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All metaphors are learned. Given that technology tend to replace things from the manual physical world these metaphors makes a lot of sense as they help humans transition.

Over time new concepts emerge which are based on metaphors native to the digital space and understood by the new generations.



> All metaphors are learned.

The really good ones are learned early and are highly conserved across time and culture.


Digression risk: Unless we count human evolution as “learning” I’d disagree: some “metaphors” are surely innate. A snake is scary to babies who have not learned it’s dangerous. Symmetry is beautiful to an untrained eye. Design should be informed also by our innate traits; refrain from taking the “blank slate” idea at face value.


Evolution is one long learning game :)




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