Ask Me Help Desk - What does nuanced mean?

What does nuanced mean?

Yes, I have tried googling this and I'm still confused. What's the meaning of the word nuanced? As in "nuanced discussion" and "nuanced character"

My handy-dandy dictionary says:

nu·anced

having a subtle difference in or shade of meaning, expression, or sound:
"the nuances of facial expression and body language"
synonyms: fine distinction · subtle difference

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wondergirl

My handy-dandy dictionary says:

nu·anced

having a subtle difference in or shade of meaning, expression, or sound:
"the nuances of facial expression and body language"
synonyms: fine distinction · subtle difference

Still doesn't make sense. So nuanced discussion would mean a discussion with a subtle difference in meaning? A subtle difference from what?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allen Farber

Still doesn't make sense. So nuanced discussion would mean a discussion with a subtle difference in meaning? A subtle difference from what?

Here's an example:

A More Nuanced Discussion Required.

Chappell NL1, Hollander MJ2

Abstract

Williams and colleagues make a valuable contribution to the home care policy literature, however, their arguments are not always convincing. Missing is a more nuanced discussion of research showing that even when governments provide more supportive services for older adults, families continue to provide care, and a discussion of alternative forms of caring that may arise in the future such as care from siblings and non-married older adults helping one another.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26626113

The discussion is about government help for older adults. A nuanced discussion would include what help families provide for older adults.

Another example is that you meet someone online and fall in love. Several years go by with IMing and emailing. One day you finally meet in person. Subtle nuances occur. Now you can see her, smell her, touch her, hear her, feel her. She may have body odor, a bad case of acne, wear ill-fitting clothes, have a squeaky voice, and hates to be touched. None of that was visible or obvious online.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wondergirl

Here's an example:

A More Nuanced Discussion Required.

Chappell NL1, Hollander MJ2

Abstract

Williams and colleagues make a valuable contribution to the home care policy literature, however, their arguments are not always convincing. Missing is a more nuanced discussion of research showing that even when governments provide more supportive services for older adults, families continue to provide care, and a discussion of alternative forms of caring that may arise in the future such as care from siblings and non-married older adults helping one another.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26626113

The discussion is about government help for older adults. A nuanced discussion would include what help families provide for older adults.

Another example is that you meet someone online and fall in love. Several years go by with IMing and emailing. One day you finally meet in person. Subtle nuances occur. Now you can see her, smell her, touch her, hear her, feel her. She may have body odor, a bad case of acne, wear ill-fitting clothes, have a squeaky voice, and hates to be touched. None of that was visible or obvious online.

Well could you explain what this TV quote means? "the kid's not in the mood for a nuanced discussion on the virtues of child poisoning"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allen Farber

Well could you explain what this TV quote means? "the kid's not in the mood for a nuanced discussion on the virtues of child poisoning"

What's the context of the quote? By whom?

Child poisoning is against the law, a no-no. There are no "virtues." A nuanced discussion would contain arguments why child poisoning could be a virtue, a good thing, beneficial somehow.

Or are there other ways to accomplish the same thing, gain the same benefits other than by poisoning.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wondergirl

What's the context of the quote? By whom?

Child poisoning is against the law, a no-no. There are no "virtues." A nuanced discussion would contain arguments why child poisoning could be a virtue, a good thing, beneficial somehow.

Or are there other ways to accomplish the same thing, gain the same benefits other than by poisoning.

It's from this show called "better call saul". And in it, this guy poisoned this other guys son, and then wanted to confront the father about it. To which saul replied "let's just assume that the kid's not in the mood for a nuanced discussion about the virtues of child poisoning." I'm just confused on how it's nuanced (having subtle differences)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allen Farber

It's from this show called "better call saul". And in it, this guy poisoned this other guys son, and then wanted to confront the father about it. To which saul replied "let's just assume that the kid's not in the mood for a nuanced discussion about the virtues of child poisoning." I'm just confused on how it's nuanced (having subtle differences)

Ah, now it makes sense. Saul was being sarcastic when he said thst. The kid got poisoned and wouldn't want to hear nuanced discussion (excuses or explanations) about it.