Getting to the sole of the matter

October 8, 2006 11:56 AM

We all know what it is. We've all seen it, or heard of it. Maybe it's hard to talk about it. At any rate, we don't, generally. Or at least we're said not to. In fact, it seems that we do refer to it pretty often. It's interesting how all of the uses end up pointing to problems in the pachyderm population itself, from population pressures to captivity. Of course, the Victorians started the tradition with a particular item of interior furnishings, which forms the basis of a game, and may be the foundations of pachyderm communications.
posted by mwhybark (8 comments total)

This jumped the shark a few FPPs back.
posted by ClanvidHorse at 12:08 PM on October 8, 2006

Clanvid, I respectfully submit that your comment is inappropriate, as it contains references to sharks, not elephants.
posted by Greg Nog at 12:12 PM on October 8, 2006

argh. make it stop!
posted by craven_morhead at 12:22 PM on October 8, 2006

probosc-terous.
posted by gubo at 12:23 PM on October 8, 2006

well, it's a slow day on mefi. So I welcome the elephants.
posted by jouke at 12:25 PM on October 8, 2006

The phrase "Seen the Elephant" was common in pre-Civil War America. - it meant someone who was worldly and been around (elephants were so rarely seen).
posted by stbalbach at 12:30 PM on October 8, 2006

Did I miss the secret memo?
posted by geekhorde at 12:31 PM on October 8, 2006

Ah! Thank you, stbalbach, for elucidating a Terry Pratchett phrase: "so they went the long way, and saw the elephant".
posted by paduasoy at 1:05 PM on October 8, 2006