If I argue that we're in a bull market, someone would say, "How can we be in a bull market when all the stocks I hold are negative this year!" You get the idea.
Have you heard the story "Blind Men and the Elephant?"
It was six men of Indostan
To learning much inclined,
Who went to see the Elephant
(Though all of them were blind),
That each by observation
Might satisfy his mind
The First approached the Elephant,
And happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side,
At once began to bawl:
âGod bless me! but the Elephant
Is very like a wall!â
The Second, feeling of the tusk,
Cried, âHo! what have we here
So very round and smooth and sharp?
To me âtis mighty clear
This wonder of an Elephant
Is very like a spear!â
The Third approached the animal,
And happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands,
Thus boldly up and spake:
âI see,â quoth he, âthe Elephant
Is very like a snake!â
The Fourth reached out an eager hand,
And felt about the knee.
âWhat most this wondrous beast is like
Is mighty plain,â quoth he;
â âTis clear enough the Elephant
Is very like a tree!â
The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear,
Said: âEâen the blindest man
Can tell what this resembles most;
Deny the fact who can
This marvel of an Elephant
Is very like a fan!â
The Sixth no sooner had begun
About the beast to grope,
Than, seizing on the swinging tail
That fell within his scope,
âI see,â quoth he, âthe Elephant
Is very like a rope!â
And so these men of Indostan
Disputed loud and long,
Each in his own opinion
Exceeding stiff and strong,
Though each was partly in the right,
And all were in the wrong!
Moral:
So oft in theologic wars,
The disputants, I ween,
Rail on in utter ignorance
Of what each other mean,
And prate about an Elephant
Not one of them has seen!