for international software which need to cut through the language barrier) or in the military, or in times where things need to be discrete (100/20 - “Ma in a bad mood, stay in your room!”)
This is what the author says, “Something of this sort is going to happen sooner or later. That is a mathetical certainly. The sooner will depend on those people who are able to understand what it is all about and to see the need and value. The later will be influenced by those who are unable to understand the concept and are outraged by it. They will seek to impose this sad ignorance on everyone else.”
True, his code cuts down verbal excess, shortens time and removes the language barrier. But something tells me that he might be ignorant about the beauty of words itself, of composing words into poems, of novels and writings, of plays and operas.
What do you think? Any more insight on Edward De Bono?