In response to Kyle DeCarolis' post "Q&A #5: Question 2" (February 27, 2012):
In general, I agree with the conclusion that extended metaphors, while they may have aesthetic value, are not typically the best choice for explanatory purposes. However, in some cases, a concept may be so complex or obscure that the only way for most people to understand it is by metaphor. Similarly, a concept may be difficult to analyse without dragging in other related, though irrelevant, factors, and in such cases metaphor may again be the best option, as it can isolate the single factor or limited set of factors which one must analyse.
