(no subject)
Suppose you're sitting waiting for a train and a guy sits next to you. Not a weird or scary guy, just your average American semi-disreputable-looking train-goer. Suppose he offers you a cigarette. Not a self-rolled one or a slimy one, but a cigarette that is clearly fresh from the package and presumably some accepted brand. It's probably safe to assume that he's about to smoke a cigarette himself and is politely offering you one. You shake your head no thank you and he shrugs and takes it back. No words are spoken during this interaction, but none are really necessary.
Now suppose instead of a cigarette he offers you a package of imported vegetable manicotti.
As in the previous supposed situation you shake your head no, although you may be somewhat more confused by the offer.
Suppose moreover that he refuses to accept the manicotti back and pushes it entirely into your hands.
Thinking he's trying to sell it, you gesture towards the ticket-money you're holding and he shakes his head vigorously. Thinking there is perhaps an amusing ingredient, you examine the package only to find that it is in some unidentifiable foreign language. You then attempt to pass the manicotti back, but are again rebuffed. Finally you just place it on the bench as close to him as possible.
There is no explanation. The entire episode is nonverbal.
Now suppose, finally taking back the manicotti, the guy now pushes a new package into your hands which he produced from some hidden pocket.
This time you receive spicy-hot-cider mix and lentil soup mix conveniently packaged all together. The ingredients are in English, but are not particularly enlightening towards the situation.
As before, you try politely to hand the food back. This time he shakes his head and starts rubbing his tummy and smiling, making eating gestures--clearly miming that this is yummy food that you should eat.
Again, no actual words are spoken. Though the amount of gesturing has gotten precipitously high.
Finally, the train arrives, giving you a fortunate chance to again set down his food and make a hasty retreat.
On the train you witness a similar interaction ending with a random new train-goer happily leaving the train with the package of imported manicotti.
...
does any of this seem strange to you?
Now suppose instead of a cigarette he offers you a package of imported vegetable manicotti.
As in the previous supposed situation you shake your head no, although you may be somewhat more confused by the offer.
Suppose moreover that he refuses to accept the manicotti back and pushes it entirely into your hands.
Thinking he's trying to sell it, you gesture towards the ticket-money you're holding and he shakes his head vigorously. Thinking there is perhaps an amusing ingredient, you examine the package only to find that it is in some unidentifiable foreign language. You then attempt to pass the manicotti back, but are again rebuffed. Finally you just place it on the bench as close to him as possible.
There is no explanation. The entire episode is nonverbal.
Now suppose, finally taking back the manicotti, the guy now pushes a new package into your hands which he produced from some hidden pocket.
This time you receive spicy-hot-cider mix and lentil soup mix conveniently packaged all together. The ingredients are in English, but are not particularly enlightening towards the situation.
As before, you try politely to hand the food back. This time he shakes his head and starts rubbing his tummy and smiling, making eating gestures--clearly miming that this is yummy food that you should eat.
Again, no actual words are spoken. Though the amount of gesturing has gotten precipitously high.
Finally, the train arrives, giving you a fortunate chance to again set down his food and make a hasty retreat.
On the train you witness a similar interaction ending with a random new train-goer happily leaving the train with the package of imported manicotti.
...
does any of this seem strange to you?