Sometimes I have to state the obvious

My SO (of many, many years) has been generous and patient enough over the years to point out to me when I need to be more mindful of my audience in my speaking and writing. It's a tough habit for a geek-grrl who is deeply attracted to the complexities in people, and objects, and especially language.

I'll admit that his advice has helped a LOT as I've waltzed into the academy with a skillset (personality? let's not go there) that neither my colleagues nor my students have been entirely prepared for, especially that part about, as he puts it, "not using the unfamiliar to describe the unfamiliar."

(OK, maybe I slipped that one time when I compared certain Metaphysical poets to certain progressive rock bands, but that doesn't count because one of my students actually got it.)

But the help has its limits. Oddly, he has been getting after me today for using my regular blend of jargon in our conversations... never mind that I'm directing these statements to him, who I'm willing to assume understands what I'm saying. (Or at least he *should* by now IMHO.)

After the last jibe, I had to call him on it:

"You know, if you're going to get after me for using big words... you picked a helluva point in our relationship to start."

Thankfully, he's smart enough to see the humor in it. But he still complained that I made his eyes water. Again.

Getting after me for using big words.... good grief...

Don't Be a Neologism-hater!

Some people just need to stop being "classical" English (as if) nazis.

OK, I'll admit, every day is a new adventure with Internet technology, and it takes a lot of cognitive power to keep up with the emergent jargon that comes along with it. It's one thing to deal with the anxiety - OK, a rant, a rave, a flame, maybe even taking it out on the poor machine... I can accept that.

It's quite another thing to troll for responses from technophobes for confirmation, however.

And a poll conducted by "British pollsters YouGov," at that, like that entity name isn't part of the problem.

Also, I'd really like to know the age distribution of the 2,091 adults surveyed. I'm willing to bet it's heavily skewed over 35, maybe even over 40. Tradition of Complaint, still alive and kicking. :-P

Personally, "godcast" had me ROTFLMAO.