We’ve all heard the term before; Red rag to a bull, and we know its meaning (or do we?). Today, for some reason, it popped into my mind and I have a strong urge to write something in connection with it.
When you think about this term, your mind conjures up the image of that of a mad lunatic (let’s say it’s you) approaching a bull and shaking frantically a red piece of clothing. It might be the t-shirt you had on or a bag you’re carrying or a red blanket (or rag). The thing is, you’re feeling a bit unstable today, slightly unhinged, you got out of the wrong side of the bed this morning, you want to have “words” with someone, you’re looking for trouble, you want to ruin someone’s day today because you own isn’t going too nicely, you might have tried to pick a fight with someone you know earlier on, like your boyfriend or your sister and that didn’t work out, as they didn’t take the bait. So there’s only one thing for it and that is to find a bull and try and get some sparks flying from him, rile him up a bit, ruffle his feathers, make him bloody angry, make that blood boil. And then go for the jugular?
But what you don’t realise is that you’ve bitten off more than you can chew. You haven’t factored in that this bull is a formidable creature. Like you, he’s raring to go, beligerent and feisty. Unlike you, he’s genuinely strong and mean and can do a whole lot of damage. Who are you kidding? Who’s going to come out unscathed the other side, you or him?
You should have stuck to that fight you were picking with your boyfriend or sister or whoever it was and kept niggling at them, tormenting them with your verbal attacks, getting under their skin, taunting them with your insults and insinuations. Or you should have gotten back into bed and either stayed there or gotten out the right side
That bull is coming at you at a fierce rate and it sees RED. His target is you, you who is frenziedly waving your arms and body, and he’s coming for you so you’d better get out of the way or else!!!
Now the question of whether a bull goes berserk when he sees red arises. And upon researching this (a few minutes ago) I found out that bulls are, in fact, colour blind. So it makes no odds to him whether that rag is red or blue. He’s a bull and you’re in a china shop!!
Heartworks Slate 