Do you use metaphores in live ?

I’d only approach metaphors once my command of the English language was well-rounded enough.

Why am I the only person pathfinder lists in its Fluther?

@girl: Because your avatar is Mary Kate and Ashley on top of each other. ;-)
Actually, it is probably because you were nice to him. Everyone else seems to have this “lets make fun of his English” complex going on. Give the guy a break, I say.

It is not good to use an metaphor when English is not communicated good quite often.

WTF ARE YOU SAYING?

People, despite the fact that pathfinder’s English isn’t perfect, his question seems pretty straightforward. He is asking whether or not using metaphors in your everyday communication is good. When you talk with people, do you use metaphors, and is it good to use them?

To answer the question: Yes, I use metaphors all the time. I am in the sciences, and I find that metaphors help people (like my parents, who are not scientists) understand what I am talking about. I suppose metaphors can get a bit confusing to people if they aren’t native speakers of your language, but as long as you clarify, they are a useful communication tool.

I use metaphors all the time. Usually in a joking kind of way.

Removed by me.

As a project manager for a small marketing firm, I spend half my days helping people to visualize what they want. Part of this process uses metaphor.

When I go to Baha’i gatherings, I am talking about God and the spirit, another topic that necessitates the use of metaphor (and simile).

I actually love reading @pathfinder ‘s posts; if you can disengage your critical, rule-bound mind, his freedom and creativity with syntax is quite poetic.

@Harp: The a/an distinction isn’t just syntax, and life and live are words that mean completely separate things.

To answer the question: Yes, I use metaphors occasionally, but I find that similes are much more useful and easier to construct.

I use metaphors.I can t go over them because I am so twisted over them.All of you say that metaphors are good.OK

I think and speak in metaphors. It’s a natural medium to me. To some people it’s an alien mode of thought. Unfortunately when they ask “What are you saying?” six more metaphors leap to mind. But in fact our language is so thick with metaphorical expressions that it is hard to avoid them, and most people use them without any awareness of them.

I’m also very sensitive to inept metaphors and mixed metaphors.

@Harp, me too. Every post delivers some kind of jolting realization to me about English.

@Les, I have never once made fun of his English and try to treat his questions sincerely. In fact I don’t think most answers to Pathfinder are unkind. It’s just that the harsh ones do stand out.

@Jeruba “i thing that i am half animal,unattainableness”
Wow. Just wow.

@Harp, I know! I keep going back to that and marveling. I couldn’t write a line like that to save my life.

I mean my live.

So confused…

@loser, turn off the same filter you turn off when you look at an abstract expressionist painting.

@Jeruba: I’m not quite sure why you find mixed metaphors so bad. You know, like when I hit a home run with a post, it’s like beating the band. Makes you wonder, though. Seems that sports metaphors are like lemmings all trying to get a touchdown at the same time. There are other styles of metaphor, too. Some are creative, like a fox; others are nonstarters.

It seems to me that ineptness has it’s place at the table, too. It might feel like a roller coaster ride, but it sure makes the conversation flag. Maybe we could all go to one of those five minute conversation parties? We could get to know each other jackrabbit fast, and be outta there by five.

Phew! That was thick-skinned work!

I do have a rule about mixed metaphors, @daloon, which is that if you’re going to do it, you have to use at least three of them. Bush league to you, eh?

This is similar to what my husband says about certain…erratic and unpredictable drivers (for instance, those who will suddenly make a left turn from the rightmost of three lanes): If you’re going to drive like that, you have to not signal, too.

Well, you know. Rules schmulz. In language, as in driving, if creativity don’t kill you, it gets you there faster.

Jeruba.I have to check the metaphors rule otherwise I am going to be lost in that.Thanks all of you.

@pathfinder, I was joking. There is no such rule. Recommended practice is to avoid mixing metaphors.

@Jeruba: You were joking???? You mean there’s no rule for me to break? Say it ain’t so. I’ll lose my street cred!

@daloon, I wasn’t joking. I was perfectly serious. There is such a rule, and you must obey it or I will write some more scripture at you. Stop reading this post now.

@pathfinder, I was joking.

@Jeruba: You think my eyes are too old to see your little tiny print? Well I got news for you, bubba. I had my daughter read it to me! So I know your little game. You can’t fool me. So take your little good book, and roll it down the river!

@pathfinder: don’t be taken in by her. She’s just trying to mess with your head.

@daloon: my treat.

@Jeruba: Why, thank you very much!