I've seen this in several descriptions and would just like to make certain everyone who uses it knows what it means:
1 : curving like an eagle's beak <an aquiline nose>
2 : of, relating to, or resembling an eagle
Here's a visualization:
(http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/00s730N6va2Qt/610x.jpg)
Everybody hide, it's the adjective police.
I've seen it used in places where I don't think it's what they intended too. XD
His eyes don't look blue to me.
Aquiline is all the rage in Zalanthan noses these days, it seems.
Quote from: Synthesis on May 31, 2009, 03:04:38 AM
Everybody hide, it's the adjective police.
I don't know, I'm kind of glad he spoke up. Lots of peeps use fairly random words in their descs and there is certainly a tendency by some peeps to go overboard.
You care to post your last character's full desc for group scrutiny?
I remember seeing an aquiline haired man. What could that mean?
I always figured his hair looked like the neck of an eagle.
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/staticfiles/NGS/Shared/StaticFiles/animals/images/primary/bald-eagle-head.jpg
Quote from: Delstro on May 31, 2009, 11:27:51 AM
I remember seeing an aquiline haired man. What could that mean?
I always figured his hair looked like the neck of an eagle.
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/staticfiles/NGS/Shared/StaticFiles/animals/images/primary/bald-eagle-head.jpg
For some reason, when you said "neck of an eagle" - I didn't picture your link, but rather, this:
http://blogs.nailsmag.com/images/blogs_nailsmag_com/Healthy/turkey%20neck.jpg
Aquiline doesn't have to be quite that extreme, but that's certainly an example of it. The term "aquiline" can really refer to anything eagle-like, as your definition says, so I suppose it can refer to things other than noses, though I'll certainly admit I've seen it around quite a bit lately.
Today's Word: Bemused
>bemused
One entry found.
Main Entry: be·muse
Pronunciation: \bi-ˈmyüz, bē-\
Function: transitive verb
Date: 1735
1 : to make confused : puzzle, bewilder
2 : to occupy the attention of : distract, absorb
3 : to cause to have feelings of wry or tolerant amusement <seems truly bemuseed that people beyond his circle in Seattle would be interested in his ruminations — Ruth B. Smith>
I do remember seeing an aquiline-eyed man, and always assumed he had "eagle eyes".
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/55/117768119_b1b76f67d3.jpg)
Quote from: Reiloth on May 31, 2009, 09:37:35 PM
Today's Word: Bemused
Ah, good one. I think I've misused this one before.
Quote from: ibusoe on May 31, 2009, 11:37:49 PM
Quote from: Reiloth on May 31, 2009, 09:37:35 PM
Today's Word: Bemused
Ah, good one. I think I've misused this one before.
As have I. It makes me rather sad, given that I have a damned
degree in this language, how often I unintentionally abuse it.
MIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIDGE
-Awesome- I've been using bemused for years only having inferred the word through context. Turns out I was right. Go me!
How do you misuse bemused?
Quote from: path on June 04, 2009, 07:08:17 PM
How do you misuse bemused?
When you think it means amused.
Whenever I use bemused I automatically hope they don't think I meant 'amused'.
Then I hope they realize I used it correctly.
Usually I just decide not to use it.
Quote from: a strange shadow on June 04, 2009, 07:11:19 PM
Whenever I use bemused I automatically hope they don't think I meant 'amused'.
Then I hope they realize I used it correctly.
Usually I just decide not to use it.
Me too.
Quote from: Reiloth on May 31, 2009, 09:37:35 PM
3 : to cause to have feelings of wry or tolerant amusement <seems truly bemuseed that people beyond his circle in Seattle would be interested in his ruminations — Ruth B. Smith>
I guess I usually mean confusion, but it seems loosely like it could be used to signal amusement of some sort?
That third part of the definition seems tinged with condescension.
edited when I realized how whiskey modifies my communication skill.
Quote from: path on June 04, 2009, 07:16:13 PM
Quote from: Reiloth on May 31, 2009, 09:37:35 PM
3 : to cause to have feelings of wry or tolerant amusement <seems truly bemuseed that people beyond his circle in Seattle would be interested in his ruminations — Ruth B. Smith>
I guess I usually mean confusion, but it seems loosely like it could be used to signal amusement of some sort?
Amusement only in the face of something unexpected, i.e. as a result of being confused.
If you want to use 'bemused' to mean 'amused,' just understand that 'confused' must also apply for 'bemused' to apply.
Quote from: path on June 04, 2009, 07:16:54 PM
That third part of the definition seems tinged with condescension.
edited when I realized how whiskey modifies my communication skill.
I always thought it just meant condescendingly amused.
It's the expression one gets on their face when you hear a really bad joke. Like this: O_o
More like...With a bemused laugh, the ballsy man says: "Really? They really enjoy doing that? Hah...Alright. Sure. Whatever you say."
I see it used more often than not as a synonym to 'amused', which it isn't really.
smirk
–verb (used without object)
1. to smile in an affected, smug, or offensively familiar way.
Quote from: Salt Merchant on June 05, 2009, 08:08:21 PM
smirk
–verb (used without object)
1. to smile in an affected, smug, or offensively familiar way.
Whoops. I've been using this term wrong! I thought it was a synonym with 'frown'. ::)
Bemused means puzzled/confused, I thought.
I've always seen bemused as a slightly less than amused word.
It never made sense.
With full respect to the OP, I'd have to say the word has a fairly broad range of meanings. Here's another version of what some consider an "aquiline nose":
(http://www.arolosweyr.co.uk/persona_pics/alexe1.jpg)
Yes, it's prominent, but not overpowering.
Two very different women, also considered to have "aquiline features" to a greater or lesser extent:
(http://www.nubiangifts.co.uk/myimages/blonde%20woman.JPG)
and
(http://static.whatsontv.co.uk/images/0926_145644_EMP6648534.jpg)
When I've used/use the word in my character's descriptions, it's a kind of written short-hand for "sharp features overall; high cheekbones; large nose proportionate to the rest of the features, and probably with a "bump" roughly in the center". I don't know that it's necessarily more or less attractive than any other kind of face, but it does have the advantage in a text-based game of being a coherent asthetic that's conveyable in a relatively-short amount of space.
Tomorrow's word:
curt/curtly:
Although "short" is -one- definition..the primary definition, in each of several different dictionaries, is a variation of "intentionally, rudely brief."
So if you are trying to be polite, emoting that you nod curtly to me, will *probably* be perceived as you trying to be rude. If you are trying to be neutral, it might be perceived as a vague (subtle, if you're a Tuluki :) ) hostile gesture.
If you intend for me to perceive your nod as being intentionally rude, or intentionally abrupt, or rudely concise, then go for it.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/curt for the compilation of definitions from several dictionaries.
My question: How can a nod be rude? In the above context, I'm always going to assume a curt nod is a short nod.
I can see how a curt bow can be percieved as rude.
Sorry, the common usage is as a synonym for short or brief. The only time I would agree with interpreting "curt" as denoting rudeness is when used in speech.
i.e. >tell templar (curtly) Don't know. Don't care.
And as you can see, you probably don't need "curt" to tell when someone is being rude in this manner. If it appears without the context of rudeness, you probably should not assume it is being rude.
If you ladle on IC penalties because of your OOC insistence that a certain word means a certain thing, I'll just take OOC pains to avoid playing with you. Please, please don't do this.
Since I guess you are using a different reference than I am hyzhenhok, and have chosen not to link to my reference, here it is:
"The" common useage of the word "curt" is:
rudely brief or abrupt (American Heritage Dictionary)
rudely brief in speech or abrupt in manner (synonym snappish) (Random House Dictionary)
Characterized by excessive brevity, short, rudely concise (Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary)
And in the case of this particular word (curt), the word "short" means, specifically:
rudely brief; abrupt; hurting: short behavior. (Random House Dictionary)
Rudely brief; abrupt.
Easily provoked; irascible. (American Heritage)
An example: When someone you know meets you on the street, and you had a lousy day and just don't want to deal with them, you might behave or speak curtly, or abruptly, and it is called "being short" with someone. Being abrupt, impatient, trying to push to the end of something in a hurry - that's being "short," in the case of the use of the word "curt."
Curtley Ambrose is a very angry man.
Quote from: hyzhenhok on June 07, 2009, 06:41:49 PM
If you ladle on IC penalties because of your OOC insistence that a certain word means a certain thing, I'll just take OOC pains to avoid playing with you. Please, please don't do this.
What if that certain word does mean that certain thing? We can't just arbitrarily redefine the English language and expect other people to understand in-game.
Quote from: Lizzie on June 07, 2009, 07:04:55 PM
Since I guess you are using a different reference than I am hyzhenhok, and have chosen not to link to my reference, here it is:
"The" common useage of the word "curt" is:
rudely brief or abrupt (American Heritage Dictionary)
rudely brief in speech or abrupt in manner (synonym snappish) (Random House Dictionary)
Characterized by excessive brevity, short, rudely concise (Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary)
And in the case of this particular word (curt), the word "short" means, specifically:
rudely brief; abrupt; hurting: short behavior. (Random House Dictionary)
Rudely brief; abrupt.
Easily provoked; irascible. (American Heritage)
An example: When someone you know meets you on the street, and you had a lousy day and just don't want to deal with them, you might behave or speak curtly, or abruptly, and it is called "being short" with someone. Being abrupt, impatient, trying to push to the end of something in a hurry - that's being "short," in the case of the use of the word "curt."
Sure. As I said, that is the usage when the word describes
speech.
Regardless, when a word has multiple definitions and usages, I would hope that you would be able to use context to determine what is meant. Being unable to do this is just poor play.
If a templar started yelling at me for being rude after I emoted a "curt nod," even though I had been attempting to roleplay politeness and deference and had done so in my other emotes and speech, I would question how the hell they ever got the role in the first place, and walk a room over and quit so I didn't have to deal with it.
The OED:
1. Short in linear dimension; shortened.
2. Of words, sentences, style, etc.: Concise, brief, condensed, terse; short to a fault.
Edit: Ooo, I'd never nod curtly to a templar.
Here's how the word plays for me...
When a sergeant gives a curt nod to a private, the gesture is not rude in any way. It is an appropriate acknowledgment.
When a sergeant gives a curt nod to a templar, his ass is grass. Or, on Zalanthas, possibly sand.
Quote from: Salt Merchant on June 07, 2009, 07:21:50 PM
Quote from: hyzhenhok on June 07, 2009, 06:41:49 PM
If you ladle on IC penalties because of your OOC insistence that a certain word means a certain thing, I'll just take OOC pains to avoid playing with you. Please, please don't do this.
What if that certain word does mean that certain thing? We can't just arbitrarily redefine the English language and expect other people to understand in-game.
It's not a case of misplaced vocabulary or someone not knowing the definition of a word (as is typical in the first two examples, aquiline and bemused). Curt has multiple definitions and usages. Lizzie is seizing on one of definitions and trying to force it onto every instance of the word, when this simply isn't the way our language works.
I mean, the first definition for "obsidian" in any given dictionary will be "volcanic glass." You don't roleplay as though someone with obsidian eyes as actually having a fake eyes made out of volcanic glass, do you?
Quote from: Thunkkin on June 07, 2009, 07:22:17 PM
When a sergeant gives a curt nod to a templar, his ass is grass. Or, on Zalanthas, possibly sand.
This doesn't even make sense. For the sake of argument, let's assume that "curtly" means "rudely" in the following usage.
"The flustered sergeant nods curtly to the bored templar before running off to obey his orders."
Replace curtly with rudely.
"The flustered sergeant nods rudely to the bored templar before running off to obey his orders."
IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE, PEOPLE.
To me, it's rude to nod curtly to a templar because you are making a brief, perfunctory gesture at them. I wouldn't give a templar a small cheery wave, either.
Which is why, when in doubt, I always refer to the primary definition of a word. And in the case of the word "curt," the -primary- definition, in every dictionary I've checked so far, defines curt as a "rude" manner or speech. Speech OR Manner. It's both, either. And that is the primary definition. In all dictionaries I've checked, "brief" has been either secondary, or explained with examples that involve someone being rude in manner or speech. If this bothers someone overmuch, I suggest they take it up with the publishers of all these dictionaries. Also, if a Sergeant was curt to a subordinate, that'd be expected. Sergeants are supposed to be curt to their subordinates. It keeps them in line. Subordinates, if they know what's good for them, would never be curt to their sergeants. They might be brief. Or even concise. But not in a rude way, which is what the word "curt" is used to convey.
Well, the OED doesn't list rude as the primary meaning.
That said, the point I'm making is that it's context-specific. A curt nod in some instances is -not- "rude." In other contexts, it -is- rude.
Well if you consider it contextually, you have to take the next step, and define the context. What if it's someone you don't know, who isn't indicating his mood to you, but merely speaking curtly?
You ask the green-eyed stranger, in sirihish, "Have you seen the one-armed man who killed that templar down the block just now?"
Curtly, the green-eyed stranger says to you, in sirihish, "No, I haven't seen him."
Now, in this context, how should MY character perceive it? Is the green-eyed stranger being merely brief in his answer, because he doesn't have anything else to say? Or is he being rudely abrupt in his tone, as though trying to get me to leave him alone so he can tell the murderer, who just happens to be his best friend, that he's been identified?
How am I supposed to consider the context? I mean there are people who do things curtly ALL the time. So when they really -are- trying to be snappish and rude, you'd never know the difference. I don't think they do either. And that's the point I'm trying to make.
Quote from: Thunkkin on June 07, 2009, 08:04:09 PM
That said, the point I'm making is that it's context-specific. A curt nod in some instances is -not- "rude." In other contexts, it -is- rude.
I'd agree on certain actions being context-specific.
That being said, if I were a templar and a sergeant of mine offered a "curt" nod, I wouldn't mind it so much. Being of a military mindset, I'd view the gesture as something akin to a sharp, snappy salute.
Response to above pics:
I consider none of those women to possess truly aquiline features.
The only characters I play with aquiline features are elves. I'm aware humans can have such sharply defined features as well, but I like there to be a definitive difference between the two races (for my own benefit).
On Curt:
The word curt to me has an essence of finality. You could nod curtly to a templar then run out to do his bidding, but you wouldn't nod curtly to a templar in the middle of his sentence. It's got a sort of "we're done here" tone.
Used in speech, I'd put it synonymous with being short with someone.
I don't see any problem with not interpreting rude into a curt gesture, any more than I see a problem with interpreting it as rude. If someone is brief and curt all the time, or hurrying off to do an errand, I'd probably interpret their actions differently than if I was asking directions and subsequently felt like they were telling me off. Why not just use context? Nobody is going to interpret the same word as having the same meaning all the time.
I only think there's a problem when people are obviously using a word that, contextually, can't possibly have the meaning they're trying to assign to it. Other than that, it's a matter of linguistic style, which is going to vary from person to person.
I have always considered "curt" to convey a purposefully brief or sharp word or movement. It's then for my PC to decide whether the source of the brevity was simple efficiency, a hurried or distracted state, an insulting or rude gesture, or perhaps fueled by a barely contained emotion such as hatred or outrage.
If you use the word curt, just consider that other PC's might view that action/speech as purposeful and be guessing at its source. Perhaps you mean to flavor its use with contextual hints at why you're being short, or prompting them to take notice and perhaps inquire if anything is wrong, or if they disagree with you. As others mentioned, you can't simply redefine the English language and say that curt means short, and I think short means polite, so it was intended to be polite. If you want a nod to be polite, then use polite or any other combination of words that would better convey that meaning.
And you can easily be "rude" with a nod. Consider any scene in a movie where some subordinate officer is trying to reason with an outrageous superior to the point where the superior finally bangs his fist on a desk and says something like, "That will be -all- captain." At this point, the subordinate has basically been dismissed and told to STFU -- all he has left at his disposal to express his discontent is an expected nod of respect/salute. This might be the perfect time to snap off a curt nod to demonstrate your purposefully brief demonstration of respect -- which could easily imply that you don't respect his decision, nor the way that he/she handled you.
-LoD
Quote from: Lizzie on June 07, 2009, 08:13:55 PM
Well if you consider it contextually, you have to take the next step, and define the context. What if it's someone you don't know, who isn't indicating his mood to you, but merely speaking curtly?
You ask the green-eyed stranger, in sirihish, "Have you seen the one-armed man who killed that templar down the block just now?"
Curtly, the green-eyed stranger says to you, in sirihish, "No, I haven't seen him."
Now, in this context, how should MY character perceive it? Is the green-eyed stranger being merely brief in his answer, because he doesn't have anything else to say? Or is he being rudely abrupt in his tone, as though trying to get me to leave him alone so he can tell the murderer, who just happens to be his best friend, that he's been identified?
How am I supposed to consider the context? I mean there are people who do things curtly ALL the time. So when they really -are- trying to be snappish and rude, you'd never know the difference. I don't think they do either. And that's the point I'm trying to make.
As long as you don't hinge the entire outcome of the interaction on the single word, it's fine to interpret it as a slightly rude gesture. I want to apologize for overreacting, because I read into your original post and inferred something that wasn't there.
I don't think I've ever "em nods curtly to ~templar/noble" myself either, because even though I don't mean it to be blatantly rude when I do use it, I know it's not exactly the most gracious or deferent gesture either.
Accepted, and returned. I don't have many "pet peeves" with regards to sentence structure or grammar, and god knows I'm not a pro. I make plenty of mistakes, and I get lazy about things as well. But just certain things grate on my nerves for some reason. Seeing people use "curt" when they really only intend for the observer to see him moving his head just slightly up and down, or speaking quickly, rather than rudely..or using only a couple of words, rather than being abrupt and cutting someone off...
that's one of my pet peeves. Another is the whole "similar words, spelled differently, pronounced the same, meaning different things" thing (is that homonym? there's me, being too lazy to look it up :) ).
There vs. their vs. they're
Its vs. it's
Oh! And..if a singular noun is made plural with an "s" at the end, it does NOT get an apostrophe! The apostrophe between a singular noun and an "s" is to denote that something belongs to something else.
I have three brothers.
I am my brother's keeper.
I am also my other brother's keeper, which makes me my brothers' keeper.
(if it's a plural noun, with an s at the end, then it gets an apostrophe, but no additional s).
I seriously *heart* this thread and thank everyone for keeping it civil.
New word fun...
LAY vs. LIE:
Difference: LAY requires an object, LIE does not.
You LIE down on the sofa, you LAY the book down on the table.
You LIE down on the bedroll, you LAY out the corpse of your friend.
You LIE down, collapsing in exhaustion, but LAY lay yourself out to rest.
Ex. I so totally got lied last night.
I would prefer if we could steer this thread away from grammarian pet peeves and back towards clarifying obscure or fancy vocabulary.
EDIT: More reading confrontational stuff into posts. Blah me.
I have a general one: confusing hues and shades in the color spectrum. Example:
The emerald-eyed woman is standing here.
look emerald
Blah blah blah, jade colored eyes, blah blah blah.
Emerald is not jade. Jade is not emerald. Both are shades of green, but they are not synonymous. If a southern templar asked me to describe her, and it got down to the part about her eyes, would I say they're the same shade as the official city's cross? Or would I point at my emerald earring and say it's this color here?
Same goes for all hues/shades. If you want to use two names to describe one color, please, PLEASE don't just pick at random from a thesaurus. Often the thesaurus will give types of *similar* things..but will differ in translation to the extreme. Color wheels can be helpful, there are several online and I think there is or was a link on the armageddon website to some kind of color chart. I remember someone linked it on the GDB awhile back.
Callous (what Zalanthans tend to be) and callus (what they might get on their hands) have different meanings.
A Tuluki might strive to be discreet, which is not the same as discrete.
I think my favorite typo is 'scared' in place of 'scarred'. Bonus points if it's in an sdesc.
Quote from: flurry on June 09, 2009, 09:10:30 PM
Callous (what Zalanthans tend to be) and callus (what they might get on their hands) have different meanings.
Thank you for posting this. It's always bugged me, but not bad enough that I'd typo people.
Although, if you are using the adjective form of the word to describe the hardened pads on your knees, then the spelling "calloused" is correct.
Callus is correct for the noun. Calloused for the adjective to describe the affliction of having calluses. Weird shit but true.
To Eloran, re: "aquiline features" - Hence the idea of a range, or a degree. =) Now, which features do or do not make the cut is certainly open to debate being inherently subjective, but I think the point about a written short-hand stands. From my experience, it's preferable to have six or seven lines of solid, clear description for one's critter than a screen-filler (no offense intended to those who enjoy the mammoth main descriptions - tastes vary :D).
To Lizzie: As a repeat offender, I have to say in defense that using the same word again, again, and . . . again makes me feel like I'm too repetitive for my "audience". I understand (And appreciate!) the need for consistency, but I think most folks allow you some "wiggle room" for artistic license. Even still, I do try to stay within a range of related shades (teal might become viridian in the odd emote, but isn't likely to make it all the way to emerald).
Thankfully, I've never been in the key-word situation you site. In that case, my instinct would be to use whatever is in the person's short description or main description. I guess I'm still naive enough about the game to believe that none of the people I've played with would deliberately obfuscate key-words for a purely OOC advantage.
Quote from: Bluefae on June 10, 2009, 03:05:28 PM
To Eloran, re: "aquiline features" - Hence the idea of a range, or a degree. =) Now, which features do or do not make the cut is certainly open to debate being inherently subjective, but I think the point about a written short-hand stands. From my experience, it's preferable to have six or seven lines of solid, clear description for one's critter than a screen-filler (no offense intended to those who enjoy the mammoth main descriptions - tastes vary :D).
Couldn't agree more with this. I love concise mdescs more than anything--I feel like there are so many PCs in the world to remember that an mdesc should be short and distinctive. I only remember long mdescs if they belong to PCs I see every day.
I've seen several 'sinewy' sdesc, but in the mdesc the person was either thin or lanky.
A google image search for 'sinewy build' pulled up Hugh Jackman, as the first popular choice.
sin·ewy
Pronunciation:
\ˈsin-yə-wē also ˈsi-nə-\
Function:
adjective
Date:
14th century
1: full of sinews: as a: tough, stringy <sinewy meat> b: strong <sinewy arms>
Oh yeah there are lots of different ways to describe a color. Jade -is- green afterall, and another word for green is verdant. Turquoise, can be a pale aqua to a deep blue-green. Pink comes in all flavors, from pastel to fuscia. It's just when someone says "pastel pink" in their main description, but in their short description it says "fuscia," that I cry foul. They're both pink. But they are worlds apart.
Okay, when -I- think aquiline, those two women are not at all what comes to mind. They might have slightly long features but, overall, not so much. These are much more true to the meaning of the word, imo.
(http://imworld.aufeminin.com/dossiers/D20080723/Uma-thurman-Large-101205_L.jpg) (http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/frontrow/hoardings/fionaShaw.jpg)
And a dude thrown in, just cuz.
(http://www.outlookindia.com/images/gl4_010625.jpg)
AAAND, I'm with Lizzie about "Not every color shade is interchangeable".
Here's one:
AMBIVALENT
1: simultaneous and contradictory attitudes or feelings (as attraction and repulsion) toward an object, person, or action
2: continual fluctuation (as between one thing and its opposite)
INDIFFERENT
1: marked by impartiality : unbiased
2: that does not matter one way or the other b: of no importance or value one way or the other
Ambivalent would mean that you're torn between alternativies. One the one hand {blah}, but on the other hand {blah blah}.
Indifferent would mean that it really does not matter either way.
I find that ambivalent is often being used as a replacement for indifferent. EDIT: I also mean in general, it's not necessarily a epidemic, IG.
Quote from: MarshallDFX on June 13, 2009, 06:33:08 PM
I find that ambivalent is often being used as a replacement for indifferent.
Please, for the love of all that is gritty, don't use either word south of Luir's Outpost unless you can read sirihish and own pretty things.
'Nakki commoners are never ambivalent or indifferent, because that implies actually having a choice.
The grungy, commoner man shrugs ambivalently.
This might be something that people disagree with, but it absolutely drives me crazy to see people pair the word "neutral" with emotional modifiers.
Neutral, by definition, means not taking a side or not displaying any particular characteristics.
You cannot do something with "sinister neutrality!"
That reminds me of something I used to see a lot in another game. Granted, the emoting options were much more limited, but there was this one character who used to always do everything "silently", including smiling silently. It's tempting to respond to that with "em In a deafening cacophony, @ smiles back."
That reminds me of a certain character who did everything firmly.
And softly.
>98/98; 147/155; 91/101> Nodding softly, the vermilion-eyed cascade-haired maiden says, in sirihish, "Oh yes Sir, I can do anything you'd like."
>98/98; 147/155; 91/101> Nodding loudly in return, you tell the vermilion-eyed cascade-haired maiden, in sirihish, "Good. Start painting my walls. Here's a brush."
This thread is making me extremely self-conscious.
Quote from: Fathi on June 14, 2009, 12:58:47 AM
This might be something that people disagree with, but it absolutely drives me crazy to see people pair the word "neutral" with emotional modifiers.
Neutral, by definition, means not taking a side or not displaying any particular characteristics.
You cannot do something with "sinister neutrality!"
In an act of sinister neutrality the tall, muscular man rolls his eyes ambivalently.
Quote from: MarshallDFX on June 14, 2009, 06:05:09 PM
This thread is making me extremely self-conscious.
No shit, heh. I've personally run the gamut from "grunt/nod" abuse to extremely subjective/outlandishly-portrayed emoted actions. I just wait for the player complaints to roll in. ::) For example:
(from a while ago)
Waving his hand in a "hey, how about you just get yourself over here" gesture, you say to the woman, in sirihish:
"C'mon, let's get goin'."
Everyone has their peeves and styles. Clearing up definitions of words and all is cool, but rambling on and on about how "this way sucks" or "that way's stupid" will just victimize or annoy people with slightly different tastes, or who are willing to go out on a limb with their role-play.
Quote from: FiveDisgruntledMonkeysWit on June 14, 2009, 11:57:12 PM
>Feeling nauseous, you think:
"That was disgusting."
That's probably
nauseated, good sir.
(Things that are nauseous make you feel nauseated. Please ignore Merriam-Webster on this one; they're a bunch of pandering panderers.)
OED, tool.
Nauseous, adjective. Nauseate, verb. End of discussion.
I'm tempted to make a list of the pet-peeves in the thread and implement them regularly into my play.
em Firmly and silently, @ watches the match with ambivalence and indifference, a nauseously nauseated neutrality curtly flaring in his aquiline eyes.
Quote from: spawnloser on June 15, 2009, 03:59:40 AM
Nauseous, adjective. Nauseate, verb. End of discussion.
How does that settle the "correct" meaning(s) of nauseous?
Because adjectives modify nouns. Nouns verb.
Quote from: spawnloser on June 15, 2009, 06:01:45 PM
Because adjectives modify nouns. Nouns verb.
And past participles, like nauseated, also modify nouns.
Something that is nauseous nauseates you so that you are nauseated.
I can say "I feel nauseous" and anyone who speaks English will understand that I mean "I feel sick/dizzy/woozy/barfy" and not "I feel like I cause nausea."
QED, nauseous and nauseated are synonyms.
Quote from: hyzhenhok on June 15, 2009, 10:34:36 PM
I can say "I feel nauseous" and anyone who speaks English will understand that I mean "I feel sick/dizzy/woozy/barfy" and not "I feel like I cause nausea."
QED, nauseous and nauseated are synonyms.
Sweat boys.
Smirk abuse. I've always been peeved by smirk abuse.
Quote from: Synthesis on May 31, 2009, 03:04:38 AM
Everybody hide, it's the adjective police.
Seconded.
Quote from: jmordetsky on June 16, 2009, 10:44:50 AM
Quote from: Synthesis on May 31, 2009, 03:04:38 AM
Everybody hide, it's the adjective police.
Seconded.
I wouldn't say police, exactly, since we have no power to arrest, charge or imprison people for blatant misuse of the English language, unintentional or otherwise.
More like a MADD parallel. Bitching and nagging is a powerful force. :D
Quote from: spawnloser on June 15, 2009, 06:24:31 PM
Something that is nauseous nauseates you so that you are nauseated.
That's a good way to remember one of the meanings of nauseous.
Quote from: Whiran Luck on June 16, 2009, 10:24:36 AM
Smirk abuse. I've always been peeved by smirk abuse.
And to a lesser extend, chuckle abuse.
Quote from: flurry on June 16, 2009, 06:58:56 PM
Quote from: spawnloser on June 15, 2009, 06:24:31 PM
Something that is nauseous nauseates you so that you are nauseated.
That's a good way to remember one of the meanings of nauseous.
Actually, it's something that is
nauseating.
I think I have done something to the effect of:
Nodding softly, a bemused expression on his face, the so and so man says,
"I'm ambivalent about that."
Though I've generally used ambivalent correctly ;)
Here's an interesting note on the usage of nauseous:
"While the use of nauseous to mean "affected with nausea" may incur critical displeasure, it should be pointed out in its defense not only that it is quite common among educated speakers but that it is subtly distinct from nauseated in this sense. Nauseated is a passive participle, and hence suggests a condition induced by a specific external cause. By contrast, nauseous is an adjective that refers to an occurrent state whose cause may be nonspecific or unknown. The person to reports that I woke up this morning feeling nauseous might not be willing to accept that he or she had been nauseated by any external agent."
I tend to follow the belief that dictionaries shouldn't ignore common usage anyway. Words change meaning over time, it's the hallmark of a living and growing language as opposed to a dead language.
And anyway, anyone who will correct the grammar of someone who is nauseated instead of offering aide or sympathy is quite a bastard, I mean come on, they're in pain!
Quote from: Ender on June 17, 2009, 10:58:55 AM
I tend to follow the belief that dictionaries shouldn't ignore common usage anyway. Words change meaning over time, it's the hallmark of a living and growing language as opposed to a dead language.
You've got a point, but I think it's wise to resist changes that reduce the language's expressiveness and specificity. Widespread apathy isn't a
really good reason to overload a particular word (nauseous), which has had a very specific meaning, with the meaning of another word that happens to be similar.
This case is much like my beloved Oxford Comma. A lot of people omit it, but doing so usually adds an extra, ambiguous interpretative parsing step, and the counterexamples used against it are rather contrived.
Quote from: NoteworthyFellow on June 03, 2009, 08:14:39 AM
Quote from: ibusoe on May 31, 2009, 11:37:49 PM
Quote from: Reiloth on May 31, 2009, 09:37:35 PM
Today's Word: Bemused
Ah, good one. I think I've misused this one before.
As have I. It makes me rather sad, given that I have a damned degree in this language, how often I unintentionally abuse it.
I have two. And like my professors, I use those "credentials" to bully others into my way of thinking, or to blithely disregard their criticism. It is my right through my time and money expended. :winks:
I'm going to add my punctuation after my closing quotations, so screw y'all.
Quote from: mansa on June 17, 2009, 01:41:00 PM
I'm going to add my punctuation after my closing quotations, so screw y'all.
Heathen.
Quote from: MarshallDFX on June 14, 2009, 06:05:09 PM
This thread is making me extremely self-conscious.
Honestly, just play to have fun and don't worry about the minutiae. We're all here to have a good time. With full respect to the many brilliant writers that inhabit our shared world - at the end of the day, as long as I understand what you're trying to convey, and vice versa, it's all good. ;)
It's "mother lode," dear people, not "mother load."
(Lode is "an ore deposit." Mother lode is "what the heathens stole from us in the Copper War.")
"Opportunities", not "Oppurtunities".
"Definitely", not "definately".
I heard a character who I greatly admire and love RPing with say this... but...
Its congratulations, not congradulations. :-*
I see the things I typo sometimes right after I hit enter and they really makes me want to cry.
Glad you all still love me, though. :(
> talk (smarmily) Reins.
Today's word - slightly
You can't "Conquerz the world slightly, while slightly deliv3ring a deathblowz to your face."
Lightly, slightly, faintly, a little.
I'm slightly guilty of this.
Quote from: brytta.leofa on June 28, 2009, 06:32:08 PM
Lightly, slightly, faintly, a little.
I'm slightly guilty of this.
Same. I always verb something adverbly, because I think "smiling" is just so banal. But then, the time it takes to add in something about my hair, or moving a leg up on the chair, seems like wasted keystrokes sometimes.
=\
You can avoid adverbs by using analogies and metaphors and other little writing tricks.
Instead of: Smiling lightly, the boring man says, "Whatever."
Do this: Smiling as thin as the ice you'd be skating on if the weather wasn't way too hot for ice, the other man says, "Indeed."
Or this: With a smile brightening his face, yet another guy says, "Yup."
I really dislike "slightly" overall and try not to use it, myself.
I like the occasional metaphor to spice up things too, Gimf. But I do hate it when someone only emotes in metaphors. And especially when they get really specific. My least favorite, not to offend anyone, is when people ask questions in their emotes.
The tressy-tressed woman smiles wistfully... is that regret shining in her eyes as she laughs mirthlessly about a fading memory?
I prefer more literal roleplay. And too often those emotes give away what's going on in a conversation when it shouldn't. Like...
The fat greedy trader's eyes pop out in wonder as you ask him for a discount.
If you're a desert elf watching who has come to the city to trade and speaks no sirihish, you shouldn't know that I just asked for a discount. Or that the tressy-tressed woman is laughing mirthlessly about a fading memory.
Quote from: Gimfalisette on June 28, 2009, 10:11:25 PM
Do this: Smiling as thin as the ice you'd be skating on if the weather wasn't way too hot for ice, the other man says, "Indeed."
I got account noted for doing stuff like that before. Not that I care personally what you do, since obviously I like outlandish emotes (to a certain degree). But, you know. Just saying. For the record.
Quote from: LauraMars on June 29, 2009, 01:23:35 AM
Quote from: Gimfalisette on June 28, 2009, 10:11:25 PM
Do this: Smiling as thin as the ice you'd be skating on if the weather wasn't way too hot for ice, the other man says, "Indeed."
I got account noted for doing stuff like that before. Not that I care personally what you do, since obviously I like outlandish emotes (to a certain degree). But, you know. Just saying. For the record.
Yeah, I've gotten a finger-wag about using metaphors and similes in emotes as well. Personally I think they're great, but like Laura says, do so at your own risk.
Quote from: Fathi on June 29, 2009, 01:49:22 AM
Quote from: LauraMars on June 29, 2009, 01:23:35 AM
Quote from: Gimfalisette on June 28, 2009, 10:11:25 PM
Do this: Smiling as thin as the ice you'd be skating on if the weather wasn't way too hot for ice, the other man says, "Indeed."
I got account noted for doing stuff like that before. Not that I care personally what you do, since obviously I like outlandish emotes (to a certain degree). But, you know. Just saying. For the record.
Yeah, I've gotten a finger-wag about using metaphors and similes in emotes as well. Personally I think they're great, but like Laura says, do so at your own risk.
Ooh, I'm having an anticipatory cringe for when I'll see my account notes again months from now.
Quote from: FathiYeah, I've gotten a finger-wag about using metaphors and similes in emotes as well. Personally I think they're great, but like Laura says, do so at your own risk.
Hmmm, I can't figure it out... what's wrong with metaphors/similes? Maybe if they were completely silly and/or "jarring"... but otherwise...?
Quote from: LauraMars on June 29, 2009, 01:23:35 AM
But, you know. Just saying. For the record.
Well, for the record, LauraMars and Fathi are two of the more entertaining RPers I know. Yes, sometimes I've seen you both go a little too far, but I'd rather see that than yet another:
em nods lightly
Quote from: HTX on June 29, 2009, 02:16:01 AM
Quote from: FathiYeah, I've gotten a finger-wag about using metaphors and similes in emotes as well. Personally I think they're great, but like Laura says, do so at your own risk.
Hmmm, I can't figure it out... what's wrong with metaphors/similes? Maybe if they were completely silly and/or "jarring"... but otherwise...?
I don't have the email anymore, but the general gist of the message was that metaphors and similes are too subjective and that emotes should be restricted to objective actions because other PCs might interpret your actions differently.
I didn't get bad account notes for it or anything, it was just pointed out in the general course of player-staff email. I toned it down a bit. Life went on.
I use those types of emotes when I am -purposefully- trying to be goofy. When I want the -player- of the character reading it, to be entertained, even if my character is not trying to entertain the other character. Often, this happens during "love scenes:"
ooc Okay to fade?
ooc Yeah.
emote tears her clothing off and pounces on ~man, not unlike when a halfling pounces on his prey. Unlike said halfling, ^me giggles and makes sure !man has as much fun being ridden as she is having riding !man.
ooc okay we're one.
ooc good for you?
ooc yeah you?
ooc yeah
Quote from: Lizzie on June 29, 2009, 06:58:30 AM
I use those types of emotes when I am -purposefully- trying to be goofy. When I want the -player- of the character reading it, to be entertained, even if my character is not trying to entertain the other character. Often, this happens during "love scenes:"
This. I knew I had forgotten something in my post.
em nods at ~lizzie slightly.
Today's word: poltroon.
Quote from: brytta.leofa on June 29, 2009, 07:44:42 AM
Today's word: poltroon.
Tregil is slightly easier. Jozhal is as useful as ice in Zalanthas if the weather allowed for any.
Quote from: Lizzie on June 29, 2009, 06:58:30 AM
I use those types of emotes when I am -purposefully- trying to be goofy. When I want the -player- of the character reading it, to be entertained, even if my character is not trying to entertain the other character. Often, this happens during "love scenes:"
Ah yeah, same here. Also when my character is really drunk, it tends to pull those kind of emotes out of me. You just get in the goofy, whacked-out mindset.
"You, suh, are a coward, a scoundrel, and a yellow-bellied poltroon."
Pearl, pearling, pearled.
Usages not found on dictionary.com
The speckled patterning of a birds feathers.
Such as my beatiful pearl cockatiel.
Subsurface piercings.... Implants placed under the skin to raise the texture and modify appearance.
Such as my beatiful pearled penis.
Anyways... Too much info! haha.
Edited to say:
That I think pearling should be allowed to define mottled skin and uneven, pearl-like patterning.
Yar!
It's "sergeant," not "sargeant."
"Sarge" is only an acceptable abbreviation.