14 Comments
User's avatar
Daniel Nest's avatar

"Metaphorically speaking, sometimes rattling cages can lead to boiling frogs. A would-be authoritarian leader always starts by challenging the status quo and agitating for massive change. They start by rattling the cages. Then, the citizens become complacent to things as they change over time, letting things slide that would have been unacceptable last year. Before you know it, you’re under the thumb of the state, but not overnight."

It's a good thing we've left that kind of stuff in our dark past.

Expand full comment
Andrew Smith's avatar

Subtle, right?

Expand full comment
Andrew Sniderman 🕷️'s avatar

There's a joke in here about some of the frogs not having brains

Expand full comment
Rudy Fischmann's avatar

So how did the frogs survive without brains long enough to be put in the hot water?

Expand full comment
Andrew Smith's avatar

The answer is a bit morbid. Not the entire brain was removed, but only the higher function stuff. This is called decerebration - apparently, you leave the brainstem and spinal cord behind, but remove the "cerebral hemispheres" - I'm learning about this in real time, so bear with me here.

I guess it's sort of like how someone can be "brain dead" after an accident, but still have their heart beating and other vital functions working.

Expand full comment
Rudy Fischmann's avatar

I kind of suspected something like that.

Expand full comment
Andrew Smith's avatar

I bet those frogs didn't suspect that!

No one expects the frog boiling inquisition?

Expand full comment
Rabbi Eli L. Garfinkel's avatar

I had no idea that was a myth, although now that I think about it, it’s obvious

Expand full comment
Andrew Smith's avatar

It's just one of those things you don't necessarily ever stop to think about. I'm trying to collect those things.

Expand full comment
lunafaer (she/they)'s avatar

just excellent. thank you.

Expand full comment
Andrew Smith's avatar

Hey, thanks!

Expand full comment
Von's avatar

Haven’t read the article yet, but great title.

Expand full comment
Andrew Smith's avatar

Ha! Thanks, Von!

Expand full comment