I don't even like the word ‘indoors’. It doesn’t make…
““I don't even like the word ‘indoors’. It doesn’t make sense. According to you right now, by stepping through the doorway I’d be indoors. Yet I wouldn’t actually be standing in the doorway. If it’s supposed to refer to being inside a building, then they shouldn’t have used the word ‘door,’ since last time I checked, doors don’t make up every square inch of a building! And I’d assume that now, since I’m not indoors, you’d say I’m ‘out of doors’, right? But, shouldn’t out of doors just be everywhere that’s not directly under a door? You know what, from now on I insist that everyone refer to being in a building as being ‘under-roof’.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The speaker critiques the word “indoors” as illogical, proposing “under‑roof” to more accurately describe being inside a building, illustrating how language shapes thought.
In simple terms: They argue “indoors” is confusing and suggest “under‑roof” instead.
Key Takeaway
Question everyday terms for clarity.
Themes
language
semantics
perception
communication
philosophy
Mood
analytical
reflective
curious
Type
philosophical
critical
conversational
When to use this quote
- home design
- public signage
- education
- software UI
Key Concepts
categorization
linguistic relativity
semantic precision
Questions to Reflect On
- How does word choice affect our mental models?
- What other terms could be clarified?
A Different Perspective
Changing terminology may cause confusion before adoption.