Quote: “The Internet is not something you just dump something on. It’s not a big truck. It’s, it’s a series of tubes.” Senator Ted Stevens, chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, which regulates the Internet.Figure of Speech: horismus, the simple definition.
Having been under the mistaken impression that the Internet is a big truck, you might feel tempted to click on the link above and view Ted Stevens’ informative comment. Please don’t. It will clog the Senator’s Internet. “Ten movies streaming across that, that Internet, and what happens to your own personal Internet?” Senator Stevens asks, rhetorically. “I just the other day got Internet that was sent by my staff at 10 o’clock in the morning on Friday, I got it yesterday. Why?”
Stevens’ simple analogy, downgrading the Information Superhighway to something in need of a plumber, counts as a horismus (“boundary”), a definition that explains the distinctions between terms and meanings. At its best, the horismus unclogs the rhetorical tubes and clears things up nicely.
It’s good to know the Internet is in such capable hands.
Snappy Answer: “Perhaps a little fiber…optic cable might be the answer.” Jon Stewart.