The Invalid Yet Gratifying Metaphor

We love metaphors, and someone will often provide a metaphor, anecdote, or joke which is entertaining and which resonates at some level, but which doesn’t actually address the underlying argument, or which contains enough subtle difference to make it non-applicable. Sadly, this gets lost under the head-nodding and smiles of the audience who just appreciates a good metaphor and likes the idea that it’s universally applicable. A cartoon on Facebook showed a fox explaining to the chickens that they were taking away their guns, and that security will now be provided by the foxes. This was presented as an accurate representation and summation of the gun control debate in America.