Why do some of you...

dug777

Lifer
Oct 13, 2004
24,778
4
0
Dudes,

a) we're not remotely impressed
b) being able to communicate in plain english is a virtue, develop it
c)it's irritating and pretentious

Title edited to reflect unfairness of singling people out ;)
 

iamaelephant

Diamond Member
Jul 25, 2004
3,816
1
81
Originally posted by: dug777
Dudes,

a) we're not remotely impressed
b) being able to communicate in plain english is a virtue, develop it
c)it's irritating and pretentious

Nail, meet head.

However, I never really noticed MC Dawn for it...
 

SSP

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
17,727
0
0
They are free to post what ever they want to as long as it doesn't go against the forum rules.
 
S

SlitheryDee

Why the hell are we not smart enough to understand what their saying? If you think about it, having a large vocabulary actually reduces the likelihood of misunderstanding. If you can add a few syllables to your words to eliminate a few sentences in order to make a better point then what's the problem?
 

Rubycon

Madame President
Aug 10, 2005
17,768
485
126
Dug's just mad because I don't approve of undergravel filters. :p

:laugh:
 

dug777

Lifer
Oct 13, 2004
24,778
4
0
Originally posted by: SSP
Originally posted by: MS Dawn
Dug's just mad because I don't approve of undergravel filters. :p

:laugh:

No, you probably stole his vegemite.

that's a bannable offence ;)

Ya rly, your posts in that thread (not the content, but rather the wording) did prompt this thread, but it's been annoying me for some time :eek:
 

Umberger

Golden Member
Apr 13, 2005
1,710
0
76
Originally posted by: SlitheryDee
Why the hell are we not smart enough to understand what they're saying? If you think about it, having a large vocabulary actually reduces the likelihood of misunderstanding. If you can add a few syllables to your words to eliminate a few sentences in order to make a better point then what's the problem?

Fixed. :)
 

dug777

Lifer
Oct 13, 2004
24,778
4
0
Originally posted by: Umberger
Originally posted by: SlitheryDee
Why the hell are we not smart enough to understand what they're saying? If you think about it, having a large vocabulary actually reduces the likelihood of misunderstanding. If you can add a few syllables to your words to eliminate a few sentences in order to make a better point then what's the problem?

Fixed. :)

I think you miss the point entirely Mr.Dee. Rather than using teh most complicated words possible to describe someting, go for the normal word/expression for it. People trying to get too clever with their words arguably increases the chance of them getting it wrong, and it certainly increases the chance that your reader might misunderstand it. You set your tone to one appropriate for the circumstances.
 
S

SlitheryDee

Originally posted by: Umberger
Originally posted by: SlitheryDee
Why the hell are we not smart enough to understand what they're saying? If you think about it, having a large vocabulary actually reduces the likelihood of misunderstanding. If you can add a few syllables to your words to eliminate a few sentences in order to make a better point then what's the problem?

Fixed. :)


haha well he didn't mention ME as one of the dictionary eaters. My point still stands even if I can't live up to it.
 

herbiehancock

Senior member
May 11, 2006
789
0
0
Originally posted by: dug777
Originally posted by: Umberger
Originally posted by: SlitheryDee
Why the hell are we not smart enough to understand what they're saying? If you think about it, having a large vocabulary actually reduces the likelihood of misunderstanding. If you can add a few syllables to your words to eliminate a few sentences in order to make a better point then what's the problem?

Fixed. :)

I think you miss the point entirely Mr.Dee. Rather than using teh most complicated words possible to describe someting, go for the normal word/expression for it. People trying to get too clever with their words arguably increases the chance of them getting it wrong, and it certainly increases the chance that your reader might misunderstand it. You set your tone to one appropriate for the circumstances.


As was pointed out in a post above, sometimes the more "pretentious" word is actually the more accurate word and is less likely to be misunderstood or confused as to its meaning. I do find it interesting that some persons do try to belittle others for having and using an expansive vocabulary, and would rather have a complete dumbing down of all written and spoken dialogue. I suppose, at our high level of societial evolution, that some want our language to devolve into nothing more than inflected grunts. ;)
 

dug777

Lifer
Oct 13, 2004
24,778
4
0
Originally posted by: herbiehancock
Originally posted by: dug777
Originally posted by: Umberger
Originally posted by: SlitheryDee
Why the hell are we not smart enough to understand what they're saying? If you think about it, having a large vocabulary actually reduces the likelihood of misunderstanding. If you can add a few syllables to your words to eliminate a few sentences in order to make a better point then what's the problem?

Fixed. :)

I think you miss the point entirely Mr.Dee. Rather than using teh most complicated words possible to describe someting, go for the normal word/expression for it. People trying to get too clever with their words arguably increases the chance of them getting it wrong, and it certainly increases the chance that your reader might misunderstand it. You set your tone to one appropriate for the circumstances.


As was pointed out in a post above, sometimes the more "pretentious" word is actually the more accurate word and is less likely to be misunderstood or confused as to its meaning. I do find it interesting that some persons do try to belittle others for having and using an expansive vocabulary, and would rather have a complete dumbing down of all written and spoken dialogue. I suppose, at our high level of societial evolution, that some want our language to devolve into nothing more than inflected grunts. ;)

Utter crap. You should always talk/type at the the level of your audience, rather than trying to bamboozle them with a ridiculous selection of arcane language. There's nothing wrong with using the right word for the circumstances, but it's extremely pretentious and irritating to always attempt to use the biggest/most complicated word/phrase that you can, in every situation.
 

The Batt?sai

Diamond Member
Jan 18, 2005
5,170
1
0
Originally posted by: dug777
Why do some of you... have to post like you've swallowed a dictionary?

2 entries found for swallowed.
swal·low1 ( P ) Pronunciation Key (swl)
v. swal·lowed, swal·low·ing, swal·lows
v. tr.
To cause (food or drink, for example) to pass through the mouth and throat into the stomach.
To put up with (something unpleasant): swallowed the insults and kept on working.
To refrain from expressing; suppress: swallow one's feelings.
To consume or destroy as if by ingestion; devour: a building that was swallowed up by fire.
Slang. To believe without question: swallowed the alibi.
To take back; retract: swallow one's words.
To say inarticulately; mumble: The actor swallowed his lines.

v. intr.
To perform the act of swallowing.

n.
The act of swallowing.
An amount swallowed.
Nautical. The channel through which a rope runs in a block or a mooring chock.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Middle English swalowen, from Old English swelgan. See swel- in Indo-European Roots.]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
swallow·er n.

[Download Now or Buy the Book]
Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.


swallowed

adj : completely enclosed or swallowed up; "a house engulfed in flames"; "the fog-enveloped cliffs"; "a view swallowed by night" [syn: engulfed, enveloped]

:confused:
 

Cristatus

Diamond Member
Oct 13, 2004
3,908
2
81
So, are they allowed to use metaphores and similes? Cos you use a simile (swallowing a dictionary) (or is that a metaphor? my english sucks).
 

dug777

Lifer
Oct 13, 2004
24,778
4
0
Originally posted by: logic1485
So, are they allowed to use metaphores and similes? Cos you use a simile (swallowing a dictionary) (or is that a metaphor? my english sucks).

:laugh:

You can use what you like, don't mind me.

At the end of the day i don't rly care, it just irritates me a bit is all ;)
 

dug777

Lifer
Oct 13, 2004
24,778
4
0
Originally posted by: quasarsky
Originally posted by: dug777
Why do some of you... have to post like you've swallowed a dictionary?

2 entries found for swallowed.
swal·low1 ( P ) Pronunciation Key (swl)
v. swal·lowed, swal·low·ing, swal·lows
v. tr.
To cause (food or drink, for example) to pass through the mouth and throat into the stomach.
To put up with (something unpleasant): swallowed the insults and kept on working.
To refrain from expressing; suppress: swallow one's feelings.
To consume or destroy as if by ingestion; devour: a building that was swallowed up by fire.
Slang. To believe without question: swallowed the alibi.
To take back; retract: swallow one's words.
To say inarticulately; mumble: The actor swallowed his lines.

v. intr.
To perform the act of swallowing.

n.
The act of swallowing.
An amount swallowed.
Nautical. The channel through which a rope runs in a block or a mooring chock.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Middle English swalowen, from Old English swelgan. See swel- in Indo-European Roots.]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
swallow·er n.

[Download Now or Buy the Book]
Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.


swallowed

adj : completely enclosed or swallowed up; "a house engulfed in flames"; "the fog-enveloped cliffs"; "a view swallowed by night" [syn: engulfed, enveloped]

:confused:

that's the one i meant :D
 

lyssword

Diamond Member
Dec 15, 2005
5,630
25
91
Completely agreed. If you want to use 1000 words to describe something simple to understand, go write a fvking book