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?