Um, well, “carrot & stick” alluded to the practice of tying a carrot (or some other desirable edible) to the end of a stick on a string, in order to dangle it in front of a draft animal to bring about a sort of Tantalus-like effort on the part of the animal to eat it, and thereby move forward voluntarily and without coercion.
Who knows if it works or is only folkloric, in any case the shorthand expression has been re-analysed to mean alternation (or a choice) between chastisement (stick) and reward (carrot, though frankly why a “carrot” of all things should be an allegory for a reward is unobvious to me).
rshive almost 5 years ago
Think Horace meant the singular rather than the multi-plural.
Zebrastripes almost 5 years ago
Careful what you wish forrrrrrrr.
Perkycat almost 5 years ago
If one carrot is good, more can only be better. Right, Horace? Horace???
AndrewSihler almost 5 years ago
Um, well, “carrot & stick” alluded to the practice of tying a carrot (or some other desirable edible) to the end of a stick on a string, in order to dangle it in front of a draft animal to bring about a sort of Tantalus-like effort on the part of the animal to eat it, and thereby move forward voluntarily and without coercion.
Who knows if it works or is only folkloric, in any case the shorthand expression has been re-analysed to mean alternation (or a choice) between chastisement (stick) and reward (carrot, though frankly why a “carrot” of all things should be an allegory for a reward is unobvious to me).
Stephen Gilberg almost 5 years ago
Was that God?
chris_weaver almost 5 years ago
Just don’t ask for a nice Hawaiian Punch!
BlueFin Premium Member almost 5 years ago
They say carrot could make one see better. Busted in this case.
mountaingreenery. almost 5 years ago
Wow! You can have too much of a good thing . Although I’m sure Horace will be happier with a pile of Carrots than sticks… when he wakes up.
Chris Sherlock almost 5 years ago
Could have been worse. Imagine if all those carrots had been sticks.
InTraining almost 5 years ago
never realized Horace was a carrot top…!
Tigressy almost 5 years ago
When life gives you carrots, make carrot cake.
JeromeBlue Premium Member almost 5 years ago
I don’t carrot all for that joke.