Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Old and New
How do you tell if something is old? And when does something change from new to old? Is there a time limit? I've wondered about old stuff that is bought. I guess when that happens, it changes to new. When you buy an antique tool that is 100 years old, it becomes new for you. How long must you keep it until it becomes old again?
When you buy an antique can you consider it new, or if you call it new, does that make it a non-antique? Is the phrase "a new antique" contradictory? Even for stuff that isn't an antique, when does it cross the line from new to old? Or does old even pertain to time? Old seems like something that isn't wanted. I'm guessing that old means you don't want it. That would mean that once something becomes old, it isn't a desired item. Otherwise, it's probably matured or weathered or some such term. Something old and undesired gets dirty and worn, while something that's an antique or heirloom gains a patina.
If I can't run up the stairs any more, I'm old, but if I can demonstrate the knowledge of the ages, I'm mature. A 200 year old chair is a desired antique, while a 12 month old egg is just old and nasty. That brings up the question of does everything have its own range of old, new, and ancient? While furniture and Twinkies seem to last forever, stuff like bakery bread and computers are out-dated in days.
2fers: Old New-Gate and Old Computer Stuff (a lot of which I used and still own
