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You know what thought did, don't you?
When I was younger, my old nan, bless her dear departed soul, used to say:
"it followed a dustcart and thought it was a wedding"
whenever I used to say something like:
"I thought x.. or y... or z..."
What was she on about?
"it followed a dustcart and thought it was a wedding"
whenever I used to say something like:
"I thought x.. or y... or z..."
What was she on about?
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Thanks for your comments.
I'm not sure, do you think it has something to do with the fact that 'thought' does not actually exist?
I'm not sure, do you think it has something to do with the fact that 'thought' does not actually exist?
Thought exists. It is so real that it can create things that are not really there. That is why we have mental patients, fear, inventions, and as in your example, misunderstandings or overthinking.
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Maybe there is *NO MEANING* to the phrase and response? Perhaps it is just something that is 'made up' with no reasoning - yet parents perpetuate the nonsense to their children...?
No, it means simply what BobSiemens said above.
See Bob, once in a while you are right, just as long as it is not politics. :-)
Now, maybe she did not really know what it meant, and was just repeating it at the appropriate time, that we cannot know with asking her, but the phrase is known and means what was said.
This (not really knowing the phrase) is what seems to be going on in Mystique's case since;
>>My grandmother used to say "Look there goes another rubber tree plant."
is not an answer to
>>when I said ""I thought x.. or y... or z..."
It would actually be a correct answer to;
"it followed a dustcart and thought it was a wedding"
The Rubber Tree Plant phrase comes from a song about optimism. The song tells the story of an ant colony. While most folks think that a being as small as an ant could have no impact on the environment, the song explains that because of the ant's "High Hopes" (optimism) they can bring down things much bigger than themselves. "Look there goes another Rubber Tree Plant" is the refrain indicating that the ants are successful in there task, since the plant has fallen...
But as my grandmother use to say, "Its six of one or half a dozen of another."
See Bob, once in a while you are right, just as long as it is not politics. :-)
Now, maybe she did not really know what it meant, and was just repeating it at the appropriate time, that we cannot know with asking her, but the phrase is known and means what was said.
This (not really knowing the phrase) is what seems to be going on in Mystique's case since;
>>My grandmother used to say "Look there goes another rubber tree plant."
is not an answer to
>>when I said ""I thought x.. or y... or z..."
It would actually be a correct answer to;
"it followed a dustcart and thought it was a wedding"
The Rubber Tree Plant phrase comes from a song about optimism. The song tells the story of an ant colony. While most folks think that a being as small as an ant could have no impact on the environment, the song explains that because of the ant's "High Hopes" (optimism) they can bring down things much bigger than themselves. "Look there goes another Rubber Tree Plant" is the refrain indicating that the ants are successful in there task, since the plant has fallen...
But as my grandmother use to say, "Its six of one or half a dozen of another."
A Barbara Taylor Bradford book calls that phrase "a wonderful Yorkshire saying" (a reply after one character says, "She think's she's the heir apparent...")
The meaning is pretty obvious.
I'd not be surprised to find that it is colloquial to England, or even just Yorkshire -- I've never heard the phrase in the Western U.S. (or on American TV, etc.)
On a personal note:
I, myself, would never say such a thing to a child. A young child would hear only the surface message, and not the more subtle underlying message (about *wishful* thinking or *hasty* thinking or *not* thinking). I'd never say something that might discourage thinking.
The meaning is pretty obvious.
I'd not be surprised to find that it is colloquial to England, or even just Yorkshire -- I've never heard the phrase in the Western U.S. (or on American TV, etc.)
On a personal note:
I, myself, would never say such a thing to a child. A young child would hear only the surface message, and not the more subtle underlying message (about *wishful* thinking or *hasty* thinking or *not* thinking). I'd never say something that might discourage thinking.
ASKER
Thanks all for your posts.
Though BobSiemens is not fully confident of his response, I think he is the nearest to it with his second comment.
By definition then, LocoTechCJ also has it right when he/she says: "you'll fool yourself into thinking something that is not."
And -mystique- "you should first examine the subject more thoroughly before you make a decision and judgment as to what something really is. " is there too.
Thanks.
Though BobSiemens is not fully confident of his response, I think he is the nearest to it with his second comment.
By definition then, LocoTechCJ also has it right when he/she says: "you'll fool yourself into thinking something that is not."
And -mystique- "you should first examine the subject more thoroughly before you make a decision and judgment as to what something really is. " is there too.
Thanks.
I gave you the proper meaning and background of the phrase!
ASKER
Hi Arthur, I hope I haven't assigned points badly here. I can see where you gave me background to the phrase about the Rubber Tree Plant, but not my phrase....?
It sounds like she was suggesting that [it?] was foolishly optimistic or upbeat.
A man has twin sons, and as they grow, he notices that they have very distinct personalities. One is ever the optimist, and the other is an inconsolable pessimist.
Well, this bothers the man. He wants to show his optimistic son that the world isn't always bright and cheery, and he wants his pessimistic son to learn that not everything is bad. So, on their eigth birthdays, he decides to teach them these lessons.
While the boys are off at school, the man fills the pessimistic boy's room with toys. Fantastic, wonderful toys, packed all the way to the ceiling. He fills the optimistic boy's room with horse shit. Mounds of horse shit, packed all the way to the ceiling. He then leaves for work.
When he returns home that evening, he opens his front door and hears hysterical crying coming from the pessimistic boy's room. Sighing, he heads in that direction to see what the problem is. "Son," he says, "why on earth are you crying? I've filled your room with toys. Fantastic, wonderful toys, all the way to the ceiling. Surely you must be having a happy birthday!"
The boy just shakes his head and continues to sob, whining, "But Daaaaad, all theses toys will need batteries, and what if they break, or what if I lose them, and what if all my friends are jealous of me and my toys?"
The man shakes his head, deciding that this son is a lost cause. He moves on to the optimist's room, to see how that boy is dealing with his birthday surprise.
When he opens the door, he sees his optimistic son dancing around, jumping into the pile of horse shit and giggling madly. The man is taken aback, and worries that this son may not be 'all there,' if you know what I mean. And he asks the boy, "Son, what on earth are you so happy about?"
To which the boy replies, "Well, Daddy, there's gotta be a pony in here somewhere!"