Looks like words literally meaning ‘frightening’ can’t keep that meaning for long if they’re used too often. Too bad there’s no way to tell a priori whether the new meaning will be ‘very good’ or ‘very bad’. (Italian too has a few words which etymologically look like they mean ‘frightening’ but actually mean ‘very good’ or ‘very bad’.)
That’s what I say when somebody tells me something I didn’t already know, but I can’t think of anything else to respond with.
Actually maybe I should change that habit. Do you have any suggestions for what to do instead? It sometimes comes off as sarcastic, and other times I get the sort of respond you just gave. Neither outcome seems optimal.
Yeah. You’re right. Funny that I went almost a decade using “interesting” in that context even though it’s clearly not a very good choice, and it takes about 3 seconds of thought to come up with something much better.
Happens to me all. the. fucking. time. (Even in meatspace. Especially in meatspace. 90% of the times I play along with a joke, people think I didn’t get the original joke.)
Also, despite what MY username might seem to suggest, I am NOT the Mother of Dragons.
And despite what my username might seem to suggest, I am not terrific.
Help me out here. Horror, horrible, horrifying, horrific; terror, terrible, terrifying… terrific. lolwut?
Sure. It’s the same thing as awe, awful, awesome.
Edit: I see Misha got here first, and more laconically.
Looks like words literally meaning ‘frightening’ can’t keep that meaning for long if they’re used too often. Too bad there’s no way to tell a priori whether the new meaning will be ‘very good’ or ‘very bad’. (Italian too has a few words which etymologically look like they mean ‘frightening’ but actually mean ‘very good’ or ‘very bad’.)
Awesome.
Ah, but are you pedantic?
thatsthejoke.jpg
I think he was playing along.
(she)
Interesting.
How so? I only remarked because I’m, you know… punctilious.
That’s what I say when somebody tells me something I didn’t already know, but I can’t think of anything else to respond with.
Actually maybe I should change that habit. Do you have any suggestions for what to do instead? It sometimes comes off as sarcastic, and other times I get the sort of respond you just gave. Neither outcome seems optimal.
“Oh, I didn’t know that”
Yeah. You’re right. Funny that I went almost a decade using “interesting” in that context even though it’s clearly not a very good choice, and it takes about 3 seconds of thought to come up with something much better.
Low-hanging fruit. Makes me wonder what I can improve about myself so easily. I bet there’s a lot.
Maybe “oops”? Or “oh, sorry”? If you had edited your comment without remark, I would have just deleted mine.
Oh I see. Yeah you’re right.
updated~
It seems a legitimate question given the notion that your use of terrific would seem to indicate that you are a “pedan” rather than a “pedant”.
I am unfamiliar with this nomenclature.
The term is “portmanteau”.
Would it have helped if I said “I am not errif”?
ETA: I didn’t downvote you, by the way.
It seems that people don’t know how to spot metahumor when they see it. :-(
...oh. Uh, well. Yeah.
Nevermind then.
Happens to me all. the. fucking. time. (Even in meatspace. Especially in meatspace. 90% of the times I play along with a joke, people think I didn’t get the original joke.)
I’m usually the one who thinks you didn’t get the original joke! How am I supposed to know, if you act exactly the same as someone who didn’t get it?