It doesn't seem unreasonable to want the simple stuff to work simply. When did everything we think we know become "metaphors" that can only be understood by sol

It doesn't seem unreasonable to want the simple stuff to work simply. When did everything we think we know become "metaphors" that can only be understood by solvers of cryptic crossword puzzles? Switches go up/down, and the expected thing happens? Dishwashers just go on when you push the button? Why screw with the simple stuff?