I recently used the word "crutch" to describe a reliance of online resources as a substitute for actual knowledge. The exact sentence I used was "How do you ensure that the Internet is a helpful learning tool, rather than a crutch?".
My intent was to discuss how to avoid what I perceived as possible long-term repercussions to children learning to Google for quick answers rather than learn the subject matter to a depth that makes such searching unnecessary.
However, I was surprised to get a response that indicated that "crutch" meant a "short-term" solution. In support of this position was a dictionary.com reference to this definition of the word: "anything that serves as a temporary and often inappropriate support, supplement, or substitute; prop: He uses liquor as a psychological crutch."
I have never considered the word crutch used in that context to be temporally limited. Rather, I have always assumed that "a shortcut or tool relied upon to overcome shortcomings" was a valid meaning. Is my interpretation correct, or does the phrase "relying on [x] as a crutch" always imply a short-term situation?
Best Answer
If you look at the example provided, liquor provides short-term, temporary relief, and it can be used repeatedly over the long term. Technically the definition is correct, but the word "temporary" can be applied to all things. Nothing lasts forever.
In terms of the internet, the knowledge or learning a child gains from using the internet is temporarily supported by the search - but it does not stay in their heads forever, just as the peace-of-mind brought on by alcohol does not stay forever. It's semantics, nothing more, and if you interpret the definition to mean that the crutch is not reusable indefinitely, it does not seem to match the example.
I would counter that dictionary entry with this one: http://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/american/crutch