Boiling mad

Posted at 2:35 PM on January 6, 2008 by Bob Collins (5 Comments)

Frogs make a lousy analogy for the erosion of civil liberties, or the price of oil, or just about anything else not froglike in the first place. But that's not stopping politicians from using it. The latest was Hillary Clinton in Iowa last week.

As the New York Times reported:

“It’s like the old saying about boiling the frog,” Mrs. Clinton said during a visit to a school in Guthrie Center, Iowa. She was making the point that when oil-producing countries drop their prices, it tends to lull U.S. consumers and politicians in the United States into complacency about their reliance of foreign oil.

“If you want to boil a frog, don’t put it in hot water because it will jump right out,” she said. “You put it in cold water and then turn up the heat gradually and it’s a goner.”

This has driven writer James Fallows nuts on many occasions, the latest being... today.

OK. But we have also got to figure out how, for the sake of scientific accuracy, freshness in language, and the dignity of the poor frogs, we can stop talking about them in this heartless and formulaic way. (By the way, minus points to the New York Times for reporting the episode as if Sen. Clinton were using a clever image.) Soon, I will release the results of the contest to find other words to get across the point that people can get used to slowly worsening circumstances that would shock them if confronted all at once.

FastCompany.com tested this in October 1995.

We placed Frog A into a pot of cold water and applied moderate heat. At 4.20 seconds, it safely exited the pot with a leap of 24 centimeters. We then placed Frog B into a pot of lukewarm water and applied moderate heat. At 1.57 seconds, it safely exited the pot with a leap of 57 centimeters.

Even so, the analogy lives longer than frogs in Minnesota. Last month, Department of Employment and Economic development boss Dan McElroy used it to describe the state of rural Minnesota. Rep. Mark Buesgens, R-Jordan, used it to describe the fee increases in a veterans' bill. House Minority Leader Marty Seifert invoked the frog in urging the governor to veto some bills.

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Comments (5)

So glad to hear no frogs croaked during the research study...

sorry couldn't resist.

Posted by Minn whaler | January 6, 2008 2:47 PM

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What ever happened to respecting all of the Lod's creatures? Let's leave the frogs out of potlitics. Shame on you, Hilary.

Posted by Linda Reed | January 6, 2008 6:10 PM

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I have a confession to make. As a resident foodie, I absolutely adore frog legs. Pass the melted butter and garlic.

Mark S. Jungmann
Member Benefits Team
Minnesota Public Radio

Posted by Mark S. Jungmann | January 7, 2008 8:04 AM

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No one wants the frog to just boil to death. Well glad to know that in the scientific study, the frog does actually jump out. Al Gore will try to save the frog. Like all truths, this one is also found on youtube and better illustrated than I could put it to words.

Posted by Dickens | January 7, 2008 9:17 AM

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Rediculous How do you know the frog jumped out because it was hot? Remember... That's what frogs do. I doubt the water had a chance to warm up at all in 4.x seconds!

Posted by Red | February 20, 2008 3:32 PM

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