3 ms·

I have interacted with some of these. "Not understanding metaphor is a real handicap." "Are you calling me disabled?!"

by rsj_hn 5y ago

mewpmewp2 5y ago
I'd argue you are calling them disabled as well, to some extent. Maybe I fail to understand the metaphor here as well and am disabled too. They are disabled to understand metaphors, no?
- newby 5y ago
  >> They are disabled to understand metaphors, no? No. I think the problem here is that some metaphors are used so often that people forget it is a metaphor and take it literally. You seem to inject the meaning (physical?) "disability" into the word "handicap"... are you aware, for example, of the practice of handicapping race horses, i.e. inserting weights into their saddles?
  - mewpmewp2 5y ago
    A bit late to the party and I am aware of what handicap generally means, but in this context I meant this term in combination with the fact that this person supposedly can't understand metaphors is disabled for the particular activity of understanding metaphors. If your brain can't understand metaphors, you could say this common ability for you is disabled. Also since most people do understand metaphors it can be interpreted that the poster is calling them lower in intelligence than most people which could fall into the zone of intellectually disabled.
- stareatgoats 5y ago
  You're downvoted but you might at least savor the irony in that the detractors seemingly didn't understand what you were implying.
- michaelt 5y ago
  Golfers have handicaps, but it doesn't mean they're disabled. Even if a lot of them do need electric mobility aids....
- johnjonessmith 5y ago
  I'd argue you are proving the point of the P and GP. Being handicapped (at something) does not make one disabled. Words have more than one meaning they also have context. The fact I cannot speak French, for example, is a handicap to me when I am in France but not when I am in England. Assuming that the listener/reader has some level of comprehension (and things are not literally lost in translation) my personal experience of situations like this is often more of a problem of the listener/reader's insecurities.
mdp2021 5y ago
Author David Thorne (of "Missy the Cat" fame) collected a number of especially remarkable ones out of his personal experience.
mhh__ 5y ago
I don't know about a handicap but I have shown people (say) Norm clips which I don't think are even that hard to get, and I just see a face like a horse that's been asked to book a holiday. It's not the end of the world but as a shy extrovert who does enjoy talking about things I enjoy I do really like it when I say or show something to someone and they just get it.

I have interacted with some of these. "Not understanding metaphor is a real handicap." "Are you calling me disabled?!"

by rsj_hn 5y ago

I have interacted with some of these. "Not understanding metaphor is a real handicap." "Are you calling me disabled?!"

I'd argue you are calling them disabled as well, to some extent. Maybe I fail to understand the metaphor here as well and am disabled too. They are disabled to understand metaphors, no?

newby 5y ago
>> They are disabled to understand metaphors, no? No. I think the problem here is that some metaphors are used so often that people forget it is a metaphor and take it literally. You seem to inject the meaning (physical?) "disability" into the word "handicap"... are you aware, for example, of the practice of handicapping race horses, i.e. inserting weights into their saddles?
- mewpmewp2 5y ago
  A bit late to the party and I am aware of what handicap generally means, but in this context I meant this term in combination with the fact that this person supposedly can't understand metaphors is disabled for the particular activity of understanding metaphors. If your brain can't understand metaphors, you could say this common ability for you is disabled. Also since most people do understand metaphors it can be interpreted that the poster is calling them lower in intelligence than most people which could fall into the zone of intellectually disabled.
stareatgoats 5y ago
You're downvoted but you might at least savor the irony in that the detractors seemingly didn't understand what you were implying.
michaelt 5y ago
Golfers have handicaps, but it doesn't mean they're disabled. Even if a lot of them do need electric mobility aids....
johnjonessmith 5y ago
I'd argue you are proving the point of the P and GP. Being handicapped (at something) does not make one disabled. Words have more than one meaning they also have context. The fact I cannot speak French, for example, is a handicap to me when I am in France but not when I am in England. Assuming that the listener/reader has some level of comprehension (and things are not literally lost in translation) my personal experience of situations like this is often more of a problem of the listener/reader's insecurities.

mdp2021 5y ago

Author David Thorne (of "Missy the Cat" fame) collected a number of especially remarkable ones out of his personal experience.

mhh__ 5y ago

I don't know about a handicap but I have shown people (say) Norm clips which I don't think are even that hard to get, and I just see a face like a horse that's been asked to book a holiday. It's not the end of the world but as a shy extrovert who does enjoy talking about things I enjoy I do really like it when I say or show something to someone and they just get it.