i could be wrong

something has been bothering me for a while, but obviously not enough to keep me from forgetting to write about it (or anything for that matter). but there's a saying that's getting more play lately about an elephant in the room. i think it's meant to convey a serious issue that people are completely ignoring rather than addressing. if so, it's one of the worst metaphorical images ever. i mean, would anyone be able to ignore an elephant in the room with them? would they even go into a room with an elephant or have an elephant come into their room without bolting out the window?

regardless, the problem i'm having is with the twisting of this simple phrase. i've heard several times someone speak of "the white elephant in the room." i don't think the elephant's race matters, but i do believe this confuses the simple elephant in the room with a white elephant gift - which if memory serves is just a crappy gift (used maybe for dirty santa or yankee swap or exchange the white elephant gift).

then the other day, i heard on a network news show (not surprising) something about "a 400 lb elephant in the room." this is dumb on many levels. first, i'm pretty sure it's a 400 lb gorilla. second, i mean really, maybe an elephant's leg weighs 400 lbs. maybe it might weigh that in the first week of its life. but elephants weigh several tons. a person could weigh 400 lbs, which should be a pretty good clue an elephant likely doesn't.

i know it's not a big deal or anything, but it just bothers me that information has never been easier to attain and yet everyone - especially the "experts" - seem to be getting dumber by the minute. i guess ease begets laziness and a complete lack of concern regarding accuracy. after all, as ringo said, "it don't come easy." or was it george?