Essay #1

Although I should know better by now, I cannot help thinking how much there is to metaphors. Until a few days ago metaphors were just metaphors to me, I didn’t think there is so much to it. ” Metaphor” is just a word until I see how others view it. Then I start thinking more about it and give more value and relevance. Getting exposed to them more made me realize how much people can get affected by it. I read three articles that mentioned different point of view about metaphors; “See Through words” by Erard, “The Trouble With Medicine’s Metaphors” by Khullar, and “Metaphors” by Geary. The articles had good explanation of how metaphors are useful in convincing people or having them see your point of view from your prospective. As you probably know it’s really hard to show your point of view of something, isn’t easy to convince people. Metaphors might not always work but it never hurt to use them to show your view. My question is, are metaphors useful? After reading the three texts it’s proven that metaphors are useful. 

You would think that metaphors don’t play an influential role in our lives. Although it does, in Khullar text, he mentioned how a person who held hot coffee had a “warmer” traits. The person was influenced without having any type of interaction. The coffee method could be used by mental therapist. So the person that’s having the therapy done on, the therapist could provide him/her hot cup of coffee or tea. That might reflect positive emotions toward the therapist, because a mental therapist is supposed to help a person with mental issues plus solve their problem, and help them feel comfortable. This quote shows that metaphors are useful because it could help a person gain positive emotions without interaction and without them noticing.

While exploring Geary’s and Erard text I realized similarity in the text. Geary said ” World War II, Vietnam, and the third was historically neutral”. In this paragraph Geary explained how the students where trying to make a decision based on this metaphor. The teacher asked the students if U.S should help an invaded country and accept their request. At this point the students had to decide whether they want to help. It could end in three different ways based on the metaphor it could end good like World War II, or take the chances of it ending like Vietnam, or just not help at all. Putting out these pass reality wars to show what it might end up with. That metaphor plays a big part in making a decision since it put out there to make a decision. In Erard text he mentioned how Vietnam is compared to any disastrous event. He said “Vietnam to any disastrous military intervention” which is what Geary said we could end up like Vietnam with a really bad war. This demonstrates that metaphors are useful in making decisions.

Erard also mentioned how ” Metaphors are meant to help people to understand the unfamiliar”. On the other hand Geary mentioned how “Metaphor is the process of giving the thing a name that belongs to something else”. As I’m trying to compare these two metaphors it made sense, because ” giving the think a name that belongs to something else” helps understand the concept that you’re trying to prove or say. Metaphors are meant to make you see things from different point of views. For example; it’s like having a math problem, but you don’t like the method you’re using to solve it so you try out different methods to approach it. It’s the same with metaphors instead using the normal English language you’re using metaphors to show your point of view from a different side. This shows that metaphors are useful, because you’re using metaphors to help express your words by comparing it to something else.

It’s interesting how people interpret things, all of their interpretation is depended on your pass history, who you interacted with, who you live with, and if you are surrounded by negative or positive people. Those aren’t the only things of why you interpret things the way you do. There are so many reasons that could affect your interpretation. They could be bad or good interpretation. In Khullar’s text he said “people who got the “virus” frame were far more likely to propose solution involving social reform to address root, while those receiving the “beast” frame were more likely to propose solutions involving catching criminals and enforcing laws more strictly”. As you probably can see depending on how you see the issues that will affect your actions toward it, but again it could be good or bad actions. This also shows that metaphors are useful if you use them to interpret things positively.

One of the things that really stood out to me in Khullar’s text is when he said “Indeed, for many patients, thinking of their treatment course as a fight or battle may be helped, an important part of their journey, invoking ideals of courage, reliance, and determination”. That is an amazing way to think of treatment, I never saw treatment that way. To be honest I always saw treatment as being a bad thing because getting treatment from the first place that meant that something bad had happened to you, and you’re getting treated for it. Although how patients think of it as a course of “battle, courage, reliance, and determination” that by itself is a whole different level of metaphors. This shows, a very powerful way of how patients using metaphors because being encouraged to do something is not easy. 

In conclusion, as you just may saw all the different ways of how metaphors are useful. Metaphors could be useful in gaining positive emotions, making decisions, expressing your words, interpret positively, and encouragement. All of these show how useful metaphors are. Which is great because metaphors are put out there to be useful, and another way to communicate with world. Not many people see the worth of it until they notice that they are using it, and I was the same thing metaphors didn’t matter to me until I know how useful they are.