English Language & Usage: Multi-Layered Discourse Room

@JasperLoy I shared an office with one of my best mates during two years of PhD, and while I wrote, he never once asked directly, always let me start on that topic

Cerberus

9:15 AM

Very wise.

simchona

@kiam, are you around?

F'x

@Cerberus what kind of thesis is it? masters, PhD, …?

Cerberus

Hai besogno a che?

Master's.

user19161

@Cerberus This is one of your favourite phrases here I noticed, usually used when it is not very wise.

Cerberus

On the contrary.

user19161

9:17 AM

Well, to each his own.

F'x

well, know I'm proofreading a thesis and it's not funny either :(

user19161

There should be proofreading SE.

Cerberus

@Fx Bad spelling, or just lots of work in general?

Matt Ellen Д

hi @Cerberus :)

Cerberus

Mattie!

Matt Ellen Д

9:22 AM

:D

Cerberus

Morning.

Matt Ellen Д

Cerbie!

Cerberus

And it's even actually morning.

Matt Ellen Д

indeed it is.

F'x

@Cerberus my student's Italian, and writing in French; she just don't know where to put accents and not :)

Cerberus

9:23 AM

I must be off to have a shower, be right back.

user19161

@Cerberus Enjoy your shower!

F'x

plus, it's not really proofreading in the sense of orthography, but reading everything and discussing the science with her, redoing things, etc.

Matt Ellen Д

good thinking

Cerberus

@Fx Oh noes! Has she ever heard of a dictionary? Spelling corrector in Word?

F'x

@Cerberus LaTeX, and she'll soon have a spelling corrector, believe me :)

Cerberus

9:23 AM

@Fx Right I expected as much.

Later!

F'x

later!

user19161

@sim Although trio is correct, it sounds weird in a technical context. For example, we do not use duo.

simchona

@JasperLoy I edited to suggest triple

user19161

@simchona Good. I liked the mention of Pythagorean triples.

simchona

@JasperLoy A Pythagorean Trio sounds like something with mathematicians cum string players

F'x

9:29 AM

@simchona thanks for your explanation on the “open sesame” question; I felt frustated not to have feedback apart from the votes themselves :)

simchona

@Fx I'm sorry--now I want to find ways to help you

I, for one, recognize the phrase but I can't speak for others

F'x

@simchona an upvote would be fine by me :)

user19161

@Fx I certainly learnt it from Ali Baba myself!

simchona

@Fx Done.

user19161

@Fx This is the first time I see an open request for an upvote. :)

user19161

9:33 AM

@Fx Done as well.

F'x

@JasperLoy people post links to their questions on chat all the time

it's a way of saying “hey, I think you might like this question, if so please help me so it gets some attention”

simchona

I would do that but I rep capped

Usually I post questions which need to close

F'x

the secret of SE is that questions not upvoted don't get attention, and seldom get good answers

simchona

One more on this

F'x

@simchona that too, I often do

simchona

9:34 AM

0

Q: Use of the hyphen in "up to date", "out of pocket"?

I would like to completely and deeply understand the difference in using up to date versus up-to-date, out of pocket versus out-of-pocket, or coordinate versus co-ordinate. What is the formal rule for this, if there isn't one, which rules of thumb can I employ to guide my choice and are there a...

user19161

@simchona You don't need to do that, you are too powerful already.

simchona

@JasperLoy Haha thanks

F'x

@simchona already voted, my friend

simchona

Darn.

@Fx, so you're in France?

user19161

@simchona Done.

F'x

9:36 AM

@simchona yep

simchona

@Fx I've never been. I want to. My 5 years of French are dying, ever so slowly

F'x

@simchona join FL&U!

and sure, visit France anytime you can

in fact, I would say: visit Southern Europe anytime you can; life is sweet there

@simchona where are you in the US?

@simchona seen from France, that's barely the US :)

but hey, I guess life is sweet there too (at least, so said the astrophysicists I know who lived there)

simchona

@Fx Considering we're about as far apart as you can get, I see why

F'x

gotta go, see you later!

Matt Ellen Д

cya F'x

user19161

9:45 AM

@sim I see that you have been linking to OALD in your recent answers, though also supplementing it with other sources since it does not have uncommon words or definitions.

user19161

@matt What are your plans for the holiday?

Matt Ellen Д

Well, I'm working on the blog post, trying to come up with a drum part for the outro to a song, and working on my avatar for EL&U. Doyou have plans for your holiday?

kiamlaluno

@simchona I don't get notifications about chat messages.

user19161

@MattEllenД Not really, everyday is a holiday to me now. :) Maybe I'll meet a friend later. And then walk myself in that shopping centre till dawn.

Matt Ellen Д

@JasperLoy sounds pleasant

kiamlaluno

9:51 AM

@Cerberus Di cosa hai bisogno?

user19161

When you reach 5k, you want to reach 10k, then 15k, then 20k. It never ends. So I will stop thinking about rep now. It's a bit like chasing the material pleasures of life in a way, you want more and more.

user19161

Of course we all still live for pleasures, just making an observation here.

user19161

I think 2k is the most important stage. It gives you edit powers to improve the site.

kiamlaluno

@JasperLoy When you reach 10k, it just happens that you reach 15k, or 20k.

It's not because the new privileges that you want to reach 15k or 20k.

@RegDwight Imagine vgv8 with a reputation higher than 50k.

I don't think it would be such a good idea. :-)

user19161

@kiamlaluno I don't think it just happens magically though.

kiamlaluno

10:00 AM

@JasperLoy I mean, it's not something that you want.

user19161

@kiamlaluno This idea is very weird.

kiamlaluno

At least, the privileges are not a reason to reach 15k, or 20k.

simchona

10:16 AM

@kiamlaluno I was going to ask about the "not a forum" comment since I figured it wa directed at me

kiamlaluno

@simchona It was referred to the OP, which kept saying "I have to ask to a specialized forum like this one." I deleted that comment, I think.

simchona

@kiamlaluno I thought you meant my "see point 4 here", so I deleted that

kiamlaluno

The fact an SE site is confused with a forum is the source of many problems.

@simchona Your comment was fine, and correct.

Well, I don't remember where the link pointed, but your comment didn't have anything wrong to delete it.

simchona

@kiamlaluno I thought you didn't like me referencing my own answer (since that's the one that explains it)

kiamlaluno

@simchona No, that was fine. As the OP didn't understand why the question was closed, pointing out to the answer that already replies to his question is good.

I am sorry, I should have explained to whom I was referring.

simchona

10:22 AM

It's ok

Did the OP mention not understanding why it was closed?

I can't see anything now

kiamlaluno

At least is fine the first times; if the OP asks a question just to let others search a question with an answer to his own question, then I would stop doing that, but for the first times I think it is good to do that. At least it makes the OP understand he should search before asking.

simchona

Thank you for accepting my answer on your hyphen question, by the way

kiamlaluno

@simchona "I realize this site contains other answers related to this, but I am looking for the next level of detail on this."

simchona

I'd like to think my answer gave the "next level of detail"

kiamlaluno

@simchona You are welcome; I right noticed the bounty was assigned. I thought it was not fair for your answer getting the bounty, but not being the accepted one; after all, it's the more correct one. :-)

@simchona The next level for the user should be "read the answers for the existing question." :-)

simchona

10:30 AM

Here is a user who refuses comment help:

0

Q: correct usage of the word Gumption

Whats the proper usage of this word? Can anyone give a few examples? I recently came across it and was wondering regarding placing it in proper usage.

word-usage

kiamlaluno

And this is his reply: "thanks @alenanno it helped. you people can close the question now."

That is the reason of not providing help in a comment, for some users.

simchona

@kiamlaluno "You people". Awesome.

kiamlaluno

@simchona Yep. It's nice of him not saying "you idiots." :-)

simchona

My parents always said "you people" was meant to refer to Jewish people in terms of being an undesirable group

and as such, shouldn't be used

kiamlaluno

If that user asks another general reference question, I hope nobody is going to explain why the question is going to be closed.

@simchona It has a bad meaning, indeed.

simchona

10:36 AM

Ok, I'm glad I'm not just making this up

kiamlaluno

OK; food is calling me. :-)

simchona

Have a good meal

Hi again, @Fx

Bad question, poor answers:

-1

Q: Use the plural forms of space and distance?

Do these two have their plural form in common use ? If I use "distances", I find it fairly normal but if I say "spaces", I am not sure if it is normal at all ? For example: Distances and spaces between you and me exist.

meaning word-choice

user19161

@simchona Done.

user19161

Hello @reg. Going out now. Bye!

simchona

10:53 AM

Hi @Reg!

Bye @Jasper!

RegDwight Ѭſ道

Hies all around.

Alenanno

@kiamlaluno Shouldn't I have answered?

@RegDwight Yo.

RegDwight Ѭſ道

@Alenanno Your shoelaces are untied. According to your gravatar.

Alenanno

Lmao :D that's how I write "a" more or less (considering trackpad <-> pencil differences)

RegDwight Ѭſ道

It has a distinctly Tamil touch.

தமிழ்

Alenanno

11:00 AM

Ahah I just checked it, yeah it has something about it :D

kiamlaluno

@Alenanno Your comment was fine, but the user didn't understand the gentleness behind your act.

simchona

After all. @Alen, "you people" can close his question now

Alenanno

@kiamlaluno Ah I see, I didn't even notice it. :) But well, it's ok... @simchona lol :D

simchona

I can't believe I answered this

0

Q: What do you call a person who is always dizzy or high?

I just wanted to know the single word for it. I am sure it is not as same as the person who drinks a lot.

single-word-requests

Alenanno

lol I was going to answer, but I wasn't sure of what he was asking... I mean... It's not clear.

simchona

11:08 AM

Apparently "stoner" works

well, I'm off

good night, all

Alenanno

night!

kiamlaluno

Sigh! I try to get reputation on SO, and they migrate the question on DA. That is not fair! :-)

Alenanno

What is DA?

kiamlaluno

It's "Drupal Answers."

Alenanno

Ah... The Italian SE is still at 69 commitments... :/

kiamlaluno

11:19 AM

I think I will retire, before to see it as official site. :-)

Alenanno

eheh

kiamlaluno

The notification about migrated questions work; I just got a heart disease, thinking the answer I was writing got lost, but apart that it's cool.

It has been proposed one year ago; go figure.

At this step, I would take a visa for USA faster.

Alenanno

lmao

kiamlaluno

The commitment is still at 34%.

IL&U has been proposed 1 month later than DA. I thought that DA was slow, but at least it's in beta phase, and it should become an official site in any moment.

Alenanno

I linked the Italian SE in my profile

hoping to advertise it

:D

kiamlaluno

11:27 AM

I thought IL&U would catch interest, even from who has Italian roots, and wants to discover more of his relatives' language.

Alenanno

yeah but it's kind of slow

kiamlaluno

It's a kind of static.

A turtle would be slow; this is being still.

Alenanno

xD

I was wondering: What should we do when there is a question that we answered a long time ago which has a fairly good number of upvotes but that has no accepted answer? Is it suggested to poke the OP or is this behavior frowned upon? the fact is that some OP's seem to ask a question and then when they get the answer they simply disappear. There's no feedback.

kiamlaluno

@Alenanno There is nothing that can be done, especially when the OP disappears as snow on the sun.

The only thing you can do is to up-vote the answer that you think is more correct. At least who wrote the answer would get some reputation.

Alenanno

11:45 AM

I meant when the answer is ours :D

kiamlaluno

@Alenanno That is easier: You create another account, gain enough reputation to vote, and then you up-vote your own answer. ;-)

Thinking of that, it's easier if you show the question around.

I dare to ask: To which question are you referring?

Alenanno

I can't remember any on the EL&U right

now

I was thinking about one in the French SE

but since it concerns any SE...

:)

I asked it here too

I gotta go, see y'all later

:)

I'll check later for answers or opinions

kiamlaluno

@Alenanno I cannot help with French. Je ne comprise pa, which in my second language would mean I don't buy bread.

(Or at least it's closer to that than to "I don't understand it.")

Matt Ellen Д

12:20 PM

Whereas, in English, "Jene comprises pa" just sounds like incest.

@Alenanno I have asked questioners to accept one of the answers to their question, as a comment to their question. I think it's a good idea. They might come back one day...

KitΘδς

@MattEllenД That's actually frowned upon though.

kiamlaluno

@MattEllenД Well, my French is not very good; don't trust anything I write in French, except when it's my name.

@KitΘδς Yeah, it's like reminding to the users they can accept answers.

Matt Ellen Д

12:37 PM

@KitΘδς I don't see why. If they don't know that they can, then they need to be told

KitΘδς

I don't disagree with you. I remember reading on one of the metas that it is considered rude and potentially abusive.

Probably because of all the "This iz rite anwser. U shud excpt it."

Matt Ellen Д

@KitΘδς Oh, I wouldn't tell them which one to accept. just that they should

kiamlaluno

Who ringed me?

Matt Ellen Д

I accidentally did

I replied to the wrong person :)

KitΘδς

@MattEllenД I think you are a perfect gentleman, and should not concern yourself with the trivialities of an uncritical netiquette policy.

Matt Ellen Д

12:41 PM

@KitΘδς awwww. You're too kind

kiamlaluno

For a second I thought I imagined all; then, I noticed a post was edited.

Alenanno

hello everyone

Matt Ellen Д

hello @Alenanno

KitΘδς

@Alenanno I like your new avatar.

kiamlaluno

Looking at the silly questions on MSO, I wonder if when users read my questions on EL&U meta site, they don't think "Uff… He is back." :-)

Alenanno

12:45 PM

Thanks I made it myself, using the trackpad

:D

kiamlaluno

@Alenanno Is it the magic track pad?

KitΘδς

@Alenanno Oh, is it your handwriting then?

Alenanno

@kiamlaluno nono, the standard one on my laptop @Kit it's supposed to be, although you must consider the difference between trackpad and pencil :D

kiamlaluno

@Alenanno Nono, decimo, undicesimo … ;-)

Alenanno

@kiamlaluno lol :D yeah, I meant "no, no"

KitΘδς

12:48 PM

@Alenanno Well, I like your handwriting. The "a" anyway. Che bella!

Alenanno

@Kit thanks!

@Kit About the "K", sometimes I do the standing stick very long... like... searches the google

but I can't seem to be able to reproduce it now on my computer

KitΘδς

So like a lowered k?

Alenanno

yeah

when it's supposed to be lowercase

Matt Ellen Д

-- interrupts --
I see the chilli mushrooms have spotted me. A surprise attack is out of the question. I shall have to go for a frontal assault. They're surrounded by a fort of well boiled rice. Ha! This will be easy as pie. The mild chilli powder is no deterrent, and the fortification shall crumble beneath the might of my jaws. The barricades of peppers will be a tasty delight! Mmmmm, I look forward to ripping the tomatoey goodness from them like so much candy floss. ATTACK!

KitΘδς

Mmmm....

Thanks for the cartoon. It was very funny.

Alenanno

1:01 PM

lol

KitΘδς

And today is taco salad day!

Matt Ellen Д

yay!

KitΘδς

Hey has Alenanno been converted to bellicophagery yet?

Alenanno

what is that?

KitΘδς

Aug 18 at 15:15, by KitΘδς

Hello, salad. I will be the person to eat you today.

Start here.

Matt Ellen Д

1:03 PM

@KitΘδς :D you're welcome. I only found it yesterday, by chance.

Alenanno

@Kit I still don't get it lol :D

KitΘδς

Aug 18 at 15:39, by KitΘδς

Some Epicureans will say that you should make love to your food, enjoy its sensual delights, but I say make war on your food and enjoy the thrill of control.

I think that's the essence right there.

Alenanno

I think I kind of already adopt that philosophy lol

KitΘδς

Sweet! Another follower!

Alenanno

Hello chicken. Your tasty thigh will become part of me today.

something like that?

KitΘδς

1:10 PM

Not bad.

Alenanno

lmao. but wait, do you do it with other people being there? Because I think I did.

KitΘδς

A little polite for my tastes, but Europeans have more delicate sensibilities, methinks.

;P

@Alenanno Sometimes I do.

Alenanno

1:23 PM

when I find an interesting question to ask, I always find out that it's either: 1- general reference, 2- off-topic, 3-almost impossible to answer

:D

ChaosGamer ΕΛ-Υ ēel-ū

Dear ramen, I will eat you with the speed of Goku.

Alenanno

Gosh, I so want to try Ramen

xD

KitΘδς

Well, pastafarianism and bellicophagery go together very well.

Matt Ellen Д

@ChaosGamerΕΛΥēelū but... That's over 9000!

Alenanno

Gotta go guys

see you later

KitΘδς

1:31 PM

Ciao!

Alenanno

Ciao!

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

Wow, so many starred messages in the list are me. If only I was popular in the real world! I should wear a big star badge all the time. Like a sheriff.

And I had my own "Dead Code" song stuck in my head yesterday. WTF? It's not even a good song!

Matt Ellen Д

lol

KitΘδς

Well, it was all because of a conversation with me that you're famous, so remember that when I break the law.

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

1:46 PM

@KitΘδς Actually yeah, many of my starred posts are replies to you.

simchona

This user is very aggressive: english.stackexchange.com/users/12513/168335?tab=activity

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

@simchona Were you around in the early days of the site? You should have seen some of the arguments that were going on then. Makes that guy look tame.

simchona

Nope. I'm about as young on the site as Chaos is

KitΘδς

2:07 PM

-1

A: Term for misspelling used as pun of another word

It's a sort of "back-formation". I'm assuming if the word is used, it'll mean a bike shop/factory/organisation. But unless/until it's used extensively, I think it's safe to say that primarily it's just a pun.

I think this is a very wrong answer.

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

@KitΘδς I agree.

Matt Ellen Д

yes, it's not what wiki calls a back formation at all

it's just a rhyme

F'x

@KitΘδς gosh, what a horrible thing to say…

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

@Fx Oh that reminds me: Oatmeal! Taste my wrath, while I taste your reconstituted apple pieces!

F'x

@MrShinyandNew安宇 oh, but that's ok, cause it's not food

Matt Ellen Д

2:15 PM

indeed, it's a pedantic comic

F'x

@MrShinyandNew安宇 nutrients, at best

KitΘδς

@Fx Are you Epicurean? Because I don't mean to insult Epicureans.

F'x

@KitΘδς can't say so, no

KitΘδς

Then what's so horrible about what I said?

F'x

that would definitely hurt my life expectancy

KitΘδς

2:18 PM

@MrShinyandNew安宇 Thanks!

F'x

@KitΘδς maybe I misunderstood “make war” and “the thrill of control”

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

@Fx Oatmeal isn't food? Or oatmeal with reconstituted apple pieces isn't food?

Matt Ellen Д

@Fx you won't like this at all then :p

KitΘδς

@Fx Oh.

aedia λ

Bagle. I see you have disguised yourself with cream cheese. I'm not buying it. You're still in there, and I'm going to find you, if I have to grind and gnash apart every last bit! And I'll pour boiling coffee after you, too!

And hi.

F'x

2:20 PM

@aediaλ please don't say bagel

so hard to find a good bagel in Paris

must… not… think… of… bagel…

Matt Ellen Д

BEAGLE!

aedia λ

I... I fixed it?

It's hard to find good ones here too.

F'x

@aediaλ where's “here”?

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

Bagel: long A as in "bay" or short as in "bag"?

Matt Ellen Д

@aediaλ hi :)

aedia λ

2:22 PM

Mine has been terminated for inferiority.

@Fx DC-ish.

It's no New Yawk for pizza or bread or stuff.

F'x

@MattEllenД well, food doesn't betray you, but the cook does

Matt Ellen Д

@Fx I have betrayed myself. This is true.

F'x

@aediaλ well, that's an area where political bravery is hard to come by, but I thought you at least had bagels and pizzas; now I feel all sorry for you

@MattEllenД happens so often to me

I burnt a navarin d'agneau yesterday, such a pain to waste this nice piece of lamb

aedia λ

@MrShinyandNew安宇 I say it like the AmE pronunciation here, /'beɪɡl/ I guess (as in /beɪ/ ). D'y'all say it funny up there in Canadia?

Mr. Shiny and New 安宇

@aediaλ No, I think this is just me saying it funny.

KitΘδς

2:27 PM

We pronounce it with a short a when we're joking.

I had a friend from Milwaukee who pronounced that way usually though.

Matt Ellen Д

bellicophagaric advert (sorry if that's the not the adjective!)

F'x

people from the smaller towns of Northern Ontario and the east coast of Canada tend to pronounce the first syllable as bag-el, as in 'shopping bag'.

and there's more like it where it comes from: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagel

aedia λ

@KitΘδς Like haggle with a b, /bæɡl/.

F'x

@MattEllenД oh, I recognize this ad, love it :)

Matt Ellen Д

@Fx It's a good one :)

KitΘδς

2:31 PM

@MattEllenД You should tag it as "bellicophagist." Drum up some buzz.

aedia λ

@Fx Oh, man, now I really want lox.