Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3
#30932 06/02/01 08:42 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,409
M
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
M
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,409

Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
W
wwh Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Dear Max: I think the word "gaming" suggests a range of tactics that is hard to match with a more conventional word such as "playing".


Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 275
W
enthusiast
Offline
enthusiast
W
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 275
I am so flabergasted all I can say also is AAAARGH!

chronist

Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
W
wwh Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Dear wordcrazy: Being "flabbergasted" suggests you could see a preferable alternative conventional word.
I challenge you to suggest one that conveys the desired meaning in a more acceptable way. wwh


Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
always up for a challenge, I am.

They don't help matters by going and carving each other up on a personal basis every day," Mr. Davis said. "Kerns and Buyer are gaming this in an inappropriate fashion. Each one of them has come to me to try to get the other guy out. It ain't going to work that way."

we don't have the entire context, but it seems clear that Kerns and Buyer are each trying to *manipulate the outcome of the situation. thus we could eschew obfuscation by saying: "Burns and Keyer are maneuvering in an inapropriate fashion." gaming makes it sound (at best, benefit of doubt) like they're involved in some Think Tank which is tooled (:-Þ) with Gaming Theory.

if I really felt the need to make a games analogy, I might go for "jockeying" or "finessing" or (taking a closer look at the context) "end-running".


Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 87
N
journeyman
Offline
journeyman
N
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 87
I must humbly admit that I don't see using gaming as a verb in this sentence as butchery so much as I see this as a sentence once begun needing an end.

Speaking for the record, as it were, is devilishly difficult. The back of the mind is concerned about saying something out of turn, the sub-conscious is worried about looking and sounding like an idiot, and the mouth must move. Finally, the general rush media people are always in does not allow for reflection and artful choice of words on the part of the interview victim. I too have butchered my share of quotes and hoped the next day that my friends and family don't read the newspaper I was quoted in!


Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 724
Avy Offline
old hand
Offline
old hand
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 724
Thanks to all the time I have spent on AWAD I have begun to recognise Butchery. From the help menu of Dreamweaver:
"The Layers panel is a way to manager the layers in your document."



Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 163
R
member
Offline
member
R
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 163
Perhaps the writer was aware of the word gamesmanship and was trying to evoke that sense. Whatever the motive, however, I don't like it.


Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,094
J
old hand
Offline
old hand
J
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,094
"The Layers panel is a way to manager the layers in your document."

R is next to E on the qwerty keyboard. That could be a legitimate typo.


Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 87
N
journeyman
Offline
journeyman
N
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 87
Here's a fine one I heard today -

From a letter of recommendation:

"We hardily recommend .... for an award."

Ack. Just goes to show, once again, that (IMHO) anyone who relies on spell checkers should have all his/her (!) toys taken away. (grump grump)


Page 1 of 3 1 2 3

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,912
Posts229,271
Members9,179
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV, Heather_Turey, Standy
9,179 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 397 guests, and 3 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
tsuwm 10,542
wofahulicodoc 10,502
LukeJavan8 9,915
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5