The meaning of the ending of Tim Minchin's 'Storm'

natselrox · **#21** by **natselrox** » Nov 23, 2011 5:20 pm

Animavore wrote:I'm guessing Nats explained it

no. We are just discussing how difficult English is! :lol:

Animavore · **#22** by **Animavore** » Nov 23, 2011 5:25 pm

murshid wrote:
Animavore wrote:
murshid wrote:

Thanks a lot, Animavore. But if the last two lines meant that, then why would it "mend" anything?
.

Because the woo-ist will carry on with their life as if nothing happened with their head in the clouds, their beliefs untarnished by reason.

I meant that if he meant "just ignore what I've said, because you are too close-minded to change your mind anyway", then how is that consistent with "Think but this and all is mended"?

I guess I'm not doing a very good job of explaining myself.
.

All is mended because the woo-ist gets to shrug the offense off with a "What does he know?" and convince themselves they are right regardless so everything is back as it was, the world keeps revolving, Storm gets to visit her homeopath for mild period pain in the morning not twigging the contadiction that she'll go to a gynacologist (a real doctor) if she suddenly bled profusely from her orifice.

murshid · **#23** by **murshid** » Nov 23, 2011 9:54 pm

natselrox wrote:
Animavore wrote:I'm guessing Nats explained it

no. We are just discussing how difficult English is!

By the way, natselrox, I am not fooled by your jokes. You are way better in English than I am.

Animavore wrote:
murshid wrote:I meant that if he meant "just ignore what I've said, because you are too close-minded to change your mind anyway", then how is that consistent with "Think but this and all is mended"?

I guess I'm not doing a very good job of explaining myself.

All is mended because the woo-ist gets to shrug the offense off with a "What does he know?" and convince themselves they are right regardless so everything is back as it was, the world keeps revolving, Storm gets to visit her homeopath for mild period pain in the morning not twigging the contadiction that she'll go to a gynacologist (a real doctor) if she suddenly bled profusely from her orifice.

Thanks again, Animavore!
.

Esther · **#24** by **Esther** » Oct 05, 2013 9:25 am

Here's my attempt at answering your question, because I had the same one! (Joined the group specially to post this, having gone looking for an answer to my question and having been disappointed not to find it here, so I hope it's worth it.....)
Here (after a GREAT deal of thought and discussion with my equally rationally minded son!) is what I think he means:
"Don't worry.... you wouldn't have changed your mind anyway even if you hadn't heard what it so offended you to listen to."
Thoughts, anyone?

Horwood Beer-Master · **#25** by **Horwood Beer-Master** » Oct 05, 2013 11:33 am

Basically he's saying "your views would remain unaltered regardless of whether we had this conversation or not; so if you just pretend it never happened then you don't have to be offended by it".

Scarlett · **#26** by **Scarlett** » Oct 05, 2013 11:35 am

rJD wrote:Just in case anyone missed it, those lines also reference Puck at the end of Midsummer Night's Dream:

"If we shadows have offended,
Think but this, and all is mended,
That you have but slumber'd here
While these visions did appear.
And this weak and idle theme,
No more yielding but a dream,
Gentles, do not reprehend:
if you pardon, we will mend:
And, as I am an honest Puck,
If we have unearned luck
Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue,
We will make amends ere long;
Else the Puck a liar call;
So, good night unto you all.
Give me your hands, if we be friends,
And Robin shall restore amends"

(edit: just remembered that this continues the Shakespeare reference, first made by Storm herself and from then satirised by Minchin)

Ah, well spotted. I knew I recognised it! We did A Midsummer Night's Dream at school.

Scarlett · **#27** by **Scarlett** » Oct 05, 2013 11:37 am

natselrox wrote:
Animavore wrote:I'm guessing Nats explained it

no. We are just discussing how difficult English is!

Is it diffcult to learn?

Precambrian Rabbi · **#28** by **Precambrian Rabbi** » Oct 05, 2013 12:01 pm

It's diffcult to type. :whistle:

Scarlett · **#29** by **Scarlett** » Oct 05, 2013 12:18 pm

Precambrian Rabbi wrote:It's diffcult to type.

Is you sayin I is a shit typer? :snooty:

monkeyboy · **#30** by **monkeyboy** » Oct 05, 2013 4:05 pm

Scarlett wrote:
natselrox wrote:
Animavore wrote:I'm guessing Nats explained it

no. We are just discussing how difficult English is!

Is it diffcult to learn?

It's certainly difficult for some types to pronounce correctly!

:hide:

natselrox · **#31** by **natselrox** » Oct 05, 2013 5:10 pm

Scarlett wrote:
natselrox wrote:
Animavore wrote:I'm guessing Nats explained it

no. We are just discussing how difficult English is!

Is it diffcult to learn?

The writing part wasn't that difficult. But I have a difficult time understanding when it's spoken by a native speaker. And with so many different accents, it gets more complicated. I still have to watch a few movies (especially the Hollywood ones) with the subtitles on.

And your accent (Scottish) is also kind of hard to follow, Paula. :ill:

murshid · **#32** by **murshid** » Oct 05, 2013 5:55 pm

natselrox wrote:
Scarlett wrote:
natselrox wrote:
Animavore wrote:I'm guessing Nats explained it

no. We are just discussing how difficult English is!

Is it diffcult to learn?

The writing part wasn't that difficult. But I have a difficult time understanding when it's spoken by a native speaker. And with so many different accents, it gets more complicated. I still have to watch a few movies (especially the Hollywood ones) with the subtitles on.

And your accent (Scottish) is also kind of hard to follow, Paula.

Accents are a problem for me, too. For example, I have a hard time understanding the accents of some of the actors in "Downton Abbey".
.

natselrox · **#33** by **natselrox** » Oct 05, 2013 5:57 pm

It becomes much easier to understand when I speak to them in person (compared to a conversation over the telephone). Similarly, movies are easier to understand than radio shows etc. I guess the body language helps a great deal.

chaoservices · **#34** by **chaoservices** » Apr 11, 2015 5:19 am

"using bollocks for ammunition"

I'm afraid my American upbringing has poorly prepared be for the versatility of this synonym for testicles and this metaphor sails on past. Anyone care to explain the line to this sheltered fool?

Onyx8 · **#35** by **Onyx8** » Apr 11, 2015 3:20 pm

'Bollocks' in this instance is used in the sense of rubbish. Specifically rubbish arguments.

hackenslash · **#36** by **hackenslash** » Apr 11, 2015 3:33 pm

Actually, it's using it in both sense at once, both in terms of nonsense, and testicles.

Made of Stars · **#37** by **Made of Stars** » Apr 11, 2015 7:57 pm

Esther wrote:Here's my attempt at answering your question, because I had the same one! (Joined the group specially to post this, having gone looking for an answer to my question and having been disappointed not to find it here, so I hope it's worth it.....)
Here (after a GREAT deal of thought and discussion with my equally rationally minded son!) is what I think he means:
"Don't worry.... you wouldn't have changed your mind anyway even if you hadn't heard what it so offended you to listen to."
Thoughts, anyone?

Welcome Esther! :cheers:

Your interpretation is correct.

epepke · **#38** by **epepke** » Apr 11, 2015 8:03 pm

He means you're an idiot. (Nota bene: I didn't say that you were an idiot, and if you don't like it, take it up with him.)

The meaning of the ending of Tim Minchin's 'Storm'

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