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Spoilers Star Trek: Picard 1x02 - "Maps and Legends"

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We use the term the phrase "Send him a smoke signal" as a way to say get someone attention or send him a message. "Smoke signal" is also used to interpret someone actions or intend. "How did you miss the smoke signals? She's totally into you" or "The smoke signals indicate an economic down turn."

These expressions seem apocryphal, if you don't mind my saying so.
 
I've heard people use the "smoke signal" phrases before, so they're not just..made up on the spot.

It's highly dubious that these expressions date back to the time when people actually communicated with smoke signals, that is when smoke signals were the most sophisticated form of communication.
 
It's highly dubious that these expressions date back to the time when people actually communicated with smoke signals, that is when smoke signals were the most sophisticated form of communication.
The 19th Century isn't that long ago. Not sure what "sophistication" has to do with it.
 
Not sure I catch your meaning. It's phrase that's been used for while in real life and in entertainment.
a while may not be long enough...

Take "I heard it through the grapevine" for example, it actually refers to the telegraph but you wouldn't guess it by the expression itself.
 
The 19th Century isn't that long ago. Not sure what "sophistication" has to do with it.

What I mean is that we could use smoke signals to communicate today but it would hardly be the most practical way of transmitting information over a long distance. In fact, in my country there is some likelihood that you would be arrested given that you are forbidden to start a fire without authorization.
 
What I mean is that we could use smoke signals to communicate today but it would hardly be the most practical way of transmitting information over a long distance. In fact, in my country there is some likelihood that you would be arrested given that you are forbidden to start a fire without authorization.

"Smoke signals" can mean many things..hell the Catholic Church still uses smoke signals to announce the election of a new Pope.

And forbidden to start a fire without authorization? So no campfire or beach fires?
 
a while may not be long enough...

Take "I heard it through the grapevine" for example, it actually refers to the telegraph but you wouldn't guess it by the expression itself.
Not sure I get your meaning.
From what I understand "the grapevine telegraph" refers to informal and unofficial communication not the literal telegraph. Telegraph is used a euphemism in the description as is grapevine.
 
"Smoke signals" can mean many things..hell the Catholic Church still uses smoke signals to announce the election of a new Pope.

And forbidden to start a fire without authorization? So no campfire or beach fires?

yeah, but that procedure is kinda really old itself
 
...
And forbidden to start a fire without authorization? So no campfire or beach fires?

That's right. You need an authorization to start a fire and in some regions you won't get it. Fires are very bad for the environment and also bad for the people around them. You get particles of soot in your lungs and that can cause all sorts of diseases, some very bad, like cancer for example.
 
Smoke signals were used by the Native American Indians well into the 20th century to communicate over long distances.
 
That's right. You need an authorization to start a fire and in some regions you won't get it. Fires are very bad for the environment and also bad for the people around them. You get particles of soot in your lungs and that can cause all sorts of diseases, some very bad, like cancer for example.
When the fire danger is high where I Iive, they do put a ban on the burns people do to get rid of tree limbs and such. And I think you need a permit. Not a blanket ban though.
 
When the fire danger is high where I Iive, they do put a ban on the burns people do to get rid of tree limbs and such. And I think you need a permit. Not a blanket ban though.
Yeah some areas are more susceptible than others, pretty rare for it to be necessary here in the UK but certain parts of the US and Australia are another matter.

Plus there are always gits that start them on purpose.
 
It's highly dubious that these expressions date back to the time when people actually communicated with smoke signals, that is when smoke signals were the most sophisticated form of communication.

Were they ever? They probably date back to the time of westerns. But actually...
The Vatican uses smoke signals in a culturally relevant way to this day, so here in this discussion at least, smoke signals are dead end.
 
Oh. So that's what those purple raisins were singing about?

It actually underpins subspace communications
Sub space is actually the mother in law dimension.
They have FTL communication even now. The grapevine in some communities is so fast it predicts events.
 
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