Comment on A squeaky nail, or the wheel that sticks outComments−zahlman9moI always understood the "nail that sticks up" as analogous to a "tall poppy" rather than a "squeaking wheel". I.e. someone who is too visibly doing well in an environment where everyone is supposed to be oppressed by staying buried in the wood.−tokai9moI never head that understanding of the squeaky wheel gets the grease. I thought it was about the loudest/most obvious issues gets attention.−zahlman9moIt is. The second sentence is describing a "tall poppy". My point is that I think the author is comparing metaphors that don't make sense to compare.−antonvs9moIsn't that the author's point?"But in one [metaphor], the object out of step gets beaten into submission, whereas the other gets its needs met and returns to functioning properly."
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I always understood the "nail that sticks up" as analogous to a "tall poppy" rather than a "squeaking wheel". I.e. someone who is too visibly doing well in an environment where everyone is supposed to be oppressed by staying buried in the wood.
I never head that understanding of the squeaky wheel gets the grease. I thought it was about the loudest/most obvious issues gets attention.
It is. The second sentence is describing a "tall poppy". My point is that I think the author is comparing metaphors that don't make sense to compare.
Isn't that the author's point?