AtD translation: brakebeam stiff

[Ian Livingston]

Folks who for a survival wage, yes. 

Sent from my iPhone

> On Mar 5, 2021, at 5:55 PM, David Morris <fqmorris at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> On being a Stiff:  I think the word stiff mostly implies obligatory work, making one walk stiffly, like a robot.
> 
> It doesn’t imply vagrancy, more like working poor.
> 
> David Morris 
> 
>> On Fri, Mar 5, 2021 at 2:25 PM Ian Livingston <igrlivingston at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 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.
>> >>>> 
>> >>>> 
>> --
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