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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,706
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,706 |
No....'thank you' AName. You generated an interesting discussion 
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
Certainly there are similarities between euphemisms and double-entendres, but there are also differences. Which way one wants to lean in terms of calling euphemisms and double-entendres alike or not is up to the individual leaner. Either to say that they identical or that they are totally different would be wrong.
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,852 Likes: 2
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 10,852 Likes: 2 |
...Ravens and Writing-Desks and such... It's been a subject of analysis for years. Decades, even. Almost, but not quite, centuries. When I first heard it, it came with its own answer: -- Q: Why is a Raven like a Writing-Desk? -- A: The higher, the farther. Garbage in, garbage out. But it's been considered in depth by much cleverer minds than mine. See here for one such disquisition.
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
yes, and..
Q. What's the difference between a duck?
A. One leg is both the same.
or..
B. A red door on a motorcycle.
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 8
stranger
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OP
stranger
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 8 |
"Why is a raven like a writing desk?"
In my opinion this riddle is better without an answer. I got a kick out of learning of it here. If you dismiss it as a non sequitur its funny and lends itself to finish a heated argument in a humorous way.
But after looking it up and learning the meaning its such an awesome and very deep way of making a point that I believe applies to my original post. A lot of people answer this riddle with their own opinions, of similarities between the raven and the desk. They are not wrong, but also it is not the answer to the riddle.
That's why I found it amusing how well it applies to my question. Not to mention it did make me laugh out loud when I connected the dots.
Plus I think Faldage explained my own opinion better than I did. As to the opposing opinion in my argument with my friend, he took a more extreme and firm stance implying that they are not at all the same.
I might still be wrong but I tend to understand words in a more flexible manner.
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
"Why is a raven like a writing desk?" There is an N in neither and a B in both.
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295 |
"No, I give it up," Alice replied. "What's the answer?"
"I haven't the slightest idea," said the Hatter.
"Nor I," said the March Hare.
At this point I always took 'none' for an answer. Hatter and Hare's answers are the perfect anti climax.
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 724
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 724 |
When I was a child, I answered this question with 'they both begin with "R"' and imagined LC say, "Ah but they don't, you see! A writing desk has a "w" in front of it." I used to be dazzled by the ingenuity of this little escape route to what I thought was the obvious answer. All grown up now (I think), I don't answer it any more like all other questions of life.
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,075
old hand
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old hand
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,075 |
I take your point, A-ZName - if I were a Filing clerk, Double-Entendre and Euphemism would be quite near each other in the filing cabinet. 
I'm immortal until proven otherwise
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
When I was a child, I answered this question with 'they both begin with "R"' ... I've often said that the fourth R was Spelling.
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