Will Guam tip over if too many people move there?

[Coito ergo sum]

"My fear is that the whole island will become so overly populated that it will tip over and capsize."

[Rum]

This is a member of the Merican Government speaking, right?

[leo-rcc]

[Wumbologist]

I can't believe this made the news at all. Are people really that bad at telling the difference between literal and figurative comments?

[beige]

I can't believe this made the news at all. Are people really that bad at telling the difference between literal and figurative comments?

The mental image is worth its weight in gold though

[Feck]

The environment on Guam is ......Snakes lots of Snakes unless they have cleared then since I last heard ....

This reminds me of the idiot on Rapture Ready that asked in the "science" thread if the melting Ice caps were causing all the earthquakes as the water rushed off to the south pole ..Ie the bottom of the planet

[Coito ergo sum]

I can't believe this made the news at all. Are people really that bad at telling the difference between literal and figurative comments?

That's not a video of the news. That's a C-SPAN video. In the US, most proceedings of the House and the Senate (together the rough equivalent of Parliament) are televised. So, this was just part of a public debate/discussion of an issue before Congress.

The clip is so funny because of the deadpan reaction after this Congressman makes the statement. Nobody laughs. There is no reaction, and the question is answered in the utmost seriousness. This Congressman, if he was not serious, has a great poker face. He deadpans it perfectly.

[Coito ergo sum]

This is a member of the Merican Government speaking, right?

It's easy to see why things are so fucked up...the US is foregoing Democracy for Idiocracy.

[Wumbologist]

I can't believe this made the news at all. Are people really that bad at telling the difference between literal and figurative comments?

That's not a video of the news. That's a C-SPAN video. In the US, most proceedings of the House and the Senate (together the rough equivalent of Parliament) are televised. So, this was just part of a public debate/discussion of an issue before Congress.

The clip is so funny because of the deadpan reaction after this Congressman makes the statement. Nobody laughs. There is no reaction, and the question is answered in the utmost seriousness. This Congressman, if he was not serious, has a great poker face. He deadpans it perfectly.

It sounds to me like he deadpans everything he says.

[Coito ergo sum]

I can't believe this made the news at all. Are people really that bad at telling the difference between literal and figurative comments?

That's not a video of the news. That's a C-SPAN video. In the US, most proceedings of the House and the Senate (together the rough equivalent of Parliament) are televised. So, this was just part of a public debate/discussion of an issue before Congress.

The clip is so funny because of the deadpan reaction after this Congressman makes the statement. Nobody laughs. There is no reaction, and the question is answered in the utmost seriousness. This Congressman, if he was not serious, has a great poker face. He deadpans it perfectly.

It sounds to me like he deadpans everything he says.

Well, if he was kidding, and nobody laughed, and the person to whom he asked the question answered it seriously, one would think the Congressman would have clarified that he was kidding....

[Wumbologist]

Well, if he was kidding, and nobody laughed, and the person to whom he asked the question answered it seriously, one would think the Congressman would have clarified that he was kidding....

I think if I was in his shoes and felt the need to clarify the difference between literal and figurative comments, I'd probably skip it altogether too.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Well, if he was kidding, and nobody laughed, and the person to whom he asked the question answered it seriously, one would think the Congressman would have clarified that he was kidding....

I think if I was in his shoes and felt the need to clarify the difference between literal and figurative comments, I'd probably skip it altogether too.

You guys don't watch much C-Span, do you? That kind of thing is said for specific reasons, "sound bytes" for consumption "back home". It's a lot like a Noh play.

[Coito ergo sum]

Well, if he was kidding, and nobody laughed, and the person to whom he asked the question answered it seriously, one would think the Congressman would have clarified that he was kidding....

I think if I was in his shoes and felt the need to clarify the difference between literal and figurative comments, I'd probably skip it altogether too.

It is an odd thing for him to say. When people use figurative language, like metaphors, allusions, allegories, etc., there is generally a point they're trying to make that is better made with the figurative language than the literal. Especially in a serious environment such as grilling someone at a Congressional hearing....

What, exactly, is his point in referring to Guam tipping over, that couldn't have been more effectively communicated by simply, clearly and accurately stating what he thought were risks to the island of Guam? What answer is he expecting from the person being questioned to his supposedly "figurative" question?

[Coito ergo sum]

Well, if he was kidding, and nobody laughed, and the person to whom he asked the question answered it seriously, one would think the Congressman would have clarified that he was kidding....

I think if I was in his shoes and felt the need to clarify the difference between literal and figurative comments, I'd probably skip it altogether too.

You guys don't watch much C-Span, do you? That kind of thing is said for specific reasons, "sound bytes" for consumption "back home". It's a lot like a Noh play.

I can't see why someone would want that Guam tipping over thing as they're sound bite....

[Gawdzilla Sama]

What, exactly, is his point in referring to Guam tipping over, that couldn't have been more effectively communicated by simply, clearly and accurately stating what he thought were risks to the island of Guam? What answer is he expecting from the person being questioned to his supposedly "figurative" question?

I'm willing to bet that a supporter expressed concerns about just that thing to the Congresscritter. Now he can show that person that he brought it up on the Floor. Ego boost for the money guy.

I spent one semester at Purdue "key wording" C-Span. I had to note important words for various shows and the live coverage from both houses. The speeches were dreaded because of the utter shit that we had to sit through. One guy read the names of every one of his contributors into the Congressional Record. Normally that means the list is appended to the CR, but not this time, he had a few pages of names and read them all.