[Idiom] Scapegoats like

[notletrest]

"You will be on safer ground if you stick to scapegoats like the Post Office or the telephone system."

In the context there is nothing about the Post Office or the telephone system. I don't know the relaltlionships among scapegoats, the Post Office , and the telephone systems.

Thanks! {ret 192}

 

[JMurray]

Even though, as you say, there is no other reference to the Post Office etc in the text, once we do see the wider context of this passage the meaning of the sentence you supplied becomes clear.

Here's what I found:
"If you are part of the group which you are addressing, you will be in a position to know the experiences and problems which are common to all of you and it'll be appropriate for you to make a passing remark about the inedible canteen food or the chairman’s notorious bad taste in ties. With other audiences you mustn't attempt to cut in with humor as they will resent an outsider making disparaging remarks about their canteen or their chairman. You will be on safer ground if you stick to scapegoats like the Post Office or the telephone system."

It appears to be advice on how to include humour when giving a talk or lecture. What it's saying is that when you are addressing a group that you are not a part of, it's risky to make fun of that group's own institution or office and safer to make fun of more remote targets, like the Post Office or telephone system. We've probably all had frustrating experiences with such corporations and they are a target for humour that everyone can identify with.

not a teacher

 

[notletrest]

Even though, as you say, there is no other reference to the Post Office etc in the text, once we do see the wider context of this passage the meaning of the sentence you supplied becomes clear.

Here's what I found:
"If you are part of the group which you are addressing, you will be in a position to know the experiences and problems which are common to all of you and it'll be appropriate for you to make a passing remark about the inedible canteen food or the chairman’s notorious bad taste in ties. With other audiences you mustn't attempt to cut in with humor as they will resent an outsider making disparaging remarks about their canteen or their chairman. You will be on safer ground if you stick to scapegoats like the Post Office or the telephone system."

It appears to be advice on how to include humour when giving a talk or lecture. What it's saying is that when you are addressing a group that you are not a part of, it's risky to make fun of that group's own institution or office and safer to make fun of more remote targets, like the Post Office or telephone system. We've probably all had frustrating experiences with such corporations and they are a target for humour that everyone can identify with.

not a teacher

Oh.I see. There is something in what you said. The scapegoats are referring to those you may make fun of. The post office and telephone system are spoken of by the author at random as examples. It just shows the author's humour.
Thank you very much!

 

[SoothingDave]

No, they're not random. They are typical and universal.

 

[birdeen's call]

{ret 192}

Notletrest, what does "{ret 192}" mean?

 

[notletrest]

No, they're not random. They are typical and universal.

If you are right, can't we say y

ou will be on safer ground if you stick to ​

scapegoats like the school or hospital?
Thanks!
By the way, {ret 192} is just for my own reference, a symbol of where it from. I am sorry for that,troubling you.
Thanks!

 

[notletrest]

Can we say: you will be on safer ground if you stick to scapegoats like the school or hospital?​

Thanks!

 

[Barb_D]

Is the school universally considered something to make fun of? Is the hospital made fun of by everyone?

 

[BobK]

:up: (A scapegoat is someone who is ritually blamed for something. So 'hospital' or 'school' might fit, but I don't see why you should find the original more comprehensible with those two substitutions. ;-))

b

 

[notletrest]

:up: (A scapegoat is someone who is ritually blamed for something. So 'hospital' or 'school' might fit, but I don't see why you should find the original more comprehensible with those two substitutions. ;-))

b

I see your meaning. But I don't understand the usage of "with" in your last part. Maybe it is the misspelling of than.
Thanks!

 

[5jj]

I see your meaning. But I don't understand the usage of "with" in your last part. Maybe it is the misspelling of than.

No. The sentence is correct with 'with'. It would mean something different with 'than'.

 

[BobK]

:up:

I see your meaning. But I don't understand the usage of "with" in your last part. Maybe it is the misspelling of than.
Thanks!

('With ... substitutions' ='if/after/when you make/have made...substitutions')

b

 

[TheParser]

y

ou will be on safer ground if you stick to ​

scapegoats like the school.

NOT A TEACHER


Hello, Notletrest:

I was very interested in your comment.

I have observed the following:

Sometimes when people (parents, community leaders, etc.) discuss why a group of students are not doing well in school, they may choose to say that the students' lack of progress is due to the school. That is, they may say that the school has incompetent teachers or that the school lacks enough computers, books, etc.

Some people might say that the school is being used as a scapegoat. That is, maybe those people at the meeting prefer to complain about the school than to discuss other possible reasons for the students' lack of progress, such as: the intelligence of the students, the work ethics of the students, student behavior, parental involvement, etc.

HAVE A NICE DAY

 

[notletrest]

I see. Thank all those who gave me help here!