MacGuffin. What's yours?

squirell nutkin · 04-14-2010, 08:19 PM

Quote:

MacGuffin (a.k.a. McGuffin or maguffin) is a term for a motivating element in a story that is used to drive the plot. Unlike Chekhov's Gun, it actually serves no further purpose — it won't pop up again later, it won't explain the ending, it won't actually do anything except possibly distract you while you try to figure out its significance. In some cases, it won't even be revealed. It is usually a mysterious package/artifact/superweapon that everyone in the story is chasing. It is the most famous kind of Plot Coupon.

So what is the MacGuffin in your life? What is it that drives the plot of your life along?

For me, right now, it is clearing the decks and preparing to come about.

lumberjim · 04-14-2010, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by squirell nutkin

The MacGuffin

...the plot of your life...

sorry, My life is a reality show. there IS no plot.

most of the things I do in my daily are in response to something.....

i really wish that i had a lifestyle that allowed me to do things like that guy that lost his girlfriend, so he rode his ATV around, and climbed some shit, and threw hay bales...and piled rocks.....and all that shit...

and filmed it all for You tube.... I would have linked it, but I couldn't find it.....

anyway.....

what?

Sundae · 04-15-2010, 01:59 AM

My life used to be a soap opera. There are no McGuffins in soap operas, EVERYTHING is supposed to mean something. But there is drama, and "issues" and amazing coincidences. And people who plan things on the same day they happen and no-one says, "No I'm not free in an hours time! You could've given me some notice!"

My life now is more akin to This Morning (cosy, rolling-magazine show on ITV watched by young mums and dolescum). It's utterly predictable, has no discernable plot, but is quite comfortable and occasionally informative.

I don't have Philip Schofield though - sadly.

Shawnee123 · 04-15-2010, 11:36 AM

I'm not sure I understand. I'm very sure squirl's own cryptic response didn't clear it up for me.

So, something that drives my plot (sounds dirty) but is interchangeable with other things? Sort of?

Like, my job? It drives my life, but I could take another job.

I don't know. My life is like a comic strip, and I am Lucy.

ZenGum · 04-15-2010, 08:13 PM

Just to give some examples for clarity, classic MacGuffins include the Maltese Falcon, the briefcase in Ronin, and perhaps the briefcase (contents) in Pulp Fiction.

I need a puzzle, a mystery, something to figure out.
Like why chicks are all so crazy.

Shawnee123 · 04-15-2010, 09:37 PM

Only about half of us are crazy. It just seems like more.

HungLikeJesus · 04-15-2010, 10:07 PM

Is that like an Egg McMuffin?

Shawnee123 · 04-15-2010, 10:09 PM

Yeah, about half of all Egg McMuffins are crazy too.

jinx · 04-15-2010, 10:14 PM

Egg Mcmuffins are 300 calories. Bagel with cream cheese is 600.

squirell nutkin · 04-17-2010, 10:21 AM

Zen is right. The MacGuffin is interchangeable, the whole story doesn't hinge on the specifics of the MacGuffin. If the Maltese Falcon had been a Dzi Bead from Ulan Bator it wouldn't have mattered to the story, but some kind of MacGuffin is needed to move things along.

Maybe it is the plot equivalent of fiber in your diet. Could be Metamucil, bran muffins or psyllium seeds.

For me, clearing the decks and coming about is a sailing reference but it means that I am purging a lot of material things from my past careers and hobbies and making preparations for a change in direction. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coming_about

To be more accurate, my current maneuver is probably more akin to a jibe: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jibe

If it weren't a big change it wold be some other chaos creating event. I seem to exist in a perpetual state of chaos and I am now trying to remove the chaos from my life.

squirell nutkin · 04-17-2010, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jinx

Egg Mcmuffins are 300 calories. Bagel with cream cheese is 600.

What do each of them weigh respectively. or what is the caloric content per 100grams?

TheMercenary · 04-17-2010, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by squirell nutkin

Zen is right. The MacGuffin is interchangeable, the whole story doesn't hinge on the specifics of the MacGuffin. If the Maltese Falcon had been a Dzi Bead from Ulan Bator it wouldn't have mattered to the story, but some kind of MacGuffin is needed to move things along.

Maybe it is the plot equivalent of fiber in your diet. Could be Metamucil, bran muffins or psyllium seeds.

For me, clearing the decks and coming about is a sailing reference but it means that I am purging a lot of material things from my past careers and hobbies and making preparations for a change in direction. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coming_about

To be more accurate, my current maneuver is probably more akin to a jibe: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jibe

If it weren't a big change it wold be some other chaos creating event. I seem to exist in a perpetual state of chaos and I am now trying to remove the chaos from my life.

Kids. They are the ultimate MacGuffin. They are the Maltese Falcon in my life.

Don't play it again Sam.

SamIam · 04-17-2010, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

Kids. They are the ultimate MacGuffin. They are the Maltese Falcon in my life.

Don't play it again Sam.

What? Why not? I was really getting the hang of it, too. /goes off and pouts/

jinx · 04-17-2010, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by squirell nutkin

What do each of them weigh respectively. or what is the caloric content per 100grams?

Both a bagel and an egg mcmuffin weigh about 140gms. If the bagel is plain, from DnD, it has 320 calories, while the multigrain has 390. Adding 50gms of plain cream cheese adds 150cals (a schmear is typically 3-4oz) - reduced fat is 100cals per 50gms.

(The multigrain bagel is marked with the DDSmart logo on the menu because it has 8 grams of fiber.)(Also has 8 grams of fat.)(The wheat bagel that has 5gms of fiber, 3.5gms fat, and 320 calories is not DDSmart.)

Trilby · 04-18-2010, 07:06 AM

I thought he said MacGyver.

My egg McMuffin is a sled I had when I was little - I named it Rosebud.

04-15-2010, 11:36 AM	#4
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	I'm not sure I understand. I'm very sure squirl's own cryptic response didn't clear it up for me. So, something that drives my plot (sounds dirty) but is interchangeable with other things? Sort of? Like, my job? It drives my life, but I could take another job. I don't know. My life is like a comic strip, and I am Lucy. __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

04-15-2010, 08:13 PM	#5
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	Just to give some examples for clarity, classic MacGuffins include the Maltese Falcon, the briefcase in Ronin, and perhaps the briefcase (contents) in Pulp Fiction. I need a puzzle, a mystery, something to figure out. Like why chicks are all so crazy. __________________ Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl.

04-15-2010, 09:37 PM	#6
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	Only about half of us are crazy. It just seems like more. __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

04-15-2010, 10:07 PM	#7
HungLikeJesus Only looks like a disaster tourist Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: above 7,000 feet Posts: 7,208	Is that like an Egg McMuffin? __________________ Keep Your Bodies Off My Lawn SteveDallas's Random Thread Picker.

04-15-2010, 10:09 PM	#8
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	Yeah, about half of all Egg McMuffins are crazy too. __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

04-15-2010, 01:59 AM	#3
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	My life used to be a soap opera. There are no McGuffins in soap operas, EVERYTHING is supposed to mean something. But there is drama, and "issues" and amazing coincidences. And people who plan things on the same day they happen and no-one says, "No I'm not free in an hours time! You could've given me some notice!" My life now is more akin to This Morning (cosy, rolling-magazine show on ITV watched by young mums and dolescum). It's utterly predictable, has no discernable plot, but is quite comfortable and occasionally informative. I don't have Philip Schofield though - sadly.

04-15-2010, 10:14 PM	#9
jinx Come on, cat. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: general vicinity of Philadelphia area Posts: 7,013	Egg Mcmuffins are 300 calories. Bagel with cream cheese is 600. __________________ Crying won't help you, praying won't do you no good.

04-17-2010, 10:21 AM	#10
squirell nutkin has a second hand user title Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: in a Nut House Posts: 2,017	Zen is right. The MacGuffin is interchangeable, the whole story doesn't hinge on the specifics of the MacGuffin. If the Maltese Falcon had been a Dzi Bead from Ulan Bator it wouldn't have mattered to the story, but some kind of MacGuffin is needed to move things along. Maybe it is the plot equivalent of fiber in your diet. Could be Metamucil, bran muffins or psyllium seeds. For me, clearing the decks and coming about is a sailing reference but it means that I am purging a lot of material things from my past careers and hobbies and making preparations for a change in direction. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coming_about To be more accurate, my current maneuver is probably more akin to a jibe: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jibe If it weren't a big change it wold be some other chaos creating event. I seem to exist in a perpetual state of chaos and I am now trying to remove the chaos from my life. __________________ And now I'm finished posting.

04-18-2010, 07:06 AM	#15
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	I thought he said MacGyver. My egg McMuffin is a sled I had when I was little - I named it Rosebud. __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

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