Once upon a time, I read this Germanic riddle:
Zer are three ants walking through ze forest.
Ze first ant says “Zer are two ants behind me”.
Ze second ant says “Zer ist vun ant in front of me, und vun ant behind me”.
Ze third ant says “Zer ist vun ant in front of me, und vun ant behind me”.
Explain zis!
How would you explain it?
(Wait before reading my theory. Try to come up with your solution first. Zen see if yours follows the same idea as mine.)
Here is how I explained it:
Could it be that the three ants walking through the forest are going around in circles through the forest? The first ant thinks it’s the leader (it gets to lead because it’s neurotypical and socially correct) — along with the narrator of the story. The second and third ant are aspies conned into thinking they’re inferior (they’re probably much younger “children” who still feel the need to trust an elder ant).
Permit me to project that humor into the future now:
These three ants are all now older and wiser. If the scenario is as I said, then what might you think would the story be about these three ants? Would they still be in the forest?
Dana,
If it was always true, then it wouldn’t make sense for me to be able to now see the forest through the trees ever since I veered off into my own non-conformist direction.
Of course, it’s always true…!!! there are no need in comments.