Talk:break the cycle

Deletion discussion

The following information passed a request for deletion.

This discussion is no longer live and is left here as an archive. Please do not modify this conversation, but feel free to discuss its conclusions.

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break the cycle

This is fairly transparent. Break means to stop, as you can break something other than a cycle, and in this case, cycle simply refers to a cycle. Also definition not written in comprehensible English, though, that isn't a deletion rationale. Renard Migrant (talk) 23:30, 13 January 2015 (UTC)

There are many meanings of cycle; I believe that it is understood that "break the cycle", used as a freestanding expression, means to bring to an end a pattern of unhealthy behavior, and often one that has persisted through one's life (being a conformist, passing up opportunities for adventure) or over generations (violence by the parent towards the child). I think this needs to be fixed, not deleted. bd2412 T 23:50, 13 January 2015 (UTC)

It could mean to break a positive cycle, just, why would anyone want to? Renard Migrant (talk) 12:15, 14 January 2015 (UTC)

One could use beat the system to describe a circumstance where someone finds a loophole that delivers them a negative result, but the phrase is understood to convey a positive result. I think that break the cycle should specifically be defined as ending a negative cycle; I think that such a definition would capture its actual meaning in the wild. bd2412 T 17:15, 20 January 2015 (UTC)

• Fix and keep: As BD noted, "break" and "cycle" are ambiguous. Purplebackpack89 00:50, 14 January 2015 (UTC)

Delete since the "cycle" can be any repeating thing (a cycle) such as drinking, gambling, ... but I agree that it should at least be improved first, so we can discuss a proper entry. Equinox ◑ 00:56, 14 January 2015 (UTC)

Yes, but those are still specifically negative behaviors. We don't talk about breaking the cycle of the seasons, or the lunar cycle, or the cycle of life. As far as human behaviors go, we generally don't talk about breaking virtuous circles, like coming from generations of loving parents. Also, strictly speaking, drinking and gambling are not spoken of as cyclical things except in the context of breaking the pattern of doing them. bd2412 T 01:43, 14 January 2015 (UTC)

It can't be any repeating thing, and since repeating things is a small enough universe in and of itself... Purplebackpack89 05:02, 14 January 2015 (UTC)

Purple, so any phrase with break or cycle should be kept? Renard Migrant (talk) 12:01, 14 January 2015 (UTC)

For one, that's not a great many phrases. For two, not all of them are as ambiguous as this one. Purplebackpack89 16:20, 14 January 2015 (UTC)

Well that's a clarification isn't it? You're saying (in effect) break and cycle are ambiguous enough in this context. I would say that all language is ambiguous, there is never a situation where misunderstanding is not possible. Renard Migrant (talk) 17:22, 14 January 2015 (UTC)

All language is ambiguous, but some language is more ambiguous than other language. Purplebackpack89 19:08, 14 January 2015 (UTC)

I thought you were gonna quote Animal Farm for a second there. Renard Migrant (talk) 21:46, 14 January 2015 (UTC)

• Keep rather than not, per bd2412: implies breaking negative something. The current def "To cease a neverending routine" is poor. I am not sure how to say this in Czech; I have looked at Google translate, and I think this will be also interesting for translations. --Dan Polansky (talk) 19:15, 20 January 2015 (UTC)

  I have rewritten the definition accordingly. bd2412 T 17:37, 21 January 2015 (UTC)

  The new def looks good: "To act so as to end a repeating pattern of harmful or otherwise negative behavior." Although "To act so as to end" could probably be stated as "To end". --Dan Polansky (talk) 18:00, 21 January 2015 (UTC)

  I prefer to make the requirement of acting explicit; others may disagree and overrule me, of course. bd2412 T 04:17, 26 January 2015 (UTC)

• Keep as rewritten. bd2412 T 14:44, 12 February 2015 (UTC)
• Kept: no consensus to delete after more than a month. Purplebackpack89 18:38, 20 February 2015 (UTC)