For me, it may be that the toilet paper roll needs to have the open end away from the wall. I don’t want to reach under the roll to take a piece! That’s ludicrous!
That or my recent addiction to correcting people when they use “less” when they should use “fewer”
A simple one I think, I refuse to call twitter by other names.
I do love, however calling it Xitter where X is pronounced “sh”
Like Xi Jinping. (Shi )
Wonder if Xi scrolls through Xitter on the xitter.
If it were supposed to be pronounced “jif” it would have been spelled that way, I don’t give two fucks what Stephen Wilhite said about it either.
Same with Gnome wanting to be pronounced “Gah-nome”, or Latex “Latech”. Just spell stuff the way you want it to be pronounced, or accept that people pronounce it another way
or Latex “Latech”. Just spell stuff the way you want it to be pronounced
But they did! You’re the one who fucked it up by using an “x” (Latin letter x) instead of a “χ” (Greek letter chi).
(Also, you didn’t capitalize or format it correctly. It’s supposed to be rendered as “LAΤΕΧ”, and yes, those last three letters are
Τ Ε ΧGreek capital tau, epsilon, chi.)🤓
Lol, the only way to be more obtuse would be to say “our project name has no approved transliteration or Unicode string… Render this svg inline or don’t talk about us.”
Gnome is spelt the way they want it to be said. Are you suggesting that gnome should be pronounced ‘nome’ like the garden ornament with a silent g.
I don’t care. Will always be Nome. Fuck Pedo Stallman’s preference.
Is it not?
Agreed. I think since the “G” stands for “graphics” it should be pronounced like the G in graphics.
I always respond that in that case, “jpeg” should be pronounced “jfeg”.
But why? We don’t pronounce any other acronyms like that, so why treat GIF different? The U in SCUBA isn’t pronounced like it is in Underwater. The first A in CAPTCHA isn’t pronounced the same as in Automated and the CH isn’t split up to be pronounced like Computer and Human. The second A in NASA isn’t pronounced like in Administration and the I in PIN doesn’t get pronounced like Identification.
We read acronyms as their own words, not as a collection of the first sounds of each constituent word.
Tbf, you’re pointing out the vowels which make the sounds needed to pronounce the acronym as a word. But I get it, either way, we’re pronouncing the word as a standalone word.
Right in the same neighborhood… Jpeg (photographic)
Time to pronounce it jfeg lol
🤷 just cause?
Also, “gift”
Have any examples where the first letter of the acronym isn’t pronounced the same? (I’m sure there are some)
AWOL, OSHA, AIDS, ICE
UFO, not that that’s a super relevant question if we’re already admitting that our opinions are “just cause.” I think at that point the better question is “if just cause, why is there such a split in opinions?”
I think the reason GIF is so contentious is that if we can there’s a tendency to make acronyms sound like words if possible. FUBAR and SCUBA are pronounced the way they are because we’re trained from words like tuba to see the UBA and use a long U. Something like “oofo” (or “uh-fo” as you would likely argue) for UFO sounds like half a word, hence pronouncing the letters individually. The thing about GIF is that both pronunciations sound like a word, and so both feel valid enough that there can be a split in opinions. Any arguments one way or the other is just trying to justify a gut feeling about which way is “proper.”
To be fair, UFO is an initialism, not an acronym. But at the same time, if it was, I think it’d still be an example, because we’d likely pronounce the U like “oo” (as in “boo”), lol
Nearly all acronyms are technically initialisms
Nah, there’s plenty of both, even mixed in very similar subject matter. Example:
An ATM (initialism) takes a card then asks you for its PIN (acronym).
we all know it’s actually pronounced “yiff”
The thing is, that argument doesn’t really hold up, because g in English has two major pronunciations.
English being a bad language doesn’t excuse incorrect pronunciations. And if your argument was to hold any water, it’d be pronounced jraphics.
Discord is not a good replacement for support forums. Discord isn’t searchable by search engines.
Historically, if I had an issue with a product and I googled “[product] [issue]” I’d be met with a support forum post, with someone describing the same issue. I could read the thread to find how they resolved it. I don’t actually have to interact with the post at all, and I don’t need to ask the same question again. For most (decent) forums I don’t even need to make an account just to read the post.
Discord throws that all out the window. Now I’m met with a “JoiN OUr dIScoRd SerVEr to GEt suPPorT” page. Nothing is searchable via a search engine. And Discord’s server searchability (even in the app) has always been, at best, absolute dogshit. You already need to know exactly which text thread things were posted in, (because you can’t search the entire server at once), and you need to know exactly what was said, (because there’s no fuzzed search terms).
So 99% of the time, you just end up asking the same question that has already been asked a hundred times in the past, and now you need to wait for someone to respond. It also puts a lot more strain on the support staff, because they’re answering the same question a hundred times instead of just the once in a forum.
And don’t come at me with the “but Discord recently added a support forum feature where people can start threads and save the conversation for later” bullshit. That’s a band-aid, at best. It still isn’t searchable via search engines, so it means the above issues with Discord’s search function still apply, and the forum function is essentially useless as support forums.
Lastly, why the fuck should I be forced to join another server just to get support? What if I don’t have a discord account? What if I live in a region that Discord doesn’t support? What if I just plain don’t want to clog up my server sidebar with dozens of servers that I have only visited once? What if I just really hate the fact that your server has been configured to push notifications for every single message by default? What if I just fucking want to google my issue, and get an answer without any further effort?
deleted by creator
OP asked for petty/pointless/pedantic hills. Did you miss that?
I’d argue that this is petty, because you’re still technically able to get support for your issue in the end. It just takes a lot more effort in everyone involved; More effort on your end to actually get support, and more effort on support staff because they have already answered your question a hundred times further up the thread.
No. Using discord is unacceptable. It’s not pettiness.
Removed by mod
Psycholinguisitics understands this effect. The “wrong” word is increasing cognitive load and slowing down the listener’s comprehension. The exact same thing happens when pronoun use is unclear and a person has to parse the most likely referent from context.
Language, especially English, is not computer code but leveraging the existing “libraries” of meaning and declaring variables carefully is usually very useful.
I wish we had a dialect or subset of English that was intended to be more like computer code, and would be used for precisely specifying things. I have no idea how we’d do such a thing, and it’d never be adopted (and probably it’s been tried!). But trying to write English in a way that can’t be misinterpreted can be a real chore.
This does exist in professional disciplines as jargon. I work in Orthopaedics and we do not say the “over here, inside part of my knee in the front. “. We say, “inferior, medial pole of the patella”
My reasoning is that a hotdog is a sausage. When you say you want a sandwich, you don’t say “pass me a ham” you say “pass me a ham sandwich.” When ordering a named sandwich, “I’ll have a Ruben” it’s widely understood that a Ruben is a sandwich so the modifier is already packaged in the name. A sandwich has “Sandwich” as a defining modifier.
When you ask for a hotdog you don’t say, “give me a hotdog sandwich” you say, “give me a hotdog.” The same situation works with bratwurst, you don’t order a brat sandwich. To further reinforce this, if you’re in the south and central US and order a Hotlink it comes on it’s own or in a hotdog bun but if you order a “hotlink sandwich” you get two hotlinks cut length wise and placed on a hamburger bun or bread.
A sausage can have a bun as a condiment and still be just a sausage. A sandwich can have sausage, but is still refered to as a sandwich. So a hotdog is a sausage served with bread, not a sandwich.
“white chocolate” doesn’t exist. It’s just sugar and a little bit of cocoa butter. It’s edible wax. It’s not chocolate and it doesn’t belong in any assortment of sweets, ever. Cocoa butter is skin moisturizer and that’s it.
It provably does exist. And it’s delicious. I could go to the supermarket and buy some right now. Except I’m fat and trying to lose weight.
It does exist in the way that chocolate ‘solids’ exist as an element of chocolate. A typical chocolate bar consists of both chocolate solids and cocoa butter. It’s still an element of what you’re eating,
So just cuz you eat ‘chocolate’ because you think you only favor the solids, you’re still eating the butter too in what makes chocolate. It’s like drinking milk products and then getting pedantic over people who use butter as a food even though milk contains some the same elements.
But again this is about stupid hills to die on. And you picked an intolerant and ignorant stance so I guess you technically win in this particular topic.
No need for personal attack, this is all in good fun.
But personal attacks are funny.
You have my sword.
And my bow.
And my axe!
Oh crap, I zoned out. What are we doing?
Hey, you. You’re finally awake.
Dunking on a dude that doesn’t think white chocolate is chocolate, hope that helps
The invocation is complete.
To streamers, YouTubers, etc. Your Patreon supporters are called Patrons. Not fucking “Patreons.”
Since I only ever had heard this english word in the specific context of YouTube, I’m not even sure what is difference in prononciation btw the two.
Patreon is a brand name that allows monetization for artist etc.
Patron means supporter.
Yeah but my issue is with how to pronounce it.
Patreon = pay-tree-on
Patron = pay-trun
its “I could not care less” and not “I could care less”. This one drives me nuts
Thank you for fighting the good fight.
I adore David Mitchell and his rants. I really liked the one about how “rape” should not become socially acceptable and silly when followed by “pillage” just because the Vikings are depicted as having worn silly hats.
Ever since I saw that video 14 years ago, I always pause for a moment to make sure I actually say it properly
The medical symbol of the staff with the snake is only supposed to have 1 (one) snake on it. A staff with 1 snake is the Rod of Asclepius (the son of Apollo and Greek demigod of medicine), a staff with 2 snakes is a Caduceus which is carried by Hermes as a messenger or herald.
Physicians get 1 snake. Couriers and heralds get 2 snakes. Any medical professional or organization that uses 2 snakes is wrong and needs to go study the humanities and classics for a bit.
Would two snakes on an ambulance be acceptable? They’re kind of like couriers of the sick and injured.
That’s the only time I think it’s acceptable. Ambulances are kind of a venn diagram of healthcare and couriers, so the 2 snakes on the star of life makes sense.
Isn’t the one snake staff more of a trans symbol?
Look I’m all for trans homies and positivity but not everything has to be a fuckin trans symbol.
Similarly, the Shamrock, (☘️) an important symbol for Saint Patrick’s Day has three leaves where most SPD kitch sold in the US features four-leaf clovers (🍀) an unrelated good luck symbol. I dont object because I feel Ireland needs a better iconic saint (and a better holiday) than the guy who brought the imperialist religion under which the native Irish would be subjugated.
They need someone like Joan of Arc who ran the English out (of settlements in France).
Wait, he didn’t chase out literal snakes?!
If something’s rate of hype is too fast for my internal meter, I will become immediately skeptical of the trend/show/etc. and not care about it, solely because everyone is caring about it too much and too fast.
I call it the “trying too hard” put-off. The harder you try to sell me on something, the more I’m sure I don’t want or need it.
With very few exceptions, that popular TV show you like with either end bad or get cancelled before it gets a chance to end bad.
I think fewer of people when they misuse words. Their not that hard too tail a part.
I hole-hardedly agree, but allow me to play doubles advocate here for a moment. For all intensive purposes I think you are wrong. In an age where false morals are a diamond dozen, true virtues are a blessing in the skies. We often put our false morality on a petal stool like a bunch of pre-Madonnas, but you all seem to be taking something very valuable for granite. So I ask of you to mustard up all the strength you can because it is a doggy dog world out there. Although there is some merit to what you are saying it seems like you have a huge ship on your shoulder. In your argument you seem to throw everything in but the kids Nsync, and even though you are having a feel day with this I am here to bring you back into reality. I have a sick sense when it comes to these types of things. It is almost spooky, because I cannot turn a blonde eye to these glaring flaws in your rhetoric. I have zero taller ants when it comes to people spouting out hate in the name of moral righteousness. You just need to remember what comes around is all around, and when supply and command fails you will be the first to go. Make my words, when you get down to brass stacks it doesn’t take rocket appliances to get two birds stoned at once. It’s clear who makes the pants in this relationship, and sometimes you just have to swallow your prize and accept the facts. You might have to come to this conclusion through denial and error but I swear on my mother’s mating name that when you put the petal to the medal you will pass with flying carpets like it’s a peach of cake.
Like taking a bath in a rash.
You’re the worst. But you did good, kid. You did good.
Wow, well done. If op could read they would be pissed!
i don’t record or watch vertical videos
It’s concrete, not cement. (Sidewalks for example, or foundations of buildings, etc)
Cement is an ingredient in concrete.
I didn’t know you were on Lemmy, dad!
Rofl. My dad is WHY I do this.
It’s “cement concrete,” or in other words, concrete with a cementitious binder (e.g. lime, Portland cement, pozzolan, fly ash, etc.).
That’s in contrast to “asphalt concrete” (the black stuff roads are often paved with), which is concrete with a heavy petroleum (asphalt, a.k.a. bitumen) binder.
“Concrete” just means aggregate plus a fluid binder that cures and hardens. Arguably, things like epoxy quartz countertops and terrazzo flooring are “concrete,” too.
quite a concrete answer
Really cements my understanding of the topic.
a couple always means two.
every time anyone says “a couple”, i ask them if they mean two. it’s not pleasant exchange for either of us, but it must be done
Disagree. I’ve always understood it to mean approximately two. Usually 2-3; 4 isn’t outlandish.
Unless that’s the meaning, the expression doesn’t have a reason to exist. So that’s how I decide to interpret it.
Wrong. A couple is two exactly. After the wedding: Oh look at the happy couple. There aren’t 3 or 4 people standing there, 2 people are standing there. A couple.
To couple train carriages together means to attach two carriages together. There are more carriages behind that one, but they were all individually coupled together.
Aw come on, those are two very different meanings of the word in my book. As it happens, the couple of eggs I took out of the fridge aren’t in a romantic relationship.
Starting a post with “Wrong.” and listing a few items that support your view is… Well it gives me Reddit energy, not a good thing. ;)
Here are some counterexamples that negate it: “I’ll be ready in a couple of minutes”, “it’s a couple of miles away”.
This does not always mean exactly two. I mean, if you just want to yell out “it always means exactly two!” Then that’s on you, but in the English language everyone else in the world uses, it often means two, but can also mean around but not exactly two, depending on the use case.
Stick to the side of the path your country drives on or at least move to that side if someones comming the otherway. I don’t get how this isn’t common knowledge but it also doesn’t matter all that much.
Ah I see you are from the UK too. Lots of other countries seem to grasp this concept a lot better. The UK seems unable to walk on the fucking left. If everyone walked on the left then no one has an issue.
The amount of people stubbornly walking towards me on the right hand side of the path whilst I stick to my guns on the left pisses me right off!
Bonus points for groups of people that are so far up their own arse they feel the need to walk abreast taking up the entire path. Fuck all of you!
deep cleansing breath
Except when you’re walking on a road, you should walk on the opposite side of vehicle traffic.
Yes, the one exception which is based on safety due to the massive difference in speeds.
using “he/she” to refer to an ambiguous party. just use they for fucks sake
agreed for humans, but I do like calling cars/boats/bikes/machines “she”. makes me feel like a pirate :)
oh im not talking about that.
i’m talking about quasi-legalese phrases like “he/she may […]” “if he/she agrees”, you know. the places where “they” would be both more grammatical and easier to understandI have been learning Spanish with Babbel and the
El/Ella Compra
Will never not sound wrong to me. El & Ella are two people, they Compran something they don’t Compra it.
But They as a singular in English absolutely just rolls off my tongue, makes absolute sense, it is what I use.
he/she refers to a single individual, they can refer to multiple
They can also refer to an individual though.
yeah, but its an ambiguity that can be picked at in legal settings. He/she makes it very clear that only singular person is being referred to
I guess I found my hill:
If you are worried about your sentence leaving ambiguity for your pronouns, then write a better sentence.
Alright, that’s fair, they did specifically say legalese.
Are you familiar with the comedian James Acaster? He has a relevant bit: https://youtu.be/Zt5qJC1xQ8A
i wasn’t, thanks for introducing them
