I mean, anyone who’s ever taken Prof. George Lakoff’s classes at UC Berkeley is familiar with his famous “Don’t think of an elephant” lecture. He tells his students not to think about an elephant, then goes on to describe an elephant in agonizing detail, but under no circumstances are you permitted to picture that elephant in your mind.
Lakoff also wrote a book based on this lecture, titled “Don’t Think of an Elephant!” where he tells us that
Frames are mental structures that shape the way we see the world. As a result, they shape the goals we seek, the plans we make, the way we act, and what counts as a good or bad outcome of our actions. In politics our frames shape our social policies and the institutions we form to carry out policies.
Every word we have is defined relative to a conceptual frame, even trying to negate the frame activates the frame. So, if I tell you “Don’t think of an elephant” you will immediately think of an elephant!
I mean, anyone who’s ever taken Prof. George Lakoff’s classes at UC Berkeley is familiar with his famous “Don’t think of an elephant” lecture. He tells his students not to think about an elephant, then goes on to describe an elephant in agonizing detail, but under no circumstances are you permitted to picture that elephant in your mind.
I cant even get trough your text without picturing the whole classroom including the elephants in everyones mind.
I am not sure what the idea is but if i was given this assignment i conclude 3 possibilities.
the point is that its impossible so i can just give up and laugh at the spectacle.
i should grab for my headphones, close my eyes and focus my mind to some place far away
run out of the classroom and do something that requires concentration. Random conversation with someone.
Lakoff also wrote a book based on this lecture, titled “Don’t Think of an Elephant!” where he tells us that
Every word we have is defined relative to a conceptual frame, even trying to negate the frame activates the frame. So, if I tell you “Don’t think of an elephant” you will immediately think of an elephant!