Hatrack River Forum: Metaphorical [Bad Things] That You See Coming But Can't Change *eyeroll*

This is topic Metaphorical [Bad Things] That You See Coming But Can't Change *eyeroll* in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by Olivetta (Member # 6456) on :

So, last night, while Ron and I were making dinner and helping the boys with homework, etc. the phone rang.

Not a big deal, except Ron had raw chicken all over his hands, and I was waist-deep in a landslide from the plastc-container cabinet. My dear Brother-in-law, "M" came to the rescue and answered, rather formally "_____ Residence".

"I'm going to kill you," said a tiny voice in his ear, followed by a giggle. "Not really."

That was when I realized my cell phone wasn't on the counter where I left it when we all got home from Martial arts. Suddenly, I remember my youngest asking if he could call our house on my cell phone, and it all clicked into place. "Where's my cell phone?"

You guessed it.

Turns out, Ron had asked both of the boys to call our house on his cell phone, just that morning. He wanted to be sure they really could call home, or at least remember the number, if they needed to. He didn't see the crank calls from a five-year-old coming, though I would have. Especially after he called 911 and told them our house was on fire right after Fire safety week at preschool. *face palm*

So, what do you see coming? Is there anything you can see shaping up in the furture, something that seems almost inevitable? Leaving you, like Cassandra, able to predict the future but nearly powerless to change it?

Me, I see an Oscar show that honors the memory or Christopher Reeve (who gave hope and inspiration to people with spinal injuries all over the world) in an In Memorium montage and then in the same breath honors a film that regards those same people as pathetic objects of pity, better off dead. [Mad]

I wonder if anyone will have the good grace to be embarrassed by such casual hypocrisy.

Oops. How'd I get up here? *steps off soapbox*

So, My fellow citizens of Hatrack River, tell me what you see coming in the mists of the future...

[ January 27, 2005, 03:37 PM: Message edited by: Olivetta ]

Posted by dread pirate romany (Member # 6869) on :

Not on a grand scale, but my friend who got divorced 15 months ago and for the SECOND time is planning to move in with a guy WITH HER TWO KIDS- yep, that is a train wreck. I try to gently talk to her, but she just tells me I'm wrong so [Dont Know]

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

Is this the best title for a thread right now? [Frown]

Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :

I see a big one, but, I'll get yelled at if I say it.

Posted by Olivetta (Member # 6456) on :

crap. Was there a train wreck somewhere?

Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :

Glendale, CA (where I was born, not that there is any connection, I hope). 11 people were killed.

Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :

What film is that? [Confused]

Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :

there was sweetie, but we know you aren't trying to be irreverent about it.

I think there is only solution for you, darling.

Full body armor. All day, all night. Ron will just deal.

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

jeniwren!!! I was born in Glendale, too! (Glendale Adventist, what about you?)

Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :

I'm not sure, but I think my mom said Glendale Memorial. We left CA when I was 18 months old, so I don't remember living there.

What year were you born? I was 1968. [Smile]

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

1983. [Wink]

Posted by Olivetta (Member # 6456) on :

Million Dollar Baby ( http://www.raggededgemagazine.com/reviews/drakemillionbaby.html )

Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :

How shocking! I didn't even know that about that movie or that Clint Eastwood tried to weaken the ADA. That isn't right.
And it's up for best picture?
*So wants Finding Neverland to win*

Posted by Telperion the Silver (Member # 6074) on :

quote:
Oops. How'd I get up here? *steps off soapbox*

Heheh.. you are so cute.
*hugs* [Smile]

Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :

With the inability of American women as a group to lose weight, combined with an obsession over losing weight, I foresee a return of the whalebone corset. This will be death to whales and women alike.

Posted by Jim-Me (Member # 6426) on :

Jeniwren, does 1968 at Santa Monica Hospital earn me any Brownie Points?

I'm afraid that I'm completely oblivious tobad things until they...

*connection lost*

Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :

Jim, it makes me feel less old, that's for sure! [Smile]

I don't think I believe that kq is only 21 or 22...

Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :

I see me failing to achieve any of my goals...........but that is only bad for me...so [Dont Know]

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

Katie's met me. Ask Katie. I'm 21. [Big Grin]

My dad and mom were both born in Glendale, too-- my mom at Doctor's Hospital (which is no longer in existance) in 1945, and my dad at Adventist in 1951.

[ January 27, 2005, 06:01 PM: Message edited by: ketchupqueen ]

Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :

I still don't believe that you're 21. o_O

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

Is that a good or a bad thing?

Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :

A good thing.

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

Oh, okay, I was thinking you thought I was immature or something.

Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :

Nope. Mature! The OTHER way!

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

Well, I do apparently look old. Maybe it's just the baby? Since I was a pre-teen I have been told "you don't look 18" (14, 19, etc.) Right after Ems was born, we were at Olive Garden, and the waiter, who had always before asked us if we wanted drinks and then asked Jeff if he wanted anything off the wine list (okay, not specifically him, but waiters in general), turned to me and asked, "And ma'am, will you have anything off our wine list tonight?" I asked him, "Do I look old enough to drink?" He looked at me and said, "Hmm. Yes." I was so horrified, I showed him my ID. [Frown]

Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :

I think it's because of having kids that I assumed you were older. I haven't looked at your pic. [Smile]

I'm the opposite of you, I think. I've gotten carded at Wal Mart for buying rated R movies on at least five separate occasions (no exaggeration there). And I just turned 25. o_O

Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :

I got carded for a lottery ticket once.
I should start smoking pipes so I can look older.

Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :

Liz, have you ever tried a well fitted corset? They're actually pretty comfortable. Not that I'm advocating their return, or killing whales for that matter. Though I'm more fond of corsets than whales as it stands. I really don't get the whole love-affair we have about whales.

Anyway.

kq: 21 is a good age. And you wear it well. [Smile]

I just don't believe you're that young. So as far as I'm concerned, you were born across town the same day I was (or vice versa) and it's an amazing coincidence that we've met up again. It would make a great film if we were from the same parents, seperated at birth. In fact, that's my prediction for Olivet's thread topic: there will be a true life story about our two lives, run in parallel, how as twins separated at birth, we gave birth to children on the same days in the same hospital and happen to run into each other, looking at each other like opposite sides of the mirror. Of course, that's the artistic license taken when producing a based-on-a-true-story film. [Wink]

edited for clarity, not that it helped much. Ramble ramble ramble.

[ January 27, 2005, 06:37 PM: Message edited by: jeniwren ]

Posted by Troubadour (Member # 83) on :

I got to see my girlfriend in a corset at a New Year's Day recovery party. All the girls at the party disappeared for about an hour or so, then came back dressed up in very naughty race-girl outfits. (The wife of the guy who's apartment we were at went out and bought about 7 different outfits after he went to formula 1 last year)

My girlfriend was worried about her figure in all that tight lyrca, so she was given a corset.

*phroah!!!*

I never liked corsets before then. [Big Grin]

Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :

Holy crap, you're 21?

Posted by Mama Squirrel (Member # 4155) on :

I was carded at the grocery store last weekend. I had both kids with me. The clerk said "You are over 21, right?" I looked up from putting the other items on the counter with a surprised look. She said "for the alcohol." Um, yeah, I am (I'm 31). It made me feel good.

Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :

"I got to see my girlfriend in a corset at a New Year's Day recovery party. All the girls at the party disappeared for about an hour or so, then came back dressed up in very naughty race-girl outfits. (The wife of the guy who's apartment we were at went out and bought about 7 different outfits after he went to formula 1 last year)"

See what I'm saying? This is only the beginning.

Posted by Olivetta (Member # 6456) on :

I got carded last month, when I ordered coffee at an Irish restaurant. They tthought I meant IRISH coffee, which doesn't have much coffee in it, evvidently.

And I'M 35. Nyah. [Wink]

Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :

I just want to point out the fact that no one is playing this game the way it was explained.
Come on, people, predict already!

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

I predict that everyone will think I'm their age or older as long as I'm on Hatrack. [Frown]

Apparently. Annie, why didn't you think I was 21?

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

Oh, and the zit in the middle of my forehead that I just absentmindedly scratched at-- again-- and made bleed is going to scab over and look horrific. With my luck, it will scar. [Cry]

Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :

I predict that my erstwhile husband is going to completely blow a gasket when I finally hand him court papers... I started discussions with an attorney today!

Posted by mothertree (Member # 4999) on :

[Eek!]

I predict that this thread will also drift into some weird speculation on porn.

Posted by Nato (Member # 1448) on :

quote:
Metaphorical [Bad Things] That You See Coming But Can't Change

Your title is even metaphorical!

To wit: Your title uses the metaphor Predicting is Vision. Obviously, you can't see things in the future in the literal sense, so we can't be talking about a real field of vision, as "see" would have you think.

Instead, you take your knowledge of what vision is and apply it in the context of Predicting. Well-known elements from vision map onto concepts in the Predicting "field" fairly nicely. For example:

code:

   Predicting        is        Vision
("target domain")          ("source domain")

============================================

Predicter             <-----    Viewer

Event predicted       <-----    Object seen

Temporal difference   <-----    Distance
   (between now and             (from viewer 
    when event occurs)            to object)

"Obstructions" to     <-----    Visual
   clear prediction               obstructions

This metaphor also relies on underlying, primary metaphors, such as Events are Objects and Time is a Landscape. We can understand this metaphor (Predicting is Seeing) because our minds carry all this meaning around. We are prepared to "see" events in the future as things arrayed in front of us. This also relies on our near-ubiquitous Time Orientation Metaphor, through which we understand that the future is ahead of us, and the past is behind us (except when you're "stuck in the past," perhaps?)

Furthermore, when you say "things that you see coming," you are using yet another metaphor for how we look at time. This metaphor, Time Moves Past Us, allows us to view events in the future as objects that approach us. For example, "Christmas is coming," "Time is flying by," or "I hope this weekend will be here soon." This is one of two main metaphors we use to look at time (The other being the Time is a Landscape metaphor that I mentioned earlier. Time is a Landscape allows us to view events as objects arrayed before us that we move towards. For example, "We're coming up on the weekend."

Anyways... [Eek!]

Yeah, yeah. I have to write a short paper analyzing a conceptual metaphor by next Tuesday.

Posted by Olivetta (Member # 6456) on :

*hugs Nato*

Posted by Nato (Member # 1448) on :

Hahahaha, thanks. I think I've just got metaphors on the brain. "Metaphors and the way we live" was my only class today.

Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :

kq, it's your online "voice" and the fact that you have children. You don't present yourself like the typical 21 year old. I've not seen a picture of you, so I was only guessing you were my age or a little younger when I pictured you in my head.

I predict that people will think kq is 29 until she's 50.

Posted by raventh1 (Member # 3750) on :

war

Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :

Trillion dollar tax cuts, widening gap between the rich and the poor. Layoffs and people having trouble getting jobs ><

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

I've met kq, and knew she was quite young -- but I'd have guessed 23-24, if pressed.

Good golly, you were almost as young when you had your daughter as I was when I had my first. [Big Grin]

Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :

Well, you turned out all right, rivka, so I guess there's hope for me. And jeniwren, my "voice" has been the same since I was 10 or so; I used to go to poetry readings with my dad when I was little, I guess the "grown up" rubbed off on me. As for having kids young, I guess it's all that Anne of Green Gables I read as a child (although, you know, she didn't have any until she was 23 or 24; but her friends did). [Big Grin]

Posted by Shigosei (Member # 3831) on :

Way to use the things you learned in class, Nato! Since I'm taking thermodynamics, I will predict that the entropy of this thread will increase. I wonder if the thread is a closed, open, or isolated system? Hmm....

I also thought that ketchupqueen was in her mid-20s, probably because she has kids. It seems that a lot of young people have their ages overestimated here, possibly because the average maturity is higher, or because people come across as more mature in writing since they have time to polish it.

Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :

you sure came across as older than I, kq [Big Grin]

or is it older than me? >_<

[ January 28, 2005, 04:04 AM: Message edited by: Kama ]

Posted by zgator (Member # 3833) on :

It's good to see a thread full of youngsters.

Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :

Speaking of old and young. Without looking it up, how old do you think Anne Bancroft was when she played Mrs. Robinson? ("The Graduate," for you youngsters) 36, 42, or 49?

Posted by dread pirate romany (Member # 6869) on :

quote:
I predict that my erstwhile husband is going to completely blow a gasket when I finally hand him court papers... I started discussions with an attorney today!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I had no clue, Goody...did I miss a post somewhere?

Posted by Olivetta (Member # 6456) on :

I think I was born the year after the Graduate came out, but I'd guess 36. She didn't look old enough to have a daughter that age. But this is coming from someone who only knows The graduate from scenes lifted and parodied in other films.

Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :

You are the winner, Olivia!
I always used to think she was so old. Now i am five years older.

Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :

I thought Bancroft was in her forties; she looked ancient.

Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :

This has been my "Oh my lord, I am so freaking OLD" revelation of the week.

Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :

For me too, Liz. I'm going to be 37 this year. That feels very weird to say. In my head it doesn't seem possible I got any older than 25.

Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :

I felt old a little while back when I was watching When Harry Met Sally and realized, during the scene when she bursts into tears with a "I'm going to be thirty...Someday!" that I was not only older than her character, I was older than the actress herself at the time she filmed the movie.

*shudder*

Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :

You know, 35 was way harder for me than 40. In the visual timeline in my head, I could never see past 35 or 36 when I was younger.

(I really hope other people have visual timelines in their head, by the way)

Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :

Uh...I thought she said 40. I'm *really* going to feel old if she said 30.

Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :

I am not sure exactly, but I think I remember them saying that Dustin hoffman was 31 when he played that role, only a few years younger than Mrs. R.

Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :

DPR:

quote:
quote: I predict that my erstwhile husband is going to completely blow a gasket when I finally hand him court papers... I started discussions with an attorney today!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I had no clue, Goody...did I miss a post somewhere?

I probably mentioned something in my intro post, but it's not something I mention much, at least not here. We've been living apart for over 2 years, he made one very feeble attempt at getting on my good side (took me to dinner and a movie one night) but refuses to talk to me or anything else. Ah well, his loss.