Politics Sayings you don't understand

[Bluelegs]

I've never understood the saying 'and the rest is history' when used at the end of a story. Surely the events of story itself is also history.

 

[Proper Gander]

I've never understood the saying 'and the rest is history' when used at the end of a story. Surely the events of story itself is also history.

This is very true when I think about it, but also kind of makes you a nit-picking w***er.

Welcome to the nit-picking w***ers society! I’m in charge of finances so expect your first invoice shortly

 

[Bluelegs]

This is very true when I think about it, but also kind of makes you a nit-picking w***er.

Welcome to the nit-picking w***ers society! I’m in charge of finances so expect your first invoice shortly

'Nit-picking' is a great example.

It's often used to describe someone finding minor flaws in something, but head lice are generally seen as a major issue that need to be dealt with quickly.

 

[Headless]

Now we're sitting on toadstools with the same group of fairies!

 

[Proper Gander]

Now we're sitting on toadstools with the same group of fairies!

That phrase is fine in my books. What we’re really looking for is sayings you don’t understand

 

[Proper Gander]

'Nit-picking' is a great example.

It's often used to describe someone finding minor flaws in something, but head lice are generally seen as a major issue that need to be dealt with quickly.

Not if you’re an ape though, nits and fleas are a part of life and less critical then (a few examples) being captured and killed for your pelt, being diagnosed with an incurable disease, being eaten by a shark.

It’s all relative. And kind of background dependent. I feel pretty sure that nits aren’t a priority in South Sudan.

Man I’m getting heavy in these threads!

 

[Bluelegs]

Not if you’re an ape though, nits and fleas are a part of life and less critical then (a few examples) being captured and killed for your pelt, being diagnosed with an incurable disease, being eaten by a shark.

It’s all relative. And kind of background dependent. I feel pretty sure that nits aren’t a priority in South Sudan.

Man I’m getting heavy in these threads!

I'll remember this next time I'm an ape.

 

[Proper Gander]

I'll remember this next time I'm an ape.

You kind of are in a long-standing and complex way.

I get your point about nit-picking, but I think we would both agree that nits could be responded to with the phrase “a first world problem”.

I think to really judge the value of the phrase we need to explore its origin. If it came about in the 14th century, picking for nits is just a pastime. The real problem was rats and their fleas. And later in east end London (18th Century?) nits didn’t really cut it against public water sources spreading cholera.

In fact, even now, regarding nits as a priority issue says in itself life is comparatively sweet in a global sense.

Good thread BTW. Thought provoking

 

[Bluelegs]

"A watched pot never boils." Is simply incorrect.

 

[Proper Gander]

Neil Daniher had me confused a bit with his motto “when all’s said and done, more is said then done”. Seemed very odd and I’m probably pretty stupid not putting it together, but I guess he is saying something along the lines of “actions speak louder than words” and even saying that we make more promises, commitments, affirmations then are actually followed up.

Don’t mind him saying it though. It makes you think about what he means and thinking is a good place to start.

 

[Proper Gander]

"A watched pot never boils." Is simply incorrect.

True.

I’ve tested it so many times - even with people quoting that dumb phrase. It does, assuming you have the gas / electricity switched on under the pot. And it makes no difference to how quickly it occurs

 

[Bluelegs]

True.

I’ve tested it so many times - even with people quoting that dumb phrase. It does, assuming you have the gas / electricity switched on under the pot. And it makes no difference to how quickly it occurs

If anything the pot is less likely to boil if you aren't watching it.

 

[Bluelegs]

Neil Daniher had me confused a bit with his motto “when all’s said and done, more is said then done”. Seemed very odd and I’m probably pretty stupid not putting it together, but I guess he is saying something along the lines of “actions speak louder than words” and even saying that we make more promises, commitments, affirmations then are actually followed up.

Don’t mind him saying it though. It makes you think about what he means and thinking is a good place to start.

It seems like one of those sayings that sounds really profound when you first hear it but less so the more you think about it.

 

[Proper Gander]

If anything the pot is less likely to boil if you aren't watching it.

I’ll leave that aside until you explain the physics.

I watch the toaster, and dickheads say that one to me. For starters it’s dumb because I’m looking for good toast rather than boiled fluid. Even dumber since I have this cool see-through toaster, which is literally designed so that you can evacuate the toast exactly to your liking.

I mean, why get a see-through toaster if you don’t intend to watch it?

 

[Bluelegs]

I’ll leave that aside until you explain the physics.

I watch the toaster, and dickheads say that one to me. For starters it’s dumb because I’m looking for good toast rather than boiled fluid. Even dumber since I have this cool see-through toaster, which is literally designed so that you can evacuate the toast exactly to your liking.

I mean, why get a see-through toaster if you don’t intend to watch it?

If you aren't watching the pot and your heat source runs out of fuel or you forget to turn it on or something, you may return to find a pot of unboiled, tepid water. Watching the pot allows you to intervene when these problems arise.

 

[Proper Gander]

It seems like one of those sayings that sounds really profound when you first hear it but less so the more you think about it.

Yeah to be honest that was my thought, but he was originally selling it to footy teams - not that they are all stupid, they’re like any other group - but a new spin with rearranging words is okay with me I guess

 

[Proper Gander]

If you aren't watching the pot and your heat source runs out of fuel or you forget to turn it on or something, you may return to find a pot of unboiled, tepid water. Watching the pot allows you to intervene when these problems arise.

Good point.

I may have had the luxury of more reliable power than you perhaps, so I deeply apologise for being inconsiderate

 

[Bluelegs]

Less that I don't understand it but 'Never judge a book by it's cover' is ironic as it's how most people choose books.

 

[jhong]

“Can’t have your cake and eat it too “. Makes no sense , what’s the point of a cake if you can’t eat any of it ?

 

[Proper Gander]

Less that I don't understand it but 'Never judge a book by it's cover' is ironic as it's how most people choose books.

I don’t

I go on reviews or trying to catch up on classics that I have somehow never read. The cover is literally the last thing I think about, if I think about it at all.

C’mon legs, do better

 

[Proper Gander]

“Can’t have your cake and eat it too “. Makes no sense , what’s the point of a cake if you can’t eat any of it ?

Yeah I don’t get this one either.

I’ve always assumed it has some historical reference that explains it, but I’ve not looked into it and on face value it’s just weird

 

[Bluelegs]

I don’t

I go on reviews or trying to catch up on classics that I have somehow never read. The cover is literally the last thing I think about, if I think about it at all.

C’mon legs, do better

I didn't say this is what I do but I believe statistically it's what most people do.

 

[Bluelegs]

Yeah I don’t get this one either.

I’ve always assumed it has some historical reference that explains it, but I’ve not looked into it and on face value it’s just weird

It makes more sense if you reverse it. "You can't have your cake and eat it too." As in once you've eaten your cake you no longer have a cake anymore.

It's still stupid as what else would you be doing with a cake.

 

[Proper Gander]

I didn't say this is what I do but I believe statistically it's what most people do.

Do you have a source for these statistics? I think that the estimate of the worlds population is 8 billion or some such?

Anyways, you’re misreading the phrase. “Don’t judge a book by its cover” is speaking directly to those, as you point out, actually do this. And the point of the phrase is asking those people to look a bit more closely and don’t make all of your assumptions on the basis of appealing packaging.

Of all the confusing sayings in the world, I’ve always found this one pretty straightforward

 

[Proper Gander]

It makes more sense if you reverse it. "You can't have your cake and eat it too." As in once you've eaten your cake you no longer have a cake anymore.

It's still stupid as what else would you be doing with a cake.

I like this! I hope it’s true.

It makes some kind of sense that if you want to retain capital, it’s best if you don’t eat it.

I hope that is what it means anyway