Sterling work

[undyingking]

Today I got in change a pound coin with a sticker obscuring one face. The sticker says "Exchange this pound for a FREE Fruit Sourz at <bar>".

Now, call me obsessively pedantic if you like -- but to my mind, if you have to exchange a pound for something, that's not quite the same as it being "FREE". In fact, some might say that this would be slightly more accurately be described as "it costs a pound". But what do I know about the economics of running bars?

Comments

[smiorgan.livejournal.com]

Mmm, very, postmodern. Or ironic. or maybe just crap

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

Not so much ironic as brass-neck.

[cardinalsin.livejournal.com]

To work out the meaning of this, you have to consider what it would mean if it were reversed.

"Exchange this FREE Fruits Sourz for a pound at <bar>"

Clearly when arranged in this manner, the Fruit Sourz was given free to person A, who will now exchange it for a pound with person B. Therefore, reversing it again, it's clear that what your sticker meant was that the man behind the bar got his Fruit Sourz free, and is now generously prepared to exchange it for £1.

QED

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

consider what it would mean if it were reversed

This is an interesting deconstructive technique, with which I wasn't hitherto familiar. Today I shall make it my challenge to apply it in as many situations as possible.

[bateleur.livejournal.com]

You're assuming it's free-as-in-beer. Possibly the intended meaning is free-as-in-speech.

So it's a drink made from fruit that have never known the cruel yoke of slavery !

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

Not sure what they have to be sour(z) about, in that case.