Comments on: Unwanted Metaphors http://jeremydenk.net/blog/2006/04/04/unwanted-metaphors/ The glamorous life and thoughts of a concert pianist. Wed, 16 May 2012 15:06:44 +0000 hourly 1 By: Molly http://jeremydenk.net/blog/2006/04/04/unwanted-metaphors/comment-page-1/#comment-1947 Molly Thu, 06 Apr 2006 03:24:39 +0000 http://jeremydenk.net/blog/?p=354#comment-1947 Not by any means an excuse, but often, scientists (or people writing about science, for that matter) underestimate the layperson's ability to understand science in a more prosy form and go far overboard on metaphors and/or anthropomorphization. I myself am often guilty of the above, although I try to confine myself to one per biological process.<br/><br/>The orchestra trope is not necessarily inapt, though - for example, I know several people whose brains could be characterized by the following:<br/><br/>http://www.marriedtothesea.com/030906/baby-orchestra.jpg<br/><br/>Have some dignity. This is a baby orchestra. Not by any means an excuse, but often, scientists (or people writing about science, for that matter) underestimate the layperson’s ability to understand science in a more prosy form and go far overboard on metaphors and/or anthropomorphization. I myself am often guilty of the above, although I try to confine myself to one per biological process.

The orchestra trope is not necessarily inapt, though – for example, I know several people whose brains could be characterized by the following:

http://www.marriedtothesea.com/030906/baby-orchestra.jpg

Have some dignity. This is a baby orchestra.

]]> By: Anonymous http://jeremydenk.net/blog/2006/04/04/unwanted-metaphors/comment-page-1/#comment-1946 Anonymous Wed, 05 Apr 2006 21:11:12 +0000 http://jeremydenk.net/blog/?p=354#comment-1946 How impulsive are you? <br/>(yet another brain wrenching article)<br/><br/>Living On Impulse<br/><br/>http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/04/health/psychology/04impulse.html?ex=1144382400&en=ca81aa61112d5e24&ei=5087 How impulsive are you?
(yet another brain wrenching article)

Living On Impulse

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/04/health/psychology/04impulse.html?ex=1144382400&en=ca81aa61112d5e24&ei=5087

]]> By: noreen http://jeremydenk.net/blog/2006/04/04/unwanted-metaphors/comment-page-1/#comment-1942 noreen Wed, 05 Apr 2006 01:31:16 +0000 http://jeremydenk.net/blog/?p=354#comment-1942 I was dizzy and nauseated yesterday, so I had to leave work early. I wonder what my brain was playing then compared to now, seeing as how I seem normal again. I was dizzy and nauseated yesterday, so I had to leave work early. I wonder what my brain was playing then compared to now, seeing as how I seem normal again.

]]> By: former music student http://jeremydenk.net/blog/2006/04/04/unwanted-metaphors/comment-page-1/#comment-1939 former music student Tue, 04 Apr 2006 20:24:59 +0000 http://jeremydenk.net/blog/?p=354#comment-1939 Wow! I read the article Sunday afternoon. That particular section you cited has been lingering in my short memory. <br/><br/>Brain as a bowl of soup caused me wired feeling, nausea. <br/>'Orchestra' is a tool that is too often used as metaphor or analogy, for example, for a business organization. (because it is micro cosmos of the human society?) <br/><br/>In my discipline, I see brain function as circuits/pathways … pretty complicated ones. The amazing truth is, there are millions of circuits/pathways in our brain, which are unused, unknown, but by accident or by some intervention can be activated and give light to one's life. <br/><br/>Our conscious self has no idea what's going on behind, has no control. It cannot be a conductor. There is a world inside ourselves, which is beyond our reasoning, beyond our imaginary sense. Wow! I read the article Sunday afternoon. That particular section you cited has been lingering in my short memory.

Brain as a bowl of soup caused me wired feeling, nausea.
‘Orchestra’ is a tool that is too often used as metaphor or analogy, for example, for a business organization. (because it is micro cosmos of the human society?)

In my discipline, I see brain function as circuits/pathways … pretty complicated ones. The amazing truth is, there are millions of circuits/pathways in our brain, which are unused, unknown, but by accident or by some intervention can be activated and give light to one’s life.

Our conscious self has no idea what’s going on behind, has no control. It cannot be a conductor. There is a world inside ourselves, which is beyond our reasoning, beyond our imaginary sense.

]]> By: Priscilla http://jeremydenk.net/blog/2006/04/04/unwanted-metaphors/comment-page-1/#comment-1938 Priscilla Tue, 04 Apr 2006 19:17:06 +0000 http://jeremydenk.net/blog/?p=354#comment-1938 <i>Now, how does your psyche hurt?</i><br/><br/>All metaphors aside, that's an interesting article. Now, how does your psyche hurt?

All metaphors aside, that’s an interesting article.

]]> By: Marve http://jeremydenk.net/blog/2006/04/04/unwanted-metaphors/comment-page-1/#comment-1937 Marve Tue, 04 Apr 2006 16:02:51 +0000 http://jeremydenk.net/blog/?p=354#comment-1937 What a doozy. <br/><br/>I can't help but wonder, though--if my brain is an orchestra, what is it playing? What a doozy.

I can’t help but wonder, though–if my brain is an orchestra, what is it playing?

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