>indeed having that conversation with a being that doesn't even understand what a noose is.

Where does this line of thinking come from? You see this kind of logic to justify all sorts of fan theories in the The Thing... But literally nothing could possibly suggest that.

The creature can perfectly mimic humans down to their DNA. It clearly has their thoughts, memories, etc. For all we know when it's in Human form it might still retain the actual consciousness of the person it's replicated. Meaning they don't even know they're the Thing.

What we do know is the film shows us that it's a perfect replica of a person down to the mannerisms. It understands what a noose is. It understands what alcohol tastes like.