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R is for “Random Order” - Oxymorons from A to Z



R is for “Random Order” - Oxymorons from A to Z

Hit-or-miss, this one leaves us scrambling for sense. Sure, times exist when rosters need to be reported in no particular order, but it's still puzzling.

Consider a list of contestants in a talent show, for example.

Traditionally, they might be announced alphabetically. Of course, that means the A-guy has to break the ice every time. And the Z-guy has to play to a tired, distracted audience. 

By rolling out the talent randomly, the contest producers may aim at fairness and impartiality. So they draw names, jumble the list, shuffle the deck, or at least pretend to order performances haphazardly.

Random may be fair, or even fun, but it’s really not order.

What’s an oxymoron?

Basically, an oxymoron is a phrase that seems contradictory or incongruous. Taken literally, the words do not make sense. Often, oxymorons find their way into popular usage, becoming cultural catchwords or frequently used idioms.

Many of these curious wordings strike us as delightfully amiss. Besides, what sort of whimsical word is “oxymoron”?

Delightfully Amiss: Berzerkians Gone Amok … and Finding the Funk in Dysfunction is participating in the April A to Z Blogging Challenge. That means you can find a new post every day (except Sundays, because those are the event rules) throughout the month of April. Be sure to bookmark, follow, or subscribe! And please leave a comment, especially if you’re playing along with the A to Z Challenge.

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1 comment:

  1. I dunno: if it's not an order, then they'd all be going on at once. Order doesn't necessarily mean a specific rule or pattern, it can also mean the way items are arranged in a line one at a time. Or so it seems to me. Hope I didn't step on your fun oxymoron there. ;)

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