Language substitution and Br'er Rabbit

[bcholmes]

In the US (and perhaps in Canada, too -- I don't know), the term "tar baby" has a racist history. I didn't always know this, but I seem to learn faster than, say, Republicans. Its non-racist connotation is sometimes a useful thing to describe: a situation that once you've gotten involved with it, it's next to impossible to extricate yourself. Is there a less problematic metaphor to use in that case?

Comments

[maize]

Quicksand?
Tarpits?

(I've actually never heard the term "tar baby" before that I can recall.)

Personally, I'd probably go with quicksand.

[bcholmes]

Mm. The problem I have with quicksand is that it conveys the vibe of having just wandered into an area and, oh shit, there's quicksand! An aspect of the other metaphor that I like is the idea that you can go into a situation with good intentions of helping out, but that somehow all future complaint about the situation becomes your fault and you can never remove yourself.

Maybe I'm trying to be too picky.

[maize]

On the other hand, the nice thing about quicksand is that people know what it is. :) (I know I'm being silly in that I'd never heard of the term myself but that doesn't imply that other people won't have, but I do wonder if everybody's seeing all the subtleties of the metaphor that you're interested in.) Does quagmire work better?

[talia_et_alia]

The words 'quagmire', 'morass', and 'quicksand' come to mind. Also 'bogged down'. They don't seem equally vivid, but I'm not sure replacement language ever does - connotations do matter.

Locally, I guess one could reference the Great Molasses Flood, but it feels tacky rude - people did die.

[hellsop]

None that share that connotation of having gotten messy by messing with something that wasn't yours to mess with in the first place. "Kicking the hornet's nest" is close, but with speedy results instead of the slow, horrifying inevitability involved with the tar baby.

[serene]

Quagmire

[erik]

The can of worms?

[emceeaich]

"Knee Deep in the Big Muddy"

[wild_irises]

I like this one. I was thinking "painted yourself into a corner."

[tetsab]

My first thought was to start propagating Sticky-Hair (or, better, fur) Ogre. It could work as long as the situation is one made worse specifically by fighting ...and you don't mind explaining what a Sticky-Fur Ogre is every time it's brought up (I picked that link specifically 'cause I was pretty interested in the fact that it's described as a Buddhist Tar Baby but can't help also giving this variation as pretty interesting modern compare 'n' contrast).

In my world it shouldn't be that terrible to have to go around explaining Sticky Ogres 'cause I'd think that you'd have to explain Tar Babies (RE: other responses in this thread) every so often too (the only reason I'd heard the term is because of the reaction to those slow to catch on Republicans).

(Quickly re-reading the wiki entry on the term I don't get any sense of coming into a situation with good intentions -- Rabbit gets stuck going in for a quick punch!) :o

Nonetheless, what popped into my head as a substitute in more, uh, modern stories was cartoon scenes like Wile E. Coyote & the glue (specifically the Glue Boomerang from 3:56 'till the end). And yet, even if I could sum that up as something tidy and understandable ("Wile E. & the glue", "Glue boomerang") I bet it'd still be as patchily known by folks as Tar Baby...

If it is just a "fighting makes it worse thing" I don't think you could do better than something like a Finger Trap Situation.

[bcholmes]

(Quickly re-reading the wiki entry on the term I don't get any sense of coming into a situation with good intentions -- Rabbit gets stuck going in for a quick punch!) :o

Fair point. I guess what I mean is that there's agency.