On Monday, October 28, 2013 1:14:50 PM UTC+5:30, Steven D'Aprano wrote: > Here's an analogy: > > Person A: "Clean my room for me!" > Person B: "No. Clean it yourself. Here's the vacuum cleaner." > Person A: "CLEAN MY ROOM!!!" > Person B: "No. You made the mess, you're old enough to clean it yourself." > > > Person A: "Clean my room for me!" > Person C: "You're stupid and ugly and I hope you die!" > > > Do you see the difference yet?
Since we are exchanging analogies (analogy to exchanging anecdotes?) here's mine. ---------------- Mommy: Johnny your room needs to be cleaned up Johnny: Yes Mom (A few days later) Mommy: Johnny your room's a real mess. Are you going to clean it? Johnny: Yes Mom. Mommy: When are you going to? Johnny: Uh uh… Tomorrow (Many tomorrow's more and Mommy-doing-basic-survival cleaning later…) Mommy: Johny today's a Sunday. I expect your room thoroughly cleaned today! Johnny: Uh uh… (10 am as Johnny is going out with 'friends'…) Mommy: I expect your room clean before you go out today! Johnny: I'll be back in just 15 minutes. Only 15 minutes. Please Mom! Mommy: Johnny if your room is not cleaned today, there will be no lunch Johnny: Uh uh Mommy: You heard me right? No lunch if your room is a mess. Johnny: Ok (15 minutes stretches to 4 hours) Johnny: Mom! I am hungry! Mommy: Remember? No food until your room is cleaned up. Johnny: MOM! Im HUNGRY! I'll do it after lunch! Mommy: There's no food -- neither for you nor me -- until your room's done. Johnny: (begins to scream bawl throw an tantrum) Mommy: (screams back) Neighbours are disturbed (Its Sunday afternoon!) They force their way in. Immediately Johnny's tune changes -- all weak and tearful. Johnny: Ive had no food… for days… Neighbours: Whoa?! Whats happening? Johnny: Mommy's VERY angry with me. And I dont even know why (sob)! (Too bewildered to protest or retort… Mom soon finds herself marched off to the police station for child-abuse) -- https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list