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"Straight man" makes just as much sense as "devil's advocate," neither of them apply to a workplace situation. The former applies to comedy performances, and th

"Straight man" makes just as much sense as "devil's advocate," neither of them apply to a workplace situation. The former applies to comedy performances, and the latter applies to biblical characters. Neither can be used in a day-to-day setting according to you. You're drawing a distinction where one can't be made, probably because your ego is preventing you from admitting you're wrong. Have a nice day, I guess. Oh wait, it's night time, so I shouldn't use that metaphor -- goodbye.

the_af 7y ago
> "Straight man" makes just as much sense as "devil's advocate," I disagree. It's easy to see why "straight man" doesn't make sense in this situation if you try to explain to me how it makes sense. I can't. I can explain how "devil's advocate" makes sense though: it means arguing the opposition to an idea not because you necessarily disagree, but because you want to explore the negatives/other possibilities. What does "straight man" mean to you? > The former applies to comedy performances Correct. > the latter applies to biblical characters. Incorrect. If you think this, you're confusing a metaphor's literal interpretation with its meaning. "Have a nice day" isn't a metaphor, at this point it seems you're being purposefully obtuse. Have a nice day!
- viklove 7y ago
  > straight man: the person in a comedy duo who speaks lines which give a comedian the opportunity to make jokes All you have to do is change "comedy duo" to "coworker pair" and "jokes" to "explanation of architecture." > devils advocate: the popular title of the person appointed by the Roman Catholic Church to challenge a proposed beatification or canonization, or the verification of a miracle All you have to do is change "person appointed by the Roman Catholic Church" to "coworker" and "challenge a proposed beatification or canonization" to "challenge another person's ideas." > purposefully obtuse Is that worse than being unintentionally obtuse, like you're doing? By the way, have you tried just looking up the word "metaphor?" > a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable. Do you see the words at the end? "Not literally applicable."
  - the_af 7y ago
    > All you have to do is change "comedy duo" to "coworker pair" and "jokes" to "explanation of architecture." But that doesn't work, because it requires changing the meaning/imagery of the metaphor beyond what regular people would recognize. You know, what actually happened in the situation of the original post. Yes, I can change "straight man" to "spaceship" and "jokes" to "launch into space", but it'd be almost as nonsensical. > By the way, have you tried just looking up the word "metaphor?" Yes. Note you misunderstand the definition you quoted. Let me say it once more, then we're done: the CONTEXT of a metaphor is not ITS LITERAL MEANING, so quit yapping about literalness. Context matters. "Straight man" doesn't have the required context, "devil's advocate" does. I don't expect you to acknowledge what I'm saying. At this point I must assume your ego won't let you budge an inch. Have a nice day! (which is not a metaphor, by the way).

the_af 7y ago

> "Straight man" makes just as much sense as "devil's advocate," I disagree. It's easy to see why "straight man" doesn't make sense in this situation if you try to explain to me how it makes sense. I can't. I can explain how "devil's advocate" makes sense though: it means arguing the opposition to an idea not because you necessarily disagree, but because you want to explore the negatives/other possibilities. What does "straight man" mean to you? > The former applies to comedy performances Correct. > the latter applies to biblical characters. Incorrect. If you think this, you're confusing a metaphor's literal interpretation with its meaning. "Have a nice day" isn't a metaphor, at this point it seems you're being purposefully obtuse. Have a nice day!

viklove 7y ago
> straight man: the person in a comedy duo who speaks lines which give a comedian the opportunity to make jokes All you have to do is change "comedy duo" to "coworker pair" and "jokes" to "explanation of architecture." > devils advocate: the popular title of the person appointed by the Roman Catholic Church to challenge a proposed beatification or canonization, or the verification of a miracle All you have to do is change "person appointed by the Roman Catholic Church" to "coworker" and "challenge a proposed beatification or canonization" to "challenge another person's ideas." > purposefully obtuse Is that worse than being unintentionally obtuse, like you're doing? By the way, have you tried just looking up the word "metaphor?" > a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable. Do you see the words at the end? "Not literally applicable."
- the_af 7y ago
  > All you have to do is change "comedy duo" to "coworker pair" and "jokes" to "explanation of architecture." But that doesn't work, because it requires changing the meaning/imagery of the metaphor beyond what regular people would recognize. You know, what actually happened in the situation of the original post. Yes, I can change "straight man" to "spaceship" and "jokes" to "launch into space", but it'd be almost as nonsensical. > By the way, have you tried just looking up the word "metaphor?" Yes. Note you misunderstand the definition you quoted. Let me say it once more, then we're done: the CONTEXT of a metaphor is not ITS LITERAL MEANING, so quit yapping about literalness. Context matters. "Straight man" doesn't have the required context, "devil's advocate" does. I don't expect you to acknowledge what I'm saying. At this point I must assume your ego won't let you budge an inch. Have a nice day! (which is not a metaphor, by the way).