[thechat] Pedantry

[David Wagner]

Note: it looks like this message got eaten by the ether somewhere. I'm
reposting it mostly in the interest of completeness, and because I was truly
amazed by the direction this discussion was going. It's no longer terribly
relevant, though.

deke wrote:
> > Sheesh. This isn't debate, it's pedantry.
>
> I'm not insulted; "pedant" means schoolmaster.

A *perfect* example! Brilliant!

(I wasn't trying to insult you, I was just noting that the "debate" was
turning to trivial points.)

<Merriam-Webster>

pedant
Pronunciation: 'pe-d&nt
Function: /noun/
Etymology: Middle French, from Italian /pedante/
Date: 1588
1 /obsolete/ : a male schoolteacher
2
a : one who makes a show of knowledge
b : one who is unimaginative or who unduly emphasizes minutiae in the
presentation or use of knowledge
c : a formalist or precisionist in teaching

</M-W>

> And apparently someone has been sleeping in class. If
> you *look* like a tourist, you're much more likely to
> be pickpocketed.

Don't quite understand the reference here, but that's okay.

> And the assertion was "there's never been a war started
> in a Republican administration".

Yes, that was the assertion.

> (Which was only true for the 20th century.)

It's a false assertion, period.

--

David Wagner
dave at worlddomination.net


--

David Wagner
dave at worlddomination.net