Tarry Scant IMO does not mean "get out of there"

[dalby2020]

I'm not comfortable with it being stated as a fact that Tarry Scant means "to get out of there".

It is my understanding that the idea came from a throw-away statement at the end of an interview.

Have there been any other clear instances where Forrest has repeated this?
Are there any other instances where Forrest has given the definition or interpretation of words in his poem?

I'm bringing this up for a couple reasons:
1) It would indeed suggest a sense of urgency. I have read many solves and a lot dance around the issue. I don't see it addressed WHY they should hurry. I hear vague explanations such as a bear might come along or people might see you with the treasure. If tarry scant does mean get out of there quickly then that needs to be part of a solve.

2) I'm okay with my solve based on the poem, maps, and some hints from the memoir excerpt. I hesitate to go BOTG because of Forrest and some of the things he says.
I'm not sure what he is doing but many of his statements are not helpful. The treasure has been hidden for 10 years. If there is a question he doesn't feel like answering, he should state exactly that. He shouldn't be adding more cryptic answers that have the potential to confuse. Such statements are given high credibility and next thing you know are being called "facts".  Understand that I am not saying he should give more and better hints. I'm saying it may be better if he just kept quiet. 

Vent over!

Instead of "get out of there" I offer the following:

Tarry = stick around = loiter = trail behind. 
So Tarry means "trail".
Scant = lacking or short or narrow. 
Scant means short or narrow.

Tarry Scant = short or narrow trail.

That is in the line "with marvel gaze"
Marvel = portent = sign
Gaze = look

Put it all together:
Look for signs of the short or narrow trail.

[Jenny]

Forrest said it meant:

F: Take the chest and get the hell out of here.


And confirmed it again when asked about it by Dal:

Later that day after Mike and Penelope had left I mentioned to Forrest that I was surprised that he had answered her question about tarry scant. Forrest said “Why? What else could it mean?”
I responded that searchers had been talking about what those words meant from the very beginning of the search.
Forrest just shook his head and said, “It’s not complicated.”


To me, it is a fact, since Forrest has said that is what it means. I share that as a fact. If it isn't a fact to you, no matter. There are A LOT of people who still don't believe WWWH is the first clue, even though Forrest said that too.

[dalby2020]

That was a single interaction with Forrest.
He has stated WWWH as the first clue on many occasions.
To me there is a difference.

People are taking his words as gospel. The treasure is at least 300 miles west of Toledo?


Many things he has said are either not helpful or completely accepted as fact. Or both.

But saying it is fact, what are peoples explanations for the urgency?

What other times has he given an interpretation?

[Jenny]

As I said, I choose to believe Forrest, and Dal's account of this interaction as a fact. You can choose what you want.

[zaphod73491]

You can both be right. "Tarry scant" means one thing (to Forrest), and he has shared that. But what if that's only part of a clue rather than the whole clue? To my way of thinking, these three are not clues:

too far to walk
home of Brown
tarry scant

... and all for the same reason.

[okietarman]

WWWh is the first clue, however, don't over look....But tarry scant, IMO it is a huge hint to a clue.....

[Bownarrow]

"Tarry scant" can mean dozens of things.

Two for example:

1). en.wiktionary.org/wiki/pix

Latin

Noun

pix

pitch, tar

www.dictionary.com/browse/pix

pix

a plural of pic

Origin of pic

First recorded in 1880–85; by shortening from picture

tarry scant - yr tar small - the(W.) small pix(L). - the small pictures

2) www.dictionary.com/browse/pix

pyxor pix
[ piks ]
noun
Ecclesiastical.

the box or vessel in which the reserved Eucharist or Host is kept.

Also called pyx chest. a box or chest at a mint, in which specimen coins are deposited and reserved for trial by weight and assay.

Origin of pyx
1350–1400; Middle English pyxe < Latin pyxis < Greek pyxís a box, orig. made of boxwood

tarry scant - yr tar small - the(W.) small pix(L.) - the small box containing coins

 

[Deleted]

Mar 24, 2020 20:18:57 GMT -5 Jenny said:

As I said, I choose to believe Forrest, and Dal's account of this interaction as a fact. You can choose what you want.

I agree with Jenny. When you get the hell out of there and away from the marvel gaze, it becomes peaceful.
But it is only one meaning of possibly three. Two for certain.

[gnossos]

ff also said "WHAT ELSE COULD IT MEAN?"

[Deleted]

Mar 25, 2020 6:12:02 GMT -5 gnossos said:

ff also said "WHAT ELSE COULD IT MEAN?"

True, this statement can be taken two ways, as "else" also means :in addition too.

[astree]

Mar 24, 2020 18:34:43 GMT -5 Jenny said:

Forrest said it meant:

F: Take the chest and get the hell out of here.

Its interesting that he said “here” and not “there”.

Also, it could have more than one meaning, even in the context of the poem.

[dalby2020]

During that interaction, Forrest also stated "I don't have the slightest idea what I'm talking about."

Fact: Forrest doesn't always know what he's talking about.

Shouldn't that be added to the list of "facts" since he clearly said it and Dal reported it?

I'll answer my own question - no! It's not appropriate and most likely not true.
But he did say it.

I know of the huge debate of "what is a fact?" and it is not easy.
But the word "fact" does convey some sense of general acceptance or shared knowledge.
I don't thing a muddled audio from a single interaction constitutes enough evidence for geneal acceptance as fact.
Someone just joining the hunt might check the lists of "facts" available and conclude that it is accepted that tarry scant means get the hell out of there. That may discount all alternative interpretations, several which are in this thread.


I much prefer the label "guidelines" or "helpful information for the chase" rather than "facts about the chase". But I will put it to rest now. To each their own. The world still revolves.

[gnossos]

When the solution is finally know, methinks y'all will not be amused about the meaning of this clue.

Edit- I believe FF was being testy at this point in the interview...

[goldilocks]

As gnossos pointed out, Forrest is leading us to question what else this could mean. He has said on numerous occasions he doesn't want to give out any more hints so you'd have to wonder why he would do so in this instance. We need to be better listeners. He is leading us to question definitions etc. as any good teacher would do and it is up to us, the students to figure it out. I agree with dalby2020. Fact is a very strong word and the context of the entire statement/situation should to be taken into account when determining fact from belief. My conclusion...keep an open mind. Nothing is written in stone.

[astree]

Mar 25, 2020 7:38:56 GMT -5 gnossos said:

When the solution is finally know, methinks y'all will not be amused about the meaning of this clue.

Edit- I believe FF was being testy at this point in the interview...

That's what I was implying

Mar 25, 2020 6:40:28 GMT -5 astree said:

Mar 24, 2020 18:34:43 GMT -5 Jenny said:

F: Take the chest and get the hell out of here.

Its interesting that he said “here” and not “there”.