What Does It Mean To ‘Push the Envelope’?

[Jay]

New post at Find Your Funny!

What Does It Mean To ‘Push the Envelope’?

Success is rarely risk free, and there are huge benefits to riding the razor's edge.

[P.I.]

Taking something to it's legal or acceptable limits and then beyond. That's when you're pushing the envelope. Inherently within that are risks that are usually big ones or even dangerous ones that may or may not be worth those risks.
JMHO,
Patti

[Geoff]

If you didn't push the envelope, it'd be stationary stationery. . . .they get worse with age.

[Jay]

P.I. wrote: "Taking something to it's legal or acceptable limits and then beyond. That's when you're pushing the envelope. Inherently within that are risks that are usually big ones or even dangerous ones that ..."

That's one view.

Another is that comedians like Lenny Bruce and George Carlin were repeatedly arrested for free speech, and their sacrifice influenced an entire generation. While Bruce died young, Carlin went on to a fabulous career, filling theaters and stadiums to capacity with people who wanted to hear his views.

A humorist's job is to be 'over the top.'

Who's right, the censors or the humorists? I can't really say, but it is a fact that nobody pays to see or read the censors.

[P.I.]

But Jay, their behavior was pushing the envelop! They pushed it so hard that they were arrested for free speech and that was truly taking risks! I think your pointing that out was a great example of pushing the envelope!
Patti

[Jay]

P.I. wrote: "But Jay, their behavior was pushing the envelop! They pushed it so hard that they were arrested for free speech and that was truly taking risks! I think your pointing that out was a great example o..."

My mistake. I thought you saying that it was (paraphrasing) 'inherently risky and dangerous' meant that you were recommending writers NOT push boundaries. Oops! :-(

[Jay]

Geoff wrote: "If you didn't push the envelope, it'd be stationary stationery. . . .they get worse with age."

I believe the medical term for that is 'failure to thrive!'

[Jay]

Geoff wrote: "If you didn't push the envelope, it'd be stationary stationery. . . .they get worse with age."

I forgot to mention "stationary stationery." Good one!