Thoughts on Today's Political Landscape

[Enoch Root]

Third Rail?:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisf...ackdown-occupy

[smc]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Third Rail?:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisf...ackdown-occupy

Naomi Wolf's thesis is important and interesting, but I think she hurts herself by referring to this as the "third rail." Why? Because in the American political vernacular, "third rail" is widely known to refer to Social Security. Hence, she inadvertently sows confusion.

[ila]

Originally Posted by smc

Naomi Wolf's thesis is important and interesting, but I think she hurts herself by referring to this as the "third rail." Why? Because in the American political vernacular, "third rail" is widely known to refer to Social Security. Hence, she inadvertently sows confusion.

I didn't see any confusion as she explained what she meant by the third rail.

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Third Rail?:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisf...ackdown-occupy

It was clear to me what she meant. And I think she?s right. She could also have said something like ?touched a nerve.? But touching the ?third rail? has more powerful and deadly connotations.

Don?t forget I lived in NYC for a short time and used to ride the subway!

[smc]

Originally Posted by smc

Naomi Wolf's thesis is important and interesting, but I think she hurts herself by referring to this as the "third rail." Why? Because in the American political vernacular, "third rail" is widely known to refer to Social Security. Hence, she inadvertently sows confusion.

Originally Posted by ila

I didn't see any confusion as she explained what she meant by the third rail.

Originally Posted by aw9725

It was clear to me what she meant. And I think she?s right. She could also have said something like ?touched a nerve.? But touching the ?third rail? has more powerful and deadly connotations.

Don?t forget I lived in NYC for a short time and used to ride the subway!

It was clear to me, too. I guess I didn't do a good enough job of making my point, which is that when wants to create a political shorthand for something it is best not to choose a term that is already in widespread use as shorthand for something else.

[ila]

Originally Posted by smc

It was clear to me, too. I guess I didn't do a good enough job of making my point, which is that when wants to create a political shorthand for something it is best not to choose a term that is already in widespread use as shorthand for something else.

The term "Third Rail" may has one meaning in the US, but the linked article was written for a newspaper in the UK where the term "Third Rail" has a different meaning. Therefore the journalist's use of "Third Rail" was perfectly reasonable and no doubt would not have confused her readers.

[smc]

Originally Posted by ila

The term "Third Rail" may has one meaning in the US, but the linked article was written for a newspaper in the UK where the term "Third Rail" has a different meaning. Therefore the journalist's use of "Third Rail" was perfectly reasonable and no doubt would not have confused her readers.

Naomi Wolf is an American and was writing about U.S. politics. Her article has been reposted all over the place; today, a leaflet reproduction of it was being handed out at Occupy Boston.

I am not trying to score points with my critique of her word choice. Why is it being interpreted in such a way?

[ila]

Originally Posted by smc

Naomi Wolf is an American and was writing about U.S. politics. Her article has been reposted all over the place; today, a leaflet reproduction of it was being handed out at Occupy Boston.

I didn't know she was American, although I suppose I could have looked up her personal information, but I had no reason to do so.

Originally Posted by smc

I am not trying to score points with my critique of her word choice. Why is it being interpreted in such a way?

I never intimated that you were trying to score points with her word choice. Don't read things into my posts that aren't there.

[smc]

Originally Posted by ila

I didn't know she was American, although I suppose I could have looked up her personal information, but I had no reason to do so.



I never intimated that you were trying to score points with her word choice. Don't read things into my posts that aren't there.

I didn't think I was. I was simply baffled by why the discussion went on as long as it did. Sorry, my friend.