In common parlance, a learning curve is plotting effort/output, not output/effort. So vertical means nigh infinite effort to achieve small change in output.
I also don't like this convention, since it flips dependent-independent variable dichotomy on its head, but it seems to be the widely accepted norm now.
People adopting specific jargon (random, cloud, quantum) without understanding in order to try to pretend to belong. Sigh. Humans are complex.
Worst example to me is the common use of the “ugly American” — in the book, he was the good guy who got out there and got dirty, as opposed to the pampered ones who stayed in the green zone, didn’t know any locals, and assumed everything in whatever country they were in was the same as in the ol’ USA, but just broken or corrupt.
I’m not American but I always cringe when I hear this usage. Why do people have to hollow out metaphors, destroying language in the process?
Try climbing. I've done a tiny bit. It's hard going straight up as opposed to a nicely sloped walkable path. Takes a lot of effort. Metaphor WFM anyway.
I also don't like this convention, since it flips dependent-independent variable dichotomy on its head, but it seems to be the widely accepted norm now.