Worn-out Words.

[perrykneeham]

Yeah, I felt there was an element of that. She's not alone. It's a bit knobbish and probably says more about them than you. It's fine to use the correct technical term if that's what you're familiar with, but not without easing it in, in a manner which doesn't patronise.

This is particularly jarring when it comes to abbreviations, acronyms or initials: always try to get the long form in first. We once went six months using a TES reference for vehicles without really knowing what it stood for (Theatre Entry Standard). Nobody felt they could ask.

[flatandy]

Aug 27, 2023 16:03:53 GMT voice said:

On that note, any use of unnessessry technical language used to show inner knowlage or expertise when talking to those you know either don't understand or don't have the context.

On that note - and I know I triggered the titrate that Baloo reasonably objects to - I want to reiterate my objection yet again to "calculus" used to not mean calculus. The US is particularly odious for going on about the "political calculus" and "this changes the political calculus" when they clearly mean the "political calculation" or, more rarely the actual "electoral calculation" using actual numbers.

But it's absolutely never about derivatives and inflection points and dPolitics/dt. It is absolutely never calculus but the smug wankers writing about it want to make it seem more intelligent and more important than it actually is when it's really just adding up numbers.

[mids]

"cis"

It seems that some loony extremists have taken a perfectly good prefix from physical chemistry and are now using it in their weird and creepy ideology to describe normal people.

[Repat Van]

Aug 28, 2023 10:55:51 GMT mids said:

"cis"

It seems that some loony extremists have taken a perfectly good prefix from physical chemistry and are now using it in their weird and creepy ideology to describe normal people.

Mids is scared of dictionaries.

[Repat Van]

Jul 14, 2023 20:19:54 GMT wetkingcanute said:

People who say, when ordering in a restaurant or cafe, to the waiter " Can I Get"

"Can I get a Fillet of Sole Veronique?"

"Can I get a Tornado Rossini"?

"Can I Get Beans on toast?"

That seems fairly normal to me.

[perrykneeham]

<shocked>

[Repat Van]

Well I am under 50 so. Maybe it was different among the previous generation.

[moggyonspeed]

Aug 27, 2023 20:59:17 GMT flatandy said:

On that note - and I know I triggered the titrate that Baloo reasonably objects to - I want to reiterate my objection yet again to "calculus" used to not mean calculus. The US is particularly odious for going on about the "political calculus" and "this changes the political calculus" when they clearly mean the "political calculation" or, more rarely the actual "electoral calculation" using actual numbers.

But it's absolutely never about derivatives and inflection points and dPolitics/dt. It is absolutely never calculus but the smug wankers writing about it want to make it seem more intelligent and more important than it actually is when it's really just adding up numbers.

Actually, calculus is used correctly in this modern political context. Sort of.

Calculus in ancient Greek merely means pebble or small stone (from calx, stone) and such pebbles were used in counting votes in the Athenian ekklesía and that of other city states of the time. Granted, our modern-day concepts of differential-, integral- or multivariate calculus weren't even known or codified then in the sense that they are now, but the fundamental root is one of simple counting. Don't forget though that the Ancient Greeks lacked the counting numbers that we have today in spite of the undoubted skill of some of their mathematicians, so a simple means of accounting for votes was necessary - hence the calculus.

[flatandy]

sh*t. Well, that's me told. Now you say it, of course "calc" is stone, so it makes sense. I'd just never known or thought about it.

So I am probably technically wrong.

But, to be clear, political journalists who use the term are still pompous twunts who want to seem smarter than they are.

[mids]

It's still wanky while calculation is available.

[wetkingcanute]

"Can I get a Fillet of Sole Veronique?"

"Can I get a Tornado Rossini"?

"Can I Get Beans on toast?"


Yes I realise it is because I am very old.

I was always taught that "Can I".. was to be used when asking if something is possible - eg. Can I jump that high or can I last this evening without a glass of wine?

Whereas "May I" was to be used when asking politely for something - eg. May I have the Avocado on toast please?

[mids]

Although both still work for erection.

[Repat Van]

Aug 29, 2023 15:15:44 GMT wetkingcanute said:

"Can I get a Fillet of Sole Veronique?"

"Can I get a Tornado Rossini"?

"Can I Get Beans on toast?"


Yes I realise it is because I am very old.

I was always taught that "Can I".. was to be used when asking if something is possible - eg. Can I jump that high or can I last this evening without a glass of wine?

Whereas "May I" was to be used when asking politely for something - eg. May I have the Avocado on toast please?

It’s definitely because you’re old!

[flatandy]

Aug 29, 2023 15:15:44 GMT wetkingcanute said:

Whereas "May I" was to be used when asking politely for something - eg. May I have the Avocado on toast please?

"Yes you may. It's on the menu, of course you may have it. Do you think we'd put it on there and not allow you to have it? What kind of establishment do you think I'm running here?"

[wetkingcanute]

"Yes you can. It's on the menu, of course you can have it. Do you think we'd put it on there and you're not able to have it? What kind of establishment do you think I'm running here?"

[wetkingcanute]

Aug 29, 2023 13:23:20 GMT flatandy said:

sh*t. Well, that's me told. Now you say it, of course "May I" is so much better ~ it makes sense. I'd just never known or thought about it.

[flatandy]

"May I have the rib eye, please, medium rare, with bearnaise, and make the chips extra crispy" makes no more sense than "Can I get the rib eye, please, medium rare, with bearnaise, and make the chips extra crispy"

[wetkingcanute]

Oh I realise I'm not going to change things back.

My wife says "Can I have... a Porterhouse Steak as rare as it comes with chips."

I just prefer "May I have."

[perrykneeham]

Community.

[mids]

"Comooni'y."