triadic collapse

a ( very ) short talk about triangles

There is something wrong with triangles.

Tension is the name of the game. In many cases, two points get along just fine while the other is constantly at odds.¹ Either the point is too far removed from the situation to assimilate naturally into conversation, or they view things from such an extreme position that they cannot even begin to understand how others may see things differently. Iscoles never resolve their issues. Even if the closer two are inviting the third over for coffee, tea, cocktails, etc., the third member remains cold, indifferent, and goes to bed alone, dreaming of equilateral-ness. In a right triangle, someone is always getting the short end of the stick; every point has its place, although they do sometimes wish for otherwise and elsewhere. Equilateral triangles, however, are downright fascistic with their insistence on controlled fairness. A triad of dictators; everyone’s smiling, no one is happy. At least with scalene triangles, the dialogue keeps flowing, and the points have more freedom to move around.

Of course, there is this issue of incompleteness. The sum of the three angles must always equal 180 degrees; otherwise, the situation either falls apart or becomes something else entirely. Not to mention, 180 degrees is only half of 360, which is the measure of any whole and complete shape.² Triangles are only ever partially there. They make up things. They can never stand on their own; they can never be satisfied.

None of this, of course, is anyone’s fault. It is the nature of geometry³, the curse of the three-leggedness.

a little diagram

1. The third wheel. The muscular lone hind leg of a dog.

2. For example, Circles, being the most perfect and complete, have no need to start or stop. They move like a sigh. I adore circles, although I do have issues with the fact that a year has 365 days (365 degrees ), which is an overcomplete circle. Thus, it is a sort of eager spiral, perhaps allowing for things to be different—a perfect circle would be a static universe.

3. Which is actually the study of relationships. stronger than psychology.