infopri
I guess I'm now a VERY
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 17,921
When all else fails, let us agree to disagree.
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« Reply #690 on: March 15, 2007, 05:41:48 PM » |
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I just saw someone call someone a wanker in a TV show. Hee! (I wonder if the broadcast censors know atalanta's definition?)
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if there's a next time, I'll remind myself I don't need to engage.
MYOB. Y enseņen bien a sus hijos. (with thanks to cronopio) |
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merce
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« Reply #691 on: March 15, 2007, 05:56:57 PM » |
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I just saw someone call someone a wanker in a TV show. Hee! (I wonder if the broadcast censors know atalanta's definition?)
It's not Atalanta's definition. That's the definition. Gosh, I learned all those words in boarding school. The boys discussed those activities in all kinds of terms and an awful lot. Gosh I'm glad that is over with. |
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Who looks for God in the Bible? That's pretty dumb.
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infopri
I guess I'm now a VERY
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 17,921
When all else fails, let us agree to disagree.
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« Reply #692 on: March 15, 2007, 06:00:06 PM » |
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I just saw someone call someone a wanker in a TV show. Hee! (I wonder if the broadcast censors know atalanta's definition?)
It's not Atalanta's definition. That's the definition. Gosh, I learned all those words in boarding school. The boys discussed those activities in all kinds of terms and an awful lot. Gosh I'm glad that is over with. I just wanted to make sure folks knew that I was referring to the narrower meaning, in light of the fact that the term appears to have taken on a broader meaning, or at least that many of us (and apparently the network censors) thought so. |
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if there's a next time, I'll remind myself I don't need to engage.
MYOB. Y enseņen bien a sus hijos. (with thanks to cronopio) |
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empyrean_aisles
Sesquipedalian
Senior member
Posts: 498
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« Reply #693 on: March 15, 2007, 06:01:37 PM » |
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A tosser is a gay man. I'm not British but have had a few years' acculturation to British English - and I'm not aware of this 'gay man' usage. I agree with atalanta and onlyanne's definitions. And if a student in my British university called me a tosser, they would be serious trouble! |
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I just need to have my cake in a safe white place today.
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onlyanne
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« Reply #694 on: March 15, 2007, 07:02:25 PM » |
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I'm sorry I was unclear - I believe I overestimated the American universality of "wanker".
I've never heard the "gay man" definition, although there is a similar taunting of masculinity and sexual appeal involved when someone uses "***" as a slur.
Perhaps the student heard "tosser" on a British sitcom and thought it just meant "idiot." Regardless, what the heck was the student thinking?
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gennimom
Somewhat Southern (Have I really posted that much?)
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 16,768
Let's get summer over with! Me want snow!
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« Reply #695 on: March 15, 2007, 07:32:48 PM » |
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I knew of a radio DJ that got into trouble talking about ***s one day. Problem was, he was British, and he wasn't talking about gay people. He was using the term as he knew it, to refer to cigarettes. :0
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...only after reading gm's post, my new mantra is "always listen to gennimom".
Monday reeks! - Garfield The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a person (or something like that). |
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snape
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« Reply #696 on: March 16, 2007, 04:13:26 AM » |
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I knew of a radio DJ that got into trouble talking about ***s one day. Problem was, he was British, and he wasn't talking about gay people. He was using the term as he knew it, to refer to cigarettes. :0
I'm British. A Canadian friend was very shocked when I told her that when we did cross-country running at high school, some people would stop to smoke a ***. |
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case_insensitive
Indefatigable Maverick Giver of Gold Stars and Ever-So Slightly
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 12,342
Life is an endurance race. Pace yourself.
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« Reply #697 on: March 16, 2007, 07:19:20 AM » |
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I'm British. A Canadian friend was very shocked when I told her that when we did cross-country running at high school, some people would stop to smoke a ***.
In every possible interpretation, that's so wrong... :-o |
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Director of the CHE MYOB Professional Development Program,
An initiative of the CHE STFU Center for Professional Development.
Chairperson of the GAB CPE Series.
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crimen
New member
Posts: 2
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« Reply #698 on: March 16, 2007, 07:45:23 AM » |
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[aside: why do so many students use lots of white space between paragraphs in emails?]
This is most likely due to the fact that they initially type their emails in a word processing software. When pasting the text into the email application, some of the "hidden" formatting from the word processor will be included thus resulting in the white space between the paragraphs. |
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case_insensitive
Indefatigable Maverick Giver of Gold Stars and Ever-So Slightly
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 12,342
Life is an endurance race. Pace yourself.
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« Reply #699 on: March 16, 2007, 07:47:19 AM » |
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[aside: why do so many students use lots of white space between paragraphs in emails?]
This is most likely due to the fact that they initially type their emails in a word processing software. When pasting the text into the email application, some of the "hidden" formatting from the word processor will be included thus resulting in the white space between the paragraphs. Why would anyone make email a two-step process? Why would anyone paste something into an email and then not look at it to see how it panned out? (rhetorical) |
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« Last Edit: March 16, 2007, 07:48:05 AM by case_insensitive »
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Director of the CHE MYOB Professional Development Program,
An initiative of the CHE STFU Center for Professional Development.
Chairperson of the GAB CPE Series.
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crimen
New member
Posts: 2
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« Reply #700 on: March 16, 2007, 07:55:44 AM » |
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Why would anyone make email a two-step process?
Probably because they want to use the spellchecker function in the word processing software. Some web-based email applications are very rudimentary. |
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whiteknight
Cool Customer
Senior member
Posts: 622
The Man Comes Around
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« Reply #701 on: March 16, 2007, 09:04:01 AM » |
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Why would anyone make email a two-step process?
Probably because they want to use the spellchecker function in the word processing software. Some web-based email applications are very rudimentary. You do realize that we are talking about students, right? The same students who can't be bothered to staple papers, address instructors by their correct titles, etc. |
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sickofit71
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« Reply #702 on: March 16, 2007, 09:20:10 AM » |
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A tosser is a gay man. I'm not British but have had a few years' acculturation to British English - and I'm not aware of this 'gay man' usage. I agree with atalanta and onlyanne's definitions. And if a student in my British university called me a tosser, they would be serious trouble! British English= Wanker (one who practices the act of self-sexual grtification OFTEN and to the detriment of one's mental capabilities) British English= Toss off (not tosser) is the act of self sexual gratification Btw, this student was an American at an American school. I looked up tosser and it comes from "to toss one's salad"........I don't think I need to explain that one further |
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dr_crankypants
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« Reply #703 on: March 16, 2007, 09:21:42 AM » |
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Why would anyone make email a two-step process?
Probably because they want to use the spellchecker function in the word processing software. Some web-based email applications are very rudimentary. I've done that myself (and yes, partly because I want it spell-checked). Also, if you use a web-based e-mail program, your message usually times out. If I want to write a long or complicated message, or I don't want to write something all at once, I'll write it elsewhere and then cut and paste it. I do know how to undo the formattng, though! |
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I'm not ignoring you. I'm playing leapdog with your post.
"Now stop trying to sound funny and smart." -Wowowowowow
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notaprof
Not a
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 10,933
Notaclique: You can only join if you don't want to
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« Reply #704 on: March 16, 2007, 09:28:41 AM » |
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Why would anyone make email a two-step process?
Probably because they want to use the spellchecker function in the word processing software. Some web-based email applications are very rudimentary. You do realize that we are talking about students, right? The same students who can't be bothered to staple papers, address instructors by their correct titles, etc. Maybe they are plagiarizing their email messages, cutting and pasting from a website that provides grade grubbing arguments, class-missing/late-homework excuses etc. I wouldn't be surprised if such a site existed. |
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I am sick and tired of following my dreams. I think I'll just ask them where they are going and catch up with them later. Mitch Hedberg
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