English Language & Usage: Multi-Layered Discourse Room - 2012-01-08 (page 2 of 3)

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user19161

4:12 PM

@Mahnax Boo!

@WillHunting Hai!

user19161

@Mahnax Enjoy your last holi-day.

@WillHunting I will try, but I have a seven hour shift today.

I am currently editing a horrible answer that has "u" instead of "you" at least six times.

user19161

@Mahnax KFC is fun too!

@WillHunting Meh. It is work, you know.

user19161

4:15 PM

@Mahnax Sounds bad.

user19161

@Mahnax Especially when you can only watch but not eat the chicken!

@WillHunting It is bad.

@WillHunting I am tired of chicken. I have had too much.

user19161

@Mahnax Yeah too much of anything is no good, not good good. Moderation in all things, the middle path.

@WillHunting Indeed. Eventually I will get tired of Taco Bell and have chicken again.

user19161

@Mahnax Do you shut down your computer each time after use?

4:19 PM

@WillHunting No. I leave it on all the time, which is probably bad.

user19161

@Mahnax I don't know about this, but I belong to the camp that shuts down every time.

user19161

@Mahnax Do you notice anything different today?

@WillHunting Hm. I just leave mine on since I use it at all hours of day and night.

@WillHunting No, not one little bit. </sarcasm>

Why did you change your name?

user19161

@Mahnax So I take it to be a yes?

@WillHunting That's a yes.

user19161

4:22 PM

@Mahnax For fun, really. Did you watch the show before?

@WillHunting No.

user19161

@Mahnax It's good good.

@WillHunting Really really?

user19161

@Mahnax Yes yes.

@WillHunting I see, I see.

I am now chatting and working on science at the same time.

user19161

4:28 PM

@Mahnax So I finally went for a haircut yesterday. It was long overdue. And after various descriptions, I finally learnt that the right thing to tell the barber about the length I want is finger length, which really just refers to a part of the finger and not the whole finger.

@WillHunting Good, did it turn out the way you wanted?

user19161

@Mahnax Yes, we experimented a bit first.

@WillHunting Good good. I just get my hair cut the same way every time, so the people know what I want.

user19161

@Mahnax Do you say anything about the length to the barber?

@WillHunting Yes, I tell them how long I want it. We have very few barbershops here, they are now mostly hairdressing salons, which make them sound very.... fruity.

user19161

4:31 PM

@Mahnax Yes, indeed the shampoo if any smells like fruit.

@WillHunting Mhmm.

I hate these stupid biomes.

user19161

@Mahnax Do you know that I have never combed my hair in my entire life? Hehe.

@WillHunting Is it that short?

user19161

@Mahnax When it grows longer I just use my hand to adjust a little, but I never use a comb.

@WillHunting Hmm, okay.

4:34 PM

Fruity as in gay?

In my experience, most up-scale male barbers are gay, or at least very gayish.

user19161

@Cerberus Eh this definition does not exist in OED!

Well, fruit(cake) probably is...

@Cerberus Well, fruity as in gay, or maybe just really feminine.

And what happened to your name?

user19161

@Cerberus That is true.

user19161

4:35 PM

@Cerberus I had a sudden urge to do something different.

I see.

I still see your old name.

user19161

@Cerberus You see both?

Anyhow, everyone has to go to these hairdressing salons to get their hair cut. Unless they really want to look for a barbershop.

I see your new name when someone replies to you.

user19161

@Cerberus Maybe it is the refresh.

4:36 PM

@Mahnax I prefer to go to the cheapest, quickest place possible.

@Cerberus As do I.

user19161

@Mahnax Actually I am not sure what I went to is called what.

@WillHunting No doubt. You can't control it, and it's eating at you, I can tell!

user19161

Let me try to find a picture of the hairstyle I like.

@WillHunting Oh, okay. The place I go to is filled with fat chatty women, but they do I good job, so I don't complain.

4:38 PM

Hey, what would you answer to "I can't wait!" informally: "me neither", or "me too"?

user19161

haircutsformen.org/buzz/haircuts/buzz44.htm

Me neither.

@WillHunting Hmm, I don't know.

user19161

@Cerberus Not to your liking?

@Mahnax I said that both were possible, but the latter was probably far more common.

4:39 PM

@Cerberus — "Keep your pants on!"

@WillHunting It is a bit...nondescript.

@Robusto Why would you say that?

The pants might stay on if you don't encourage them.

@Cerberus Hmm, really?

@Cerberus That's difficult to answer. Probably because of a flaw in my character.

user19161

@Cerberus Well, I think the pic shows it pretty clearly.

In any case, I would probably choose "Me either" over "Me neither" and definitely over "Me too."

user19161

4:42 PM

@Robusto I see only red in your character.

@WillHunting — And as the the Caterpillar said to Alice: "Who are you?"

@Mahnax I was thinking of when someone uses it in a longer sentence: "I am so excited! I can't wait to see my mother's new boyfriend: my sister says he is very handsome!" — "Oh, yes, me too!"

@Robusto Yes, you prude.

@Cerberus Hm, well maybe then.

What's with all these nom du jour people?

Yeah I was talking to linguists, so I felt I had to be as tolerant as possible and rather express a preference than forbid one option.

@Robusto It is J.

user19161

4:44 PM

@Cerberus Interesting letter!

@Robusto Right, I hadn't thought of that. I am too OCD for either choice myself: "neither can I!"

user19161

I was wondering if Robusto's question was rhetorical.

user19161

@Cerberus I am still thinking.

Which would you prefer: "neither can I", or "nor can I"?

@Cerberus — Given two choices I will invariably choose a third.

4:46 PM

@Robusto Given your character, I am astonished.

@Cerberus — Neither is more modern and colloquial. Nor is invariably formal and kind of musty and archaic..

user19161

@Cerberus I would use neither, I would say same.

@Robusto Hmm yes.

@Cerberus I would take 'nor' any day.

Perhaps that's why I would intuitively try to compensate for not using me.

@Mahnax Yay!

4:47 PM

Although I might use nor for emphasis. "I can't go to the park today. Nor can any of my friends."

user19161

Essentially I can be identified as the only person who says boo nowadays.

Or, even better, "nor I".

@Cerberus Yep.

@Robusto That is quite different.

@WillHunting — That's such an archaic term. Most people call it weed or bud these days.

user19161

4:48 PM

@Robusto I think I would use neither there.

@WillHunting Hmm but there it's plural.

The thing about nor is, it has a wonderful rhetorical resonance. Neither is nasal and fritters away its power, but nor is the Voice of God speaking to all.

user19161

@Cerberus Oh you mean it's wrong to use neither there? I am no grammarian.

@Robusto I agree.

But you would probably pronounce it neether?

No.

4:50 PM

Oh.

How common is naither in America?

user19161

@Cerberus I prefer naither.

So do I.

user19161

I think wikipedia says naither is more common in UK and neether in US.

I was under the impression that all Americans and some Brits said naither, but apparently I was mistaken.

user19161

But the dictionaries say both are used in both.

4:52 PM

You say potato, I say potahto.

All I know is that RP has naither.

@Robusto Isn't that from a musical or something?

♩♬♭♪♩♫

Hah, I didn't even know that was Gershwin.

user19161

4:55 PM

@Cerberus What style do you like?

Even better

@Cerberus — How could you not know it was Gershwin?

I suppose potahto sounds even more ridiculous in American?

user19161

@Robusto Not sure if that is a man or woman.

@Cerberus Definitely.

@Robusto I didn't know what it was taken from at all, as you might recall.

user19161

4:55 PM

It is probably an oman.

Ella Fitzgerald? Definitely as a woman.

@Cerberus — Well, bad doggy! You need to do your homework.

user19161

@matt Boo!

Matt Эллен

Hi Jasper. Interesting name change...

user image

user19161

@Cerberus So you usually cut like that for yourself?

4:57 PM

@Robusto You know me.

@WillHunting I actually showed that picture to the barber last time I went. I hate having to explain what I want, because I just don't know.

It turned out a bit different, but I'm not complaining.

Matt Эллен

I go to my barber and sort of wave my hands around my head and say "make it shorter", I get pretty much what I want :D

user19161

haircutsformen.org/buzz/haircuts/buzz44.htm

user19161

That's what I like.

1 min ago, by Robusto

Just like Deja Vu all over again!

Well, I'm off. Bye everyone!

user19161

5:03 PM

@Robusto Nice song! I'm surprised I like it.

Why surprised?

user19161

The title and picture makes me think I would not like it.

Well, I never decide I like or dislike a piece of music until I hear it.

Bye!

This version is funny.

user19161

@Mahnax Bye!

5:06 PM

@MattЭллен "Pretty much"...I suppose that's what I normally do too.

Matt Эллен

@Cerberus last time it was just right!

God, I wish pop culture were still like before the war.

user19161

@MattЭллен You can get them to cut your beard too!

Or before the nineties.

Matt Эллен

5:07 PM

@WillHunting hahaha

@MattЭллен Hmm, really? Mine's always too long.

Matt Эллен

@Cerberus I wish we were living in space

@MattЭллен Cold and dark.

Matt Эллен

@Cerberus yeah, the time before it was a bit off, I couldn't put my finger on why it wasn't quite what I wanted, so I just said it was fine

@Cerberus — Fred & Ginger. Absolutely beyond criticism.

Baryshnikov said Fred Astaire was his idol.

5:08 PM

@MattЭллен I always have just that!

@Robusto You will hear none here!

In this case, I like the typically American cut of his suit.

At least it looks American to me.

A bit loose around the ankles?

Low panels, if that's what you call 'em?

@Cerberus — IDK, styles have changed since the '30s.

Yes, so?

You know films and pictures?

I don't have an exhaustive catalogue of comparative suit styles from each decade going back ad infinitum.

@Cerberus — Nice sign-off exchange at the end.

It looks a bit American to me, but perhaps I'm wrong.

@Cerberus — "I regret that I am unable to assist you in this matter, m'lord."

Matt Эллен

5:14 PM

0

Q: Explain "reciprocal attack" use in SE

Sometimes people say that "down-voting" is bad without comments. What does "reciprocal attack" mean in this context? Does it mean hitting at the back or something else? What is its original meaning?

12?

maybe 14

@Robusto Yeah they're great.

@Robusto You are absolved, but next time I expect a catalogue.

@MattЭллен You give him too much credit.

Now that question is worth closing.

I voted to close as GR.

I NARQ.

Any dictionary will contain a definition of reciprocal.

If that is what he wants to know.

5:16 PM

@Cerberus — You NARQ! I knew it!

Only on Sundays.

Ha! He got a down-vote too.

Yes, I think it deserves down-votes too.

Play-Doh? I think plastic explosives are more fun.

Semtex?

You terry.

Matt Эллен

5:20 PM

I found your candidate, @Robusto

4

Terry?

@MattЭллен — I've seen him in the news.

Matt Эллен

His pony policy sounds great

@Robusto The new abbreviation of terrorist—haven't you heard?

@Cerberus — Any shapes you make in Play-Doh could just as easily be made with plastic explosives. I'm just saying.

So...the whole world could be explosive?

5:23 PM

@Cerberus — Disclaimer: I am not a terrorist, and my remarks about plastic explosives were intended to be humorous.

I have never seen nor handled explosives, nor do I wish to.

Matt Эллен

but since you can't tell what's explosive and what's not, you might have!

@MattЭллен Brilliant!!

Well, I'm going to go blow up shit on XBox. Cyaz.

@Robusto I wouldn't have believed you, had it not been for these remarks.

Bye!

Matt Эллен

careful out there @Robusto!

@Cerberus he's a one policy politician - the only comprehensible kind

5:28 PM

Heh, yes, clearly so.

Though his tooth-care policies could be just a pretext for a full-body-hygiene campaign!

shudders

Matt Эллен

eeep! glad I won't live in America while he's in power

Tell me about it.

A federal pony-identification programme!!

I like it.

Matt Эллен

It's a good way to keep a check on everyone. Anyone without a pony is clearly an illegal immigrant

What about Mexicans crossing the border on illegal ponies, let alone ponies of the wrong breed?

Perhaps the ponies ought to be certified, by elephants.

It is harder to illegally cross the border with an elephant.

I mean, look at Hannibal.

Matt Эллен

didn't he succeed?

he loves it when a plan comes together

5:38 PM

Most elephants died in the Alps, and it was extremely expensive.

I think.

Matt Эллен

ah

I imagine I couldn't conquer the USA mounted on an elephant

I'd give it a bloody good go though

I'm sure you would get far.

Perhaps as far as Tucson.

Hannibal left central Gaul with 37 elephants, and had only a few left when he entered Italy.

Matt Эллен

I'd sail from north west Africa across the Atlantic, and land at Miami

He also had only 20,000 of his 38,000 foot solders left.

Matt Эллен

he should have started closer

5:44 PM

@MattЭллен But then what mountains would you cross to reach Washington?

Matt Эллен

all of them!

@MattЭллен I don't think he had a part available any closer, not one with enough facilities and safety from attack.

Matt Эллен

or smuggled the elephants into Rome

one at a time

over several months

In shoe boxes?

Matt Эллен

yes!

5:45 PM

As embryos?

Matt Эллен

what? that wouldn't make any sense.

he'd smuggle them in as shoes

I'm not sure military elephant incubators were advanced enough in those days.

As shoes, what?

Matt Эллен

well, you don't get elephant embryos in shoe boxes

How are you going to revive the elephant parts afterwards?

@MattЭллен Why not?

Matt Эллен

one elephant per shoe box

5:47 PM

@MattЭллен There might be ehm dimensional problems involved.

Matt Эллен

@Cerberus well, I suppose you could, but they'd not be much good for fighting with

@MattЭллен The idea is to let them reach maturity on enemy soil.

Matt Эллен

@Cerberus how do you mean?

@MattЭллен The elephants would have too many dimensions for the boxes.

Matt Эллен

how big's an elephant?

5:48 PM

Small.

Compared to the moon.

Matt Эллен

so, easy to fit in a shoe box then!

then the cavalry just have to disguise themselves as cobblers

@Cerberus sleeper cells, eh? sneaky. It'd be like the cold war all over again

@MattЭллен Not onion sellers?

@MattЭллен Yay!

Matt Эллен

@Cerberus maybe some of them, then they could go in selling the cobblers. Just have to hope the cobblers don't get bought and eaten before the invasion

"Yes, Herr onion seller."

Matt Эллен

hehehe :D the best tailors on Saville Row!

6:04 PM

Yeah baby!

Matt Эллен

this hhh chap is quite odd

serves me right for trying to make sense of his question

Hhh?

Matt Эллен

The "reciprocal attack" asker

Oh, yes.

Weird.

Matt Эллен

I think we've got to the bottom of it...

6:15 PM

You?

Matt Эллен

hhh and me

Oh, I see.

2 hours later…

Matt Эллен

8:05 PM

@Mahnax I'm about to leave the hhh conversation

@MattЭллен You've been there for hours. I just pop in to see what's going on.

Matt Эллен

oh, just prevarication!

Oh may I see it?

Or is it private.

It's not technically private, since you can't do that anymore.

Matt Эллен

nope! you could carry on chatting to him, if you like

Discussion between hhh and Matt Эллен

Imported from a comment discussion on english.stackexchange.co...

8:07 PM

Eh probably not!

Ah, thanks.

Matt Эллен

bbl!

Wow you've been busy.

RegDwight Ѭſ道

8:37 PM

13

Q: What is an alternative to "Bless you" after sneezing?

I know the history/reason why people say bless you to you after you sneeze. My question is, is there an alternative to bless you which can be used when someone sneezes?

meaning alternative

4

Q: What are alternative responses for when someone sneezes?

Question: What is an appropriate English response to reply when someone nearby sneezes? Background: I am American by birth, and was raised to respond 'God Bless You' when someone sneezes -- though I often shorten this to simply 'Bless You'. Once, while on Wall Street as a consultant, I replied ...

Not a single dupe vote.

I am disappoint.

Can you help me make my questions better?

-4

Q: Explain "reciprocal attack" use in Stackexchange

Sometimes people say that "down-voting" is bad without comments because "it is like an reciprocal attack". What does "reciprocal attack" mean in this context? Does it mean to hit back (respond by attacking your attacker) or something else? What is its original meaning? Wikipedia mentions here: ...

I cannot understand why it is not real question.

I does require some analysis but it is still a question.

or is it too much discussion style? I think it can be answered at least in a way that one defines the terms and then analyze different combinations -- it becomes a strategic answer, when one realizes the relationship to interest, almost a game-theoretic question.

We understood that with Matt in the discussion, I am now uncertain whether I got downvotes for asking them (I quite clearly expressed that I would care less) or because I worded my question poorly.

@hhh It's very general reference in my opinion.

@Reg as well as both being list questions

8:54 PM

@simchona yes in a way but connotation analysis or some explanation why and how to use the term is just required (I do know now). I feel this question is important on its own right because this term is used also in other places around SE and it makes a poor feeling if people do not know its meaning and connotations.

@hhh Its not a special term. It doesn't really need a special explanation.

...in a way, leaving this question "closed" is like mocking. It is good to handle this kind of situations well because the term is quite loaded, having mil connations and possible other.

I agree with Sim.

@hh I wouldn't vote to reopen. You can take it up with a mod--@reg was here earlier.

Yeah, Sim's right.

8:56 PM

How is it mocking? Bad questions are closed.

There is nothing special about this term. Unless you can come up with a source in which it means something quite different from the ordinary meaning, I consider it General Reference.

@simchona here it is in this context because it is about strategy. It is essential to understand different flavours of interest. They are all different. Thinking that all interests are just one bloat is misunderstanding the whole strategic concept of voting.

Sorry, buddy.

@hhh you just asked about SE.

@simchona sorry missed what you mean?

8:59 PM

@hhh Since we disagree, I think perhaps you should find and quote a source that uses it in a special way that cannot be deduced easily from the meanings of the individual words.

If you don't understand it, it's not because you don't get the English. It's because you don't get the actual concept, which isn't our job to explain.

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Jan '128

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