Gemara can’t be studied by reading, especially not by literal reading of a translation, especially not by someone without the appropriate background. It can be

Gemara can’t be studied by reading, especially not by literal reading of a translation, especially not by someone without the appropriate background. It can be too easily misunderstood and misquoted. It’s just not written for casual reading and every word is metaphorical. I am with TchoBeer in that it makes one tense up.