metonymy4u

If a person is thirsty we give them water, if a child’s diaper needs changing we change it, if a car stalls we fix it. Why is it then if a person feels emotional pain, we so often respond by withdrawing ? As if ignoring the broken down car would help the engine fix itself…as if leaving on the soiled diaper is good for the child…as if thirst is best satisfied by water deprivation…. What is it about emotions that makes us run straight to retarded-ville? What evolutionary quirk makes us so squeamish about ourselves? We’re mammals. That means: hairy, emotional creatures. Don’t like it? Well, I bet the lizards would love a nice warm-blooded friend to keep them warm nights….