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Post by Rajesh Valluri AKA Raj on Jun 24, 2008 1:05:50 GMT
Can someone explain to me as to why this phrase is considered an Oxymoron? I tried to look at the etymology of both words and still couldn't understand why it is considered as such. I have feeling it has got something to do with the word "military" rather than "intelligence".
Thanks in advance.
Rajesh
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Post by Dave on Jun 24, 2008 3:37:01 GMT
Intelligence in this sense is information gathered about the other side (enemy, if you will, or at least the other players in the situation), such as troop strength, weaponry, supplies, etc. The other meaning, of course, is knowledge or "smarts," coming down to smartness. The joke is that there isn't any smartness in the military! While this isn't totally true, if you've been in the military--any military--you might wonder though....
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Post by Rajesh Valluri AKA Raj on Jun 24, 2008 5:25:04 GMT
Intelligence in this sense is information gathered about the other side (enemy, if you will, or at least the other players in the situation), such as troop strength, weaponry, supplies, etc. The other meaning, of course, is knowledge or "smarts," coming down to smartness. The joke is that there isn't any smartness in the military! While this isn't totally true, if you've been in the military--any military--you might wonder though.... Thanks, Dave. I did some more research after reading your response. It turns out that "military intelligence" is not a true oxymoron to begin with ( how about "true oxymoron"?). It is based on an assumption that military is stupid and then attach the opposite of stupid to it to make it an oxymoron. Apparently, it was made popular (unpopular actually) by the anti-war comedians and pop bands and ended up losing its original meaning. |
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Post by Twoddle on Jun 24, 2008 7:15:53 GMT
Intelligence in this sense is information gathered about the other side (enemy, if you will, or at least the other players in the situation), such as troop strength, weaponry, supplies, etc. The other meaning, of course, is knowledge or "smarts," coming down to smartness. The joke is that there isn't any smartness in the military! While this isn't totally true, if you've been in the military--any military--you might wonder though.... Thanks, Dave. I did some more research after reading your response. It turns out that "military intelligence" is not a true oxymoron to begin with ( how about "true oxymoron"?). It is based on an assumption that military is stupid and then attach the opposite of stupid to it to make it an oxymoron. Apparently, it was made popular (unpopular actually) by the anti-war comedians and pop bands and ended up losing its original meaning. Its original meaning is still in use in the UK - I'm sure we've all heard of MI5 and MI6, where "MI" is an abbreviation of "Military Intelligence". We're aware also of the comedic interpretation, of course! (What happened to MIs 1 to 4, by the way?) |
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Post by Pete on Jun 24, 2008 10:50:38 GMT
Thanks, Dave. I did some more research after reading your response. It turns out that "military intelligence" is not a true oxymoron to begin with ( how about "true oxymoron"?). It is based on an assumption that military is stupid and then attach the opposite of stupid to it to make it an oxymoron. Apparently, it was made popular (unpopular actually) by the anti-war comedians and pop bands and ended up losing its original meaning. Its original meaning is still in use in the UK - I'm sure we've all heard of MI5 and MI6, where "MI" is an abbreviation of "Military Intelligence". We're aware also of the comedic interpretation, of course! (What happened to MIs 1 to 4, by the way?) All the MIs are listed in Schott's Miscellany, I think, Twoddle. I'll look them up when I get home. Or this might help: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MI1 |
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Post by Alan Palmer on Jun 24, 2008 11:06:36 GMT
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Post by Gabriel-Ernest on Jun 24, 2008 12:36:42 GMT
Talking about the jokes that surround the military, and to show the esteem that officers were/are held in. This one, I think, comes from the days of National Service. Before my time, I might add!
Dave and Harry were on lats duty. That is, emptying the chemical toilets into a pit and covering up same with soil. It was a rather windy day and as they emptied the last load a strong breeze whipped up the toilet paper and a piece blew across the parade ground and into the open office window of the commanding officer.
Dave said “Here ’Arry you’d best double up round to the old man’s office and get that back.”.
“Okay”, says Harry. And off he runs.
He’s back about ten minutes later and Dave asks “Did you get it?”.
“No.” says Harry, “I was too late; he’d already signed it”.
G-E.
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Post by Tone on Jun 24, 2008 20:46:07 GMT
>(What happened to MIs 1 to 4, by the way?)<
Well, they're secret, innit.
The [pick nationality of choice to insult] Military Intelligence department only ever had only one person -- a recruiting officer!
Tone
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Post by Twoddle on Jun 24, 2008 20:54:39 GMT
"There were a number of departments within the Directorate of Military Intelligence (MI1 through MI19) ..." (My italics.)
No wonder they're so bloody useless: they can't even use their own damned language properly! MI1 to MI 19, not through, for God's sake; this is the British security service Web site, not the American one!
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Post by Paul Doherty on Jun 24, 2008 21:38:29 GMT
> this is the British security service Web site, not the American one! <
And who do you think runs MI5, Twod?
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Post by Pete on Jun 24, 2008 22:17:50 GMT
From Schott's Original Miscellany: - MI1 Director of Military Intelligence and cryptography
- MI2 Russia and Scandinavia
- MI3 Germany and Eastern Europe
- MI4 Aerial reconnaissance during WWII
- MI5 Domestic intelligence and security
- MI6 Foreign intelligence and security
- MI8 Interception and interpretation of cimmunications
- MI9 Clandestine operations - escape and evasion
- MI10 Weapons and technical analysis
- MI11 Field Security Police
- MI14 German specialists
- MI17 Secretariat body for MI departments
- MI19 POW debriefing unit
This is described as a tentative list and the subject of much speculation! |
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Post by Pete on Jun 24, 2008 22:21:18 GMT
Why would you want to take their briefs off?  |
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Post by TfS on Jun 25, 2008 6:23:10 GMT
From Schott's Original Miscellany: - MI2 Russia and Scandinavia
This is described as a tentative list and the subject of much speculation! If MI2 still exist, they would be very interested in the spying activities going on in Sweden. TfS |
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Post by Verbivore on Jun 25, 2008 6:43:42 GMT
Outrageous! Dangerously close to police-state tactics!  |
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Post by Rajesh Valluri AKA Raj on Jun 25, 2008 7:20:36 GMT
Its interesting to note how the western countries are slowly curbing their citizen's privacy rights in the name of counter terrorism. As one American politician said after 9/11, "the true loss to our societies would be when we willingly sacrifice our principles and civil rights in the name of fighting these terrorists." Sadly, he is one of the very very few still believing in the principles that made America great. Even sadder is that the European countries are taking the same path as the Americans.
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