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Evan Prodromou@evan@cosocial.ca (2026-05-29 11:20:53)
Reminded of the Audrey Lord quote by @majorlinux: "For the master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house." 

This is a weird quote because it doesn't really follow within the logic of the metaphor. Why wouldn't his tools dismantle his house?
---Reply---
Dan Jones@danjones000@microwords.goodevilgenius.org (2026-05-29 12:13:56)
She doesn't say the tools can't dismantle the house, but that they won't.


I think the point is that the master builds. Construction requires mastery, skill, and experience. But any brute can destroy. The master builds, but they don't destroy.


@evan@cosocial.ca @majorlinux@toot.majorshouse.com

---Replies---

Evan Prodromou@evan@cosocial.ca (2026-05-29 21:34:59)
@danjones000 @majorlinux so, this is an interesting line of inquiry. The tools for making aren't usually the same as those for breaking. A shoe-making machine is bad for unmaking shoes.

Construction tools are sometimes bad at demolition. Like a nail gun or a level. Not a lot, though -- so many, like hammers and wrenches, are dual use. And even a saw, for cutting, is used to get materials in the right shape for building.