White Elephant
White Elephant
A white elephant, alternatively referred to as a "boondoggle" or "grands travaux inutiles (GTI)," is a metaphor that represents a (partially) completed structure that is deemed wasteful in terms of both time and finances. Simultaneously, it becomes a liability due to the ongoing expenses associated with its maintenance, operation and commitments.
Instances of white elephants encompass various scenarios, such as the construction of bridges without corresponding road connections, the establishment of railways that remain unused, or the erection of substantial structures like power plants that never become operational.
The metaphor white elephant and why it is used
Wikipedia description of the metaphor: a white elephant is a possession that its owner cannot dispose of, and whose cost, particularly that of maintenance, is out of proportion to its usefulness.
In this context, the metaphor 'white elephant' is used because these extensive (partially) constructed projects demand maintenance, inspections, and similar commitments, making them a persistent source of burden for their owners, despite being (largely) unproductive.
This community
This community is a gathering of white elephant projects. White elephants can be captivating in several aspects:
- Their level of "wastefulness" stands in stark contrast to our predominantly organized and planned society;
- The stories behind these white elephants can be intriguing;
- They can have vast, deserted constructions featuring interesting images and other visual content.