elephant in the corner

An Elephant in the Corner is an issue that is extremely obvious to a group of people, but which is very carefully not being discussed. For example, it is common for politicians to discuss issues they can affect, while ignoring huge issues that demand attention, but don't have an obvious solution - such an issue would be the elephant in the corner. It is also known as: the elephant in the living room. This metaphor is commonly used in addiction recovery terminology to describe the reluctance of friends and family of an addicted person to discuss the person's problem, thus aiding the person in their denial. Sometimes called a "pink elephant in the corner," if for no other reason than a pink elephant stands out better than a normal one. Contrast with the metaphor an "albatross around his neck" - a problem that one must continually explain to people. The 2003 film Elephant, directed by Gus Van Sant, references it in the context of a high school, Columbine-style, shooting.

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