Situational metaphors, satire and sense-making

August 22, 2025, by Brigitte Nerlich

Here is one more recent example. Somebody wrote on Bluesky on 13 August: “This evening, a fire truck was coming from the opposite direction, sirens blaring, lights blazing. There was an obstinate car that refused to make way. I later realized it was a Waymo driverless car. It didn’t know better. I hope that clueless AI didn’t cause any consequential damage. ” And somebody else replied: “A beautiful metaphor for US constitutional purists. ”

Metaphors as cognitive safety valves?

When I was reading this, I began to wonder whether such metaphors have always existed or whether they are something new or particular to politically tough times. I don’t know. Are such situational and satirical metaphors an indication of how societies process and cope with overwhelming (political) realities when direct discussion becomes too threatening or exhausting? Do they work a bit like cognitive and communicative safety valves? That needs further research.

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