Dangling modifiers and literal minds

IE: I shot an elephant in my pajamas.

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  • I believe the difference comes in if there is a query before the 'splaining commences or not and, if there were a query, the extent to which the 'splaining goes on above and beyond what's absolutely needed. Also whether or not the 'splainer is listening or watching for signs of response or repartee attempts from the 'splainee. 

    Basically it's a question of reading the room.

    Or. Unless...it's Lucy, in which case she has a lot of it do, according to Ricky. But in that case, everyone has a little chuckle, Ricky never does get a Lucy-splaination but no one cares. [pipe in the canned laughs here]

    An answer is not a Ted Talk.

    An unsolicited Ted talk is not an answer.

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