AtD translation: brakebeam stiff

[Ian Livingston]

I don’t see a side only a matter of nuance. Synecdoche  seems to be one P’s frequent devices. I’d guess that could be difficult in translation. 

Sent from my iPhone

> On Mar 5, 2021, at 11:17 AM, Mike Jing <gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> That's certainly a possible interpretation, but I have to side with Jochen on this one. For one thing, a brakeman seems a bit too specific in this context, but that's just how I see it.
> 
> 
>> On Thu, Mar 4, 2021 at 7:45 PM Ian Livingston <igrlivingston at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Except that a “working stiff”, or in this case, a brakebeam stiff is not necessarily a down and outer, though he may or may not be down or in his game at any given time and circumstance. It’s an identity thing. A working stiff identifies as a working person, so a brakebeam stiff would respond to the question, “What do you do?” by saying “I’m a brakeman” whether he’s employed or not. 
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> 
>>>> On Mar 4, 2021, at 4:23 PM, Mike Jing <gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> 
>>> 
>>> I think that makes sense, "stiff" here meaning tramp. Thanks, Jochen.
>>> 
>>> 
>>>> On Sun, Feb 28, 2021 at 3:36 AM Jochen Stremmel <jstremmel at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> I don't think a brakeman fits into this context of vagrant, down-and-outer, helpless looking citizen – rather a fellow riding the rods, like Leon, Ian's namesake, who obviously rode a wooden brake beam once.
>>>> 
>>>>