English Language & Usage: Multi-Layered Discourse Room

Grace Note

7:00 PM

@RegDwight This is complicated by having a country that has a very bland and self-absorbed name.

Kit

@RegDwight Americans is different; this is more akin to asking about "North Americans"

F'x

@psmears it might become a good question, but it is not

if you note a discrepancy between sources, imprecision, whatever, that fine

RegDwight

I am not ready to dismiss it just yet. I am not expert enough on the subject matter. I'm taking a backseat on this one.

Grace Note

@Fx Can we make that change, though, or is that something that'll need the author's effort?

F'x

I threaten: if this is not closed, I will post a wave of other such questions

Kit

7:01 PM

@Fx Great. And thanks for the note.

psmears

@Fx I'm not saying it's a good question, just that it's not as simple as "Asian" = "anything in Asia, unqualified"

Hmm, not a dupe, but sort of the same issue was raised here:

F'x

@psmears you said "it's not general reference"

psmears

5

Q: Why did the descriptive, "Orientals", shift into a pejorative?

It seems as if a shift occurred and the descriptive "Oriental" was replaced by "Asian" as the accepted term in polite society — what caused this shift?

F'x

@psmears that is a much better question, IMHO

Rebecca Chernoff

ok sorry, minor emergency at the house. (:

RegDwight

7:02 PM

Fire alarm!

Jun 16 at 13:55, by RegDwight

Grace Note

@RebeccaChernoff Fire? Lightning? Poison? Bandersnatch?

Kit

@RebeccaChernoff Stop biting your brother!

RegDwight

Fighting fire with fire... <Grace, add the unicode note here>

Kit

@GraceNote Oooh. Not the frumuous kind, I hope.

F'x

anyway, I'm going

Rebecca Chernoff

7:03 PM

@nohat did you notice the news stats on /admin and the color highlighting? emphasizing evening things out is what inspired this.

RegDwight

@Fx Have fun and see you.

Matt Ellen

@Grace Note (off topic) It was Alice's Day in Oxford last Sunday.

F'x

@Rebecca: to sumarize my point, before I go :)

psmears

@Fx Yes, and (to my mind) it's not... but that doesn't mean it's a good question :)

F'x

what are the reproaches made to EL&U as it currently is?

Grace Note

7:03 PM

@MattEllen I did not realize there was an Alice's Day.

nohat

@RebeccaChernoff yes I noticed that too. it successfully shamed me into doing more

Rebecca Chernoff

@Kit heh. actually, he's the one breaking things, but there was no biting involved.

Matt Ellen

Nor did I , until Sunday!

RegDwight

@psmears Well, bad questions are what the downvotes are there for. Close-votes are not downvotes!

nohat

shame-based UIs are an amazing new innovation

F'x

7:04 PM

specific things can be addressed; as far as I see, nothing really specific (apart from need for one additional mod) has been raised

Rebecca Chernoff

(;

Grace Note

(Also, is my Real Name setup properly on English? I hope it is...)

Michael Myers

18

Q: Can we remove the 'shame' coloring from the moderator activity tab?

As discussed in this question, moderators can now see where they 'rank' relative to the quantity of their peer's actions. This includes actions that only moderators can take, as well as actions that we hope any high reputation user would take. This is great, in theory because it should encourage ...

feature-request moderator-tools

Rebecca Chernoff

what I think we're learning is that we should be keeping an eye for the other end of the spectrum too.

Kit

@RebeccaChernoff Phew

Michael Myers

7:04 PM

21

Q: Can moderator shame coloring be less sensitive?

In response to waffles's request for feature enhancements to the moderator dashboard coloring system: The context We have a new moderator dashboard that displays a variety of statistics about moderator activity: number of closures, comments, votes, deletions, and so on. In an apparent effort to...

feature-request status-completed moderator-tools

F'x

"I'm embarassed when I see my name associated to this" is not actionable

Rebecca Chernoff

@Fx I think a lot has been raised both in here and on the meta in the last day or so.

RegDwight

@GraceNote setup is a noun, d'oh. :P

F'x

it's insulting, but not actionable

nohat

in my own defense, the previous moderator flag-handling UI was complicated and confusing

F'x

7:05 PM

@RebeccaChernoff I don't think so

Grace Note

@RegDwight I could remove the adverb into an adjective.

RegDwight

2 days ago, by RegDwight

Sure. Right after betweening them.

F'x

I think the was consensus from the community 3 days ago that while adjustments could be made, the site is running rather well

psmears

@Fx Yeah, this is something I'd appreciate more input on

Rebecca Chernoff

@nohat it was. feedback on that is part of why we changed it.

psmears

7:06 PM

@Fx That's right

nohat

and I have received exactly zero feedback from anyone, ever, about whether my moderation is good

Grace Note

@RegDwight Treat this as another response that'll make you quote yourself saying you won't quote yourself again.

nohat

even when i banned someone for 1000 days

Rebecca Chernoff

and feedback/concerns/pain-points are always welcome on meta (if it isn't private info) or in the mod room is always welcome.

RegDwight

@Fx To be fair, we do have like four all-new questions on our meta right now trying to deal with all that.

Grace Note

7:07 PM

@nohat Most of us in the Lounge thought it was a hoot, actually.

F'x

@nohat we love you, but don't always say so!

Rebecca Chernoff

@Fx, these things can take time. They're being raised on meta, perhaps not resolved, but it isn't that nothing is happening.

RegDwight

Feb 18 at 17:59, by RegDwight

Expect this to be quoted.

psmears

@Fx I think the only complaints seem to be "we allow questions about rude words", "we allow questions that relate to jokes", and something to do with flags (that I don't understand, not being a mod)

F'x

@RebeccaChernoff I'm not asking for stuff to happen!

I must be unclear yet again, sorry

Rebecca Chernoff

7:08 PM

then I'm confused (:

Grace Note

@psmears I think that is a bit of a very narrowing analysis of it, but that's just my perspective.

F'x

I'm saying: things were running overall fine, and suddenly the community gets pressure to change things

but what, how, why ?

if specific points are raised (and some are in meta), they can be addressed

psmears

@GraceNote OK perhaps I should have phrased that as "the only concrete complaints that I've understood are..."

Rebecca Chernoff

"things were running fine" was a bit of an illusion I think.

F'x

but Jeff's reproaches mostly weren't actionable

psmears

7:09 PM

@GraceNote I would be very appreciative of more explanation of what is perceived to be bad :)

2

nohat

@RebeccaChernoff if there are actual numbers about things being bad, we'd love to see them. if it's just perceptions, then I'm very dubious

F'x

@RebeccaChernoff then please, pretty please, give specifics! (not necessarily here and now, of course, but open meta threads, so on)

psmears

@RebeccaChernoff Maybe - but I think the "everything is terrible" is not 100% accurate either :)

Rebecca Chernoff

@psmears I don't think anyone has said that.

F'x

there were discussions on the jokes issue, from which a consensus arised, for example; I hardly see how more can be done about it that finding a community-driven consensus

Grace Note

7:10 PM

@psmears Low quality jokes were the trigger point. Jokes-not-having-to-do-with-the-language, as it were. The stuff you addressed in your answer suggesting "Try it on a native English speaker"

Rebecca Chernoff

it isn't just about making a consensus on meta.

psmears

@RebeccaChernoff OK, "litany of problems", "severe quality issues" then :)

Rebecca Chernoff

it's about following through on the main site.

comment on posts that aren't up to snuff

vote to close if appropriate

flag things

Stack Overflow Blog: A Theory of Moderation

Posted by Jeff Atwood on May 17th, 2009

We believe deeply in community moderation. That’s why we appoint Pro Tempore Moderators and, ideally, democratically elected community moderators for every site in our network. But what do community moderators do? The short answer is, as little as possible!

From the very first version of Stack Overflow faq way back in mid-2008, our goal has always been to give power back to the community:

Stack Overflow is run by you! If you want to help us run Stack Overflow, you’ll need reputation first. Reputation is a (very) rough measurement of how much the Stack Overflow community trusts you …

F'x

@RebeccaChernoff so, your point (well, this specific point) is, things that were deemed off-scope on meta (because of topic or quality) are present on the main site, is that it?

Rebecca Chernoff

the community should be mostly self-policing

F'x

7:13 PM

@RebeccaChernoff you mean people don't flag/comment/vote to close enough?

Kit

@RebeccaChernoff Moderation is for the weak. Nothing leads to success like excess. —Oscar Wilde (or maybe not)

RegDwight

Wow, two answers saying exact opposite things:

1

Q: "Late to the party" vs. "late for the party"

I've heard both versions, usually in similar contexts. Which one is correct or more correct — or more prevalent — in the USA? He: This deal ends at 7 p.m. She: Sucks, I am late to the party.

word-choice grammaticality prepositions american-english

aedia

@psmears This, exactly. 'Cause knowing one of our moderators was handling more flags than the others doesn't really tell us what we peons can do, and knowing stupid questions are being asked doesn't tell me what to do either (it's the internet... it's Eternal September).

Rebecca Chernoff

I think the site could use more guiding comments, sure.

Grace Note

@Kit There was an election nominee who stood on the "Harshor" party at Stack Overflow, actually.

Kit

7:14 PM

@GraceNote I'm trying, but I don't know what that means.

Rebecca Chernoff

@aedia downvote, vote to close, flag. These are all things that speak out to the community that says "hey, nuh unh!"

Grace Note

@Kit Moderate → Moderator : Harsh → Harshor

F'x

@RebeccaChernoff so you mean, in closed questions like this, the person closing should leave a comment to help guide the newcomer, right?

6

Q: Is there a double-meaning to "picking my belly button" in this context?

I understand all the individual words in the following remark, but there doesn't seem to be any connection between the first half and the second. I am left wondering whether there is an English idiom that gives a double-meaning to part of it (perhaps "picking my belly button"?), but if so it does...

meaning jokes

Kit

@GraceNote Got it. Funny.

Rebecca Chernoff

@Fx the html added links to the faq specifically for off-topic.

F'x

7:17 PM

@RebeccaChernoff OK, so comments on questions that are not exact duplicates, not off-topic

Rebecca Chernoff

@Fx, it's a gut feeling.

F'x

@RebeccaChernoff that's my point

Rebecca Chernoff

You're welcome to add a comment there explaining more if you think it would benefit people coming across the question and being confused.

F'x

I have some experience running teams of all kinds and ages, etc. One thing that never worked for me is requesting change just because I feel like it, without being able to convince people at least that there is something wrong.

RegDwight

@RebeccaChernoff I add those all the time. Just google the site for "hello * and welcome to the site".

I don't think we have a lack of comments.

Rebecca Chernoff

7:19 PM

you can never have enough guiding comments q:

F'x

If you can't pick some metrics, or show typical examples of a specific behaviour you wish to see changed, I don't see how anything can happen

Kit

I'd like us to always add a comment on a closed question.

2

F'x

"it's a gut feeling", "I feel embarrassed", don't help

RegDwight

@RebeccaChernoff The thing is, that user either doesn't return anyway, or if they do, they just ignore the comment and go on with whatever they wanted to go on with.

So if there are graver issues, I don't have the time.

Rebecca Chernoff

AHA! That's the thing though.

RegDwight

7:21 PM

The site is constantly growing.

Rebecca Chernoff

You're not leaving the comment for that specific, single user.

You're leaving the comment for everyone who stumbles upon the question at any time.

RegDwight

@RebeccaChernoff I am aware of that.

Rebecca Chernoff

@RegDwight and this is why we're adding another moderator.

RegDwight

@RebeccaChernoff I am perfectly aware of that and have guided others with these exact words.

F'x

really going this time; but, @RebeccaChernoff, if there is something going wrong with EL&U from your perspective, please raise it and describe it

Rebecca Chernoff

7:24 PM

@Fx, I agree with what's been raised on the meta already. I think there are posts working on things already.

F'x

I discovered this whole thing a few hours ago, spent time to read back the threads, and I can tell you I'm still quite proud of this community

but I can't say the same of the network that operates it :(

RegDwight

@Kit From having seen at least 60% of the questions on this site, and probably close to 95% of the closed ones, I think we already do that.

Grace Note

English is certainly a whole lot better than Gaming is when it comes to comments on closures...

Kit

@RegDwight I know we usually do that, but I think we've missed a few.

RegDwight

@Kit There is always the Super Ninja Search Option closed:1.

Kit

7:27 PM

@RegDwight So maybe after I'm done with JB, I can start on those.

It would be nice if we had some canned "You can ask on meta if you are confused about why your question was closed."

RegDwight

@Kit At your own leisure. You're a free ~~bird~~ canine.

@Kit As Rebecca said, some of the close reasons link directly to the FAQ.

Kit

@RegDwight Vulpes even.

@RegDwight Yeah. Maybe I'll write something stock and paste it in where it's missing.

psmears

@RebeccaChernoff There are posts asking questions... but what would be really helpful would be some input (from those who have criticised, and those who perceive there to be a big problem) on what has caused them to feel that way... so that, as we try to come to consensus on a policy, we can measure up that policy to see whether it will actually help address the issues at hand...

Kit

If I don't get fired from my job for being unproductive.

RegDwight

@Kit I can't be bothered to actually write it down and save it somewhere. I actually search the site for my boilerplates each time.

aedia

7:30 PM

@Kit For non-new users, "hello & welcome" doesn't work so well, but yeah. It would be nice to have some friendly phrases we could add beyond just suggesting related questions or that kind of thing. Though as Reg says... people kinda just go on doing things if they're determined. Not sure how well we can redirect them.

Michael Myers

46

Q: Pro-forma comments

No more re-typing the same comments over and over! This script adds a little 'auto' link next to all comments boxes. When you click the link, you see a popup with 6 configurable auto-comments, which you can easily click to insert. Features 1. Read your comment before you post it! Note th...

script review

^ allows you to create your own templates also

Kit

Now Kit, what have you accomplished lately? I've voted to close four questions, edited sixteen answers and defeated Typhon Vex fourteen times. Oh, and tested six of the fifty four web pages on my list.

RegDwight

@aedia Whaddaya mean, it doesn't work? It's actually much funnier!

0

Q: Is this grammatically correct? "You see a dirt block, above which a stone block"

Is this grammatically correct? You see in front of you a dirt block, above which a stone block. If not how should it be fixed?

grammaticality

Kit

@aedia It's not for them; it's for the other people that read them, so they don't think we're a bunch of assholes.

aedia

@Kit Groans I know, I'm supposed to be fixing formatting inconsistencies across four browsers, and explaining accessibility concerns for the umpteenth time...

Kit

7:32 PM

@MichaelMyers Thanks for that! makes notes

RegDwight

@MichaelMyers Thanks a bunch.

Michael Myers

Don't thank me, thank Benjol.

RegDwight

I admit that while I am perfectly aware of Stack Apps, I am traditionally rather slow to catch up on all these script thingamajiggies. I try to use the site as is.

Grace Note

I'd rather thank Justice Fruit Pies.

2

Kit

@GraceNote Eat hot Justice! —The Tick

RegDwight

7:35 PM

I have some scripts installed right now in this particular browser (enabling me to link directly to comments and timelines), but I access the site through 4 different browsers at different times.

aedia

@Kit Wait. We're allowed to lie to them?

Kit

@aedia duh Yes.

psmears

@RegDwight Ah, so that's the clever way to link to comments. I was just using Firebug.

RegDwight

17

Q: SE Modifications -- Username autocomplete in comments, inline revision source, and utility links

Screenshot About This userscript adds four main features: Various utility links on posts and in the top bar Inline viewing of post revision source Markdown on the post history page Links on comment timestamps for linking to specific comments (with enhanced "link-ability" for people wit...

script comments

I think that's the one.

psmears

@RegDwight ta!

RegDwight

7:39 PM

At least I see my upvote on it.

Matt Ellen

are the grease monkey scripts?

RegDwight

Don't ask me technical stuff like that, I just clicked a few links and did what it told me to do... (This message has been brought to you by a Web developer since 1997)

Matt Ellen

:D

Martha

@psmears And I've just been using plain ole' "View Source". Shows what I know.

Matt Ellen

I am searching the google to find and answer...

Martha

7:42 PM

So, do we have any idea who they've tapped to replace Kosmonaut? (Well, not that Kosmo can be replaced, but you know what I mean.)

Matt Ellen

I am answering "Yes this is a grease monkey script"

Michael Myers

@Martha If it's not you, that narrows the field. Jeff said it was someone who ran for mod. meta.english.stackexchange.com/questions/1549/is-elu-succeeding/…

Grace Note

@Martha Assuming your question here is an admission that you're not the one contacted, that leaves 3 options: Jen, drachenstern, and waiwai

Kit

@GraceNote Is he still drachenstern?

Grace Note

@MichaelMyers Is that comment on a deleted answer? Because it's not navigating to any comment.

@Kit He's jcole now

Kit

7:46 PM

@GraceNote Ok. That's what I thought.

Grace Note

But I don't know how frequently he's in here and so whether people know him better at his original name or his current name.

Kit

I'd guess him then.

Michael Myers

@GraceNote It works for me. It's from here.

Kit

Since he was in here trying to charm me earlier.

Matt Ellen

May be he's just charming

RegDwight

7:47 PM

@GraceNote WFM.

Kit

@MattEllen Hmm. Unlikely.

Grace Note

@MichaelMyers I see. It was double buried.

Kit

☺

Matt Ellen

:)

Grace Note

@RegDwight I've already lost the link to that list of common abbreviations.

RegDwight

7:47 PM

@GraceNote works for me.

Kit

@GraceNote Works for me.

Grace Note

Ahha

RegDwight

It's not a common abbreviation. This is the first time I see it.

Kit

@RegDwight Jinx!

F'x

14

Q: List of common abbreviations (NOAD, ESL, PIE...)

Abbreviations are always a potential source of confusion. Some people might happen to know what OED stands for, and can figure out what NOAD must mean, but others may not be so lucky. Googling for PIE is rather useless even for native speakers, and completely perplexing to non-native ones. Thus,...

discussion faq

let me help you

14

Q: List of common abbreviations (NOAD, ESL, PIE...)

Abbreviations are always a potential source of confusion. Some people might happen to know what OED stands for, and can figure out what NOAD must mean, but others may not be so lucky. Googling for PIE is rather useless even for native speakers, and completely perplexing to non-native ones. Thus,...

discussion faq

14

Q: List of common abbreviations (NOAD, ESL, PIE...)

Abbreviations are always a potential source of confusion. Some people might happen to know what OED stands for, and can figure out what NOAD must mean, but others may not be so lucky. Googling for PIE is rather useless even for native speakers, and completely perplexing to non-native ones. Thus,...

discussion faq

14

Q: List of common abbreviations (NOAD, ESL, PIE...)

Abbreviations are always a potential source of confusion. Some people might happen to know what OED stands for, and can figure out what NOAD must mean, but others may not be so lucky. Googling for PIE is rather useless even for native speakers, and completely perplexing to non-native ones. Thus,...

discussion faq

Kit

7:48 PM

Argh!

F'x

now that should help it sink in

Kit

@Fx thwack!

RegDwight

Jul 5 at 19:13, by RegDwight

Grace Note

Not really. That just makes it 4 times as quick to swift out.

RegDwight

No wait. That ain't a soda.

Kit

7:49 PM

How do you link to a specific comment?

F'x

@Kit not when Martha's here!

Kit

@RegDwight LOL

RegDwight

For the love of God's sanity, don't search the transcript for "jpg" as I just did.

Michael Myers

17

Q: SE Modifications -- Username autocomplete in comments, inline revision source, and utility links

Screenshot About This userscript adds four main features: Various utility links on posts and in the top bar Inline viewing of post revision source Markdown on the post history page Links on comment timestamps for linking to specific comments (with enhanced "link-ability" for people wit...

script comments

Does anyone else get the feeling that this room is starting to repeat itself?

RegDwight

12 mins ago, by RegDwight

17

Q: SE Modifications -- Username autocomplete in comments, inline revision source, and utility links

Screenshot About This userscript adds four main features: Various utility links on posts and in the top bar Inline viewing of post revision source Markdown on the post history page Links on comment timestamps for linking to specific comments (with enhanced "link-ability" for people wit...

script comments

Kit

7:51 PM

@MichaelMyers Oh. blush so not just copy link or something easy?

RegDwight

Jun 17 at 15:10, by RegDwight

Slow jinx.

Rebecca Chernoff

whoever wrote ^^^ script is epic

obviously

Kit

@RegDwight So that necessitates a sloe gin fizz?

Grace Note

@Kit Nope

Mr. Disappointment

Jun 30 at 21:59, by Mr. Disappointment

It's almost like everything's already been said.

RegDwight

7:52 PM

@Kit You can copy the link once you have it. The trick is to obtain it.

F'x

45 secs ago, by Michael Myers

Does anyone else get the feeling that this room is starting to repeat itself?

Rebecca Chernoff

whistles innocently

Michael Myers

@Kit The script turns the datestamps into links which you can then copy.

Mr. Disappointment

And you've seen nothing yet.

RegDwight

Apr 13 at 13:19, by RegDwight

Lots of echo in here.

Grace Note

7:52 PM

8 secs ago, by Grace Note

@MichaelMyers I don't think so, but that's just me.

psmears

@RebeccaChernoff If only we knew who that was ;)

Kit

@MichaelMyers Mmmm, sexy.

Rebecca Chernoff

@psmears yeah. wish we could find out. ):

Kit

@RebeccaChernoff Stop with the winking and nudging. How am I going to know who to love for it?

RegDwight

Mar 4 at 12:57, by RegDwight

There you go.

Rebecca Chernoff

7:54 PM

@Kit lol

Kit

@RebeccaChernoff Well, it's too late to name my firstborn or my secondborn after you, but if I get to the Rs, I'll name my 18th sample student after you.

How important do you all think it is to use birthdate, date of birth, or birthday across the website? I've sort of jumbled these terms on my pages. Do I need to fix that?

Martha

@MichaelMyers I saw that, which is why I'm asking, because obviously (well, obviously to me anyway), they haven't contacted the runner-up in the election, 'cause that was me.

Grace Note

@Kit I think if it's meant to be used all the one in the same, you should have it consistent.

For example, if you enter "Date of Birth" in a form, and you later see something else that has the value that was entered, it should also say "Date of Birth".

Kit

@GraceNote Again your wise and reasonable answer makes me sad.

Martha

@Kit Depends on (a) how anal you are, and (b) whether the different usages could lead to confusion (i.e. "this says birthday and that says birthdate, they must be referring to different things").

Kit

8:02 PM

Mostly because it will take fifteen minutes in the next meeting to decide which to use.

Grace Note

@Kit I aim to please.

aedia

@Kit Birthday is easily interpreted as a reoccurring event sans year. I don't think the others are.

@RegDwight Also, enticements are bad warnings. My eyes. Sheesh.

Kit

@aedia Okay then. Date of birth and they can all go hang.

Martha

@Kit That's the spirit!

Grace Note

On the one hand, I'm curious enough to see what all the suffering about. Fortunately, I'm not going to do the search anyway.

Kit

8:06 PM

Why did that get starred?

Matt Ellen

@GraceNote: I couldn't agree more. When I'm asked for a reference number and I've been given an account number, I get confused

Kit

Kit confoosed

Martha

(In other news, may I please just put my boss out of my misery? Pretty please? With whipped cream and a cherry on top?)

Kit

@Martha The word is given.

psmears

@Martha I guess they may have seen your comment in chat stating that you didn't want the job - but that notwithstanding, it would have been tactful of them to at least discuss it with you before offering the post to someone else...

Martha

8:07 PM

@psmears Yeah, something like that.

Kit

@psmears Or maybe they don't like to play with girls.

Grace Note

Y'know, logically, that construct works.

Kit

Or maybe someone threw themselves forward and begged.

Michael Myers

@Kit They hired Rebecca Chernoff and Dori.

Grace Note

The misery one, that is.

Michael Myers

8:08 PM

Both of whom were community moderators first.

Grace Note

@MichaelMyers That's work, not play.

Kit

@MichaelMyers Yeah. So?

☺

Grace Note

@MichaelMyers Also, you forgot HedgeMage

Kit

If you pay them, I believe that makes them ahem professionals.

Michael Myers

So I did. HedgeMage was also an appointed moderator.

Grace Note

8:10 PM

Twicely so, in fact.

Martha

@Kit Eh? Martha confoosed

Matt Ellen

@Kit are you suggesting RegDwight is amateur?

Michael Myers

@Martha The word is "given". If you use it in the natural course of conversation, the duck will come down and give you a prize.

RegDwight

Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player

Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player is the sixth studio album by British singer/songwriter Elton John. This was Elton's second straight #1 album in America and yielded his first #1 single in both the U.S. and Canada – "Crocodile Rock". "Daniel" was also a major hit from the album, giving him his second Canadian #1 single on the RPM Top Singles Chart and just missing the top slot south of the border, stalling at #2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and reaching #4 in the U.K., one place higher than achieved by Crocodile Rock. According to writer Philip Norman in his early 1990s authorize...

Martha

@MichaelMyers This must be some pop culture reference that's just whooshing right over my head. Sorry.

Michael Myers

8:12 PM

@Martha Eh.. it's not very pop.

You Bet Your Life

You Bet Your Life was an American quiz show that aired on both radio and television. The best-known version was hosted by Groucho Marx of the Marx Brothers, with announcer and assistant George Fenneman. The show debuted on ABC Radio in October 1947, then moved to CBS Radio in September 1949 before making the transition to NBC-TV in October 1950. Because of its simple format, it was possible to broadcast the show simultaneously on the radio and on television. In 1960, the show was renamed The Groucho Show and ran a further year. Most episodes are in the public domain. The play of the gam...

Matt Ellen

@RegDwight: I physically burst out laughing :D

RegDwight

9 hours ago, by RegDwight

Happens to the best of us.

Matt Ellen

@Martha: I believe Kit was giving you the word that you could put your boss out of your miseries.

Kit

@MattEllen Nope.

@MattEllen Yep.

@Martha I would have responded sooner but my happy boss came to visit.

"I will put my boss out of my misery if you give the word." "Ma'am, the word is given."

Martha

@Kit Et tu?

Kit

8:28 PM

@Martha No, that's a genuine "happy boss." Not the project lead, but my supervisor. Awesome guy.

Crikeys! Look at the time! I've got to commutes, my precious peeps.

Oh that reminds me of this

Jun 9 at 16:52, by Kosmonaut

The semi-precious, we wants it! More or less...

I miss Kosmo so much.

Already.

Tchuß. TTFN.

Matt Ellen

8:51 PM

g'night y'all

Grace Note

I should be taking my leave as well. Later all ♪

RegDwight

CU.

z7sg

Do you pronounce PIE P-I-E or simply pie?

RegDwight

@z7sg I say π.

Which doesn't mean jack.

z7sg

9:07 PM

It looks wrong in this font. π ick

RegDwight

Balpha's answer to this question is awesome. I am jealous as I haven't even thought of that. See if you can, before clicking and reading it.

-7

Q: "Seperation" is Evil

I propose adding a feature to always replace "seperate" with "separate" in all question titles, questions, answers, edit summaries, and comments. I'm asking just because I see it all over the place and, well, yes, it drives me a little nutty. Perhaps /\bsep(e)rat(ion|e|ly|ed)\b/ig.replace('$1',...

feature-request status-declined spelling

By which I mean, I would have thought of that answer here on ELU, but not for SO.

z7sg

hmmm seems straightforward! click!

RegDwight

Somehow my brain ticks differently for different sites.

z7sg

heh! My brain is stuffed up with rhinovirus or whatever you call it...

I'm going to hit the hay early tonight. Btw, keep up the good work Mr Dwight!

RegDwight

Keep well.

Rhinovirus is probably something @GraceNote would find cute, by the name alone.

Kit

9:16 PM

0

Q: "can't see neither A nor B" or "can see neither A nor B"

...can't see neither A nor B. Is that grammatically correct? Or is this? ...can see neither A nor B. What if "can't" was used?

grammar

Dupe.

Gotta go, bye.

RegDwight

CU.

aedia

Bye @Kit!

Pplz always be goin' home just when I have a moment free.

Robusto

What up?

@RegDwight: Any news? Possibility of JA mending fences with Kos probability = ...?

Michael Myers

@Robusto Jeff said this morning that he'd sent something privately to Kosmonaut and said later that they were bringing in one of the election candidates to assist. That's the last I heard.

Robusto

9:33 PM

@RegDwight — Hmm, his regular expression will fail: /\b(sep)(?:e)(rat(?:ion|e|ly|ed))\b/ig will not find "seperately" and change it into "separately" ...

Should be /\b(sep)(?:e)(rat(?:ion|e|ely|ed))\b/ig

RegDwight

Feb 16 at 15:11, by Kosmonaut

@RegDwight: You appear to have spilled some IPA symbols all over the ground. Shall I help you pick them up?

@Robusto No. Though wait, I've lost track: were you around when nohat showed up?

Robusto

Naw, no IPA in there.

But now you're making me thirsty for some Dogfish Head.

RegDwight

@Robusto d, e, l, y are all perfectly IPA.

Robusto

@RegDwight — I had to leave shortly after nohat showed up.

RegDwight

Ah okay.

Grace Note

9:37 PM

@RegDwight Not really.

RegDwight

But what if it had polygons?

Robusto

Where has polygon?

Grace Note

Can't say that alone would do it

RegDwight

Man, some people are just picky.

Robusto

I'll take my answer offline. Gotta motor. CYA.

RegDwight

9:39 PM

Have fun.

Grace Note

Hey, I don't think a rhinovirus is anything comparable to an M109, so I'm not sure how it can be considered cute like one.

RegDwight

I will be leaving shortly, too. Almost midnight here.

@GraceNote Everything is comparable to everything. The comparison just doesn't always make sense, but it is possible.

Grace Note

It is, but you've a long way to go it seems.

At any rate, I'll be actually jetting now. You should head home, too!

RegDwight

Besides, you're just providing me with free data on what will and what won't serve as Grace bait.

Bye!

user19161

10:12 PM

@RegDwight So who will be replacing Kosmo?

RegDwight

@JasperLoy I don't know.

So far we only seem to have figured out that it won't be Martha.

user19161

@RegDwight Ok you better get some sleep.

RegDwight

Right! Good idea.

So, good night then!

And see y'all tomorrow.

rumtscho

10:27 PM

Good evening

I happened to stumble upon your situation here

and couldn't help but to form an opinion. But I preferred to hold back, because I don't consider myself to be especially involved in the EL&U community.

And then I noticed that you have created a question on Meta which asks exactly about the thing I noticed.

3

Q: Who is EL&U's audience?

I previously asked if EL&U was succeeding. The responses there (mixed in with other answers, comments and chats on the subject) lead me to feel that one of the big questions our community has before them is, "Who is our audience?" Note that this is a slightly different question than, "Who ar...

discussion audience

I am not sure if an answer for me would be viewed as valuable, because I have a different viewing angle to the ones involved

Or if it will be seen as meddling where I don't belong.

Would you like to know my opinion? Because if yes, I would write this answer.

nohat

@rumtscho by all means, if you have something to say, please contribute your opinion!

rumtscho

But I can understand if you are afraid that it could further escalate the situation.

Grace Note

@RegDwight Until you can pass The Mushroom Test, you don't stand a chance. Just sayin'.

rumtscho

@nohat, thank you

It is awfully hard to try to navigate into a heated discussion, especially if one is practically an outsider.

Grace Note

@rumtscho To a degree, I think an outsider's perspective may be specifically helpful.

psmears

10:39 PM

@GraceNote Yes, any perspectives on how to improve things would be welcomed - especially if they go into more detail that just "stuff is bad" :)

rumtscho

@GraceNote I certainly hope that mine will help. Of course, I can't deliver you a solutiion, but maybe my point will help you think different. Even if it is unpopular. Because right now, I have no idea how popular or unpopular it will turn out to be with either side.

Grace Note

@rumtscho It's not a fast process, so analysis on the way is all the more appreciated

rumtscho

It is basically that the part about you being a site for linguists and etymologists is not true, no matter that it is written on the front page. I will explain my reasoning in a meta answer. I won't offer any conclusions from that point on, because I don't have any.

user19161

Just a thought: if we keep closing questions and chasing users away too aggressively, eventually there'll be nobody left.

psmears

@rumtscho Go ahead and post. People will comment/vote/write other answers as they see fit :)

Do remember the definition includes "...and (serious) English language enthusiasts"

rumtscho

10:47 PM

Oh, every community is for enthusiasts. My argument is against the other two.

psmears

@rumtscho Cool - just wanted to be sure you've got the full facts in front of you :)

user19161

@rumtscho Even linguist and etymologist are not well-defined.

user19161

@psmears Should I parse your name as p s mears or p smears

psmears

Jun 20 at 17:06, by psmears

@z7sg Online you can read it however you choose, but irl it's the first of those options :)

Except that he asked the question the other way round...

Grace Note

I'll just make it one psyllable.

user19161

10:55 PM

@psmears I'm learning more abbreviations in chat, like irl.

psmears

@GraceNote pcertainly!

user19161

@gigili I just saw you in the Ubuntu room. Hello!

psmears

Anyway... tis past my bedtime. Goodnight all!

Grace Note

G'nite

user19161

@GraceNote I had to look up mushroom test just now when you mentioned it. He's probably gone to sleep.

Grace Note

11:00 PM

@JasperLoy "The Mushroom Test" is probably not something you'll find in a Google search.

At least, not the one I'm referring to.

He has gone to sleep (Good! He needs it!), but he'll catch the message in the morning.

user19161

@GraceNote Ya I see. I noticed you put a note sign on some of your posts. How do you do that?

Grace Note

Alt+13 on a proper computer input.

Requires a numpad, so it doesn't work on most laptops.

user19161

@GraceNote I wonder if Joe Blow is his real name or a reference to Joe Black the movie...

Grace Note

I would not know

RegDwight

@GraceNote @psmears thwacks all around.

Grace Note

11:04 PM

For the record, "Grace" isn't my first name either.

user19161

@GraceNote And note is not your last?

Grace Note

@JasperLoy The logical following from it, yes

user19161

@RegDwight I thought you had gone to sleep

Grace Note

@RegDwight Hey, doing that clears your inbox! Now you won't have any curiosity for me to sate!

user19161

@RegDwight Or did you just wake up?

Adel

11:56 PM

Hi lovely peoples:)

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English Language & Usage: Multi-Layer…