Turtles all the way down’. Do you know or use this expression?

[Anonymous]

If yes, explain and what is your age and gender identity?

[Anonymous]

I’ve never heard of this. 44, F.

[Anonymous]

What?
58, F

[Anonymous]

Me neither, 54

[Anonymous]

Yes, and early GenX.

I am also a flat Earther.

[Anonymous]

Never heard it, 50

[Anonymous]

Fascinated by this question. I love this phrase. You can use it to reference something particularly deep/intricate/confusing or even a conspiracy theory of sorts.

When I was a kid, I heard the (probably apocryphal) story about someone confidently telling a scientist that the universe is actually built on the back of a turtle, and underneath that, another turtle, and another, and so on. I’m 35 FWIW.

[Anonymous]

PhD in Religious Studies. Yep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fascinated by this question. I love this phrase. You can use it to reference something particularly deep/intricate/confusing or even a conspiracy theory of sorts.

When I was a kid, I heard the (probably apocryphal) story about someone confidently telling a scientist that the universe is actually built on the back of a turtle, and underneath that, another turtle, and another, and so on. I’m 35 FWIW.

Sigh. It's from Eastern mythology and was an early explanation of the universe. "What is the turtle standing on? Another turtle."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Turtle

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fascinated by this question. I love this phrase. You can use it to reference something particularly deep/intricate/confusing or even a conspiracy theory of sorts.

When I was a kid, I heard the (probably apocryphal) story about someone confidently telling a scientist that the universe is actually built on the back of a turtle, and underneath that, another turtle, and another, and so on. I’m 35 FWIW.

Sigh. It's from Eastern mythology and was an early explanation of the universe. "What is the turtle standing on? Another turtle."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Turtle

“Sigh.” I know that. That is likely where the person in the anecdote gets her belief. The anecdote has been around for over a hundred years in various forms.

[Anonymous]

Yes, 56, Female.

I've read a lot of world mythology stories but I think it cropped up in my adult life because someone told me about the quote when discussing a Terry Pratchett book plot featuring a World Turtle.

I then started using it just because I love mythology and I find the idea hilarious.

I used it to explain to my younger child

[Anonymous]

^why we weren't having another kid. Because everyone can ask for a younger sibling. Then it's siblings all the way down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fascinated by this question. I love this phrase. You can use it to reference something particularly deep/intricate/confusing or even a conspiracy theory of sorts.

When I was a kid, I heard the (probably apocryphal) story about someone confidently telling a scientist that the universe is actually built on the back of a turtle, and underneath that, another turtle, and another, and so on. I’m 35 FWIW.

^^ this is a common phrase in philosophy. it is a good explanation of “infinite regress.”

[Anonymous]

No. Before I read comments… I’m 40, does it mean “sort of bad circumstances but well can still deal with it, but not fun through the rest of this journey/goal/task/event” ??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. Before I read comments… I’m 40, does it mean “sort of bad circumstances but well can still deal with it, but not fun through the rest of this journey/goal/task/event” ??

Ok, so no!
I went back and read the explanation.