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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread What is the word? #223422 01/24/16 04:42 PM Joined: Jan 2016 Posts: 2 C CarleeO OP stranger OP CarleeO stranger C Joined: Jan 2016 Posts: 2 There is a word for the phenomenon in which inanimate objects such as machines or tools conspire against humans. They will quit working or disappear at the same time causing no end to frustration. I used to know this word, but I can't find it no matter how hard I search. The story by Russell Baker in the link below explains this very well. Thank you for any help. A constant reader, Carlee O. Fargo, ND http://www.gmsdk12.org/Downloads/plotagainstpeople.pdf Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: What is the word? CarleeO #223423 01/24/16 04:52 PM Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 9,944 Likes: 3 Land of the Flat Water LukeJavan8 Carpal Tunnel LukeJavan8 Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 9,944 Likes: 3 Land of the Flat Water A very fun read, thanks, and welcome ----please, draw me a sheep---- Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: What is the word? CarleeO #223424 01/24/16 04:54 PM Joined: Jan 2016 Posts: 2 C CarleeO OP stranger OP CarleeO stranger C Joined: Jan 2016 Posts: 2 Thank you! Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: What is the word? CarleeO #223429 01/24/16 09:12 PM Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 10,851 Likes: 2 Worcester, MA W wofahulicodoc Carpal Tunnel wofahulicodoc Carpal Tunnel W Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 10,851 Likes: 2 Worcester, MA My mother used to call this phenomenon "Resistentialism" - the inherent perversity of inanimate objects... I think there exists a more formal and not-quite-identical definition out there... Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: What is the word? wofahulicodoc #223531 02/10/16 08:26 PM Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 10,542 this too shall pass tsuwm Carpal Tunnel tsuwm Carpal Tunnel Joined: Apr 2000 Posts: 10,542 this too shall pass the worthless word for the day (was): resistentialism Paul Jennings's mock philosophy which maintains that inanimate objects are hostile to humans. [OED2] "Resistentialism is a philosophy of tragic grandeur... Resistentialism derives its name from its central thesis that Things (res) resist (résister) men... Resistentialism is the philosophy of what Things think about us." - P. Jennings, The Spectator, 23 Apr. 1948 "'Things are against us.' This is the nearest English trans- lation I can find for the basic concept of Resistentialism." - P. Jennings, Oddly Enough (1950) "I must object to Oxford's dubbing resistentialism a "mock philosophy." There is nothing mock or sham about it, as anyone who has ever had to call a plumber on a Sunday morning to unclog a refractory toilet will attest." - Charles Elster (who devotes most of two pages in his "There's a word for it!" to this word) Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------  Information and announcements  Q&A about words  Wordplay and fun  Words and languages in schools  Miscellany  Weekly Themes  Looking for (writers, speakers,... (Old) Weekly themes. (have been... ------  Words from medicine  Beheading words  Meta-words  Words from classical mythology  Animal Safari  Words with unusual etymologies  Eponyms or words derived from p...  Loanwords from German  English as a global language Print Thread Switch to Threaded Mode Show Likes Link Copied to Clipboard View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Website Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary Forum Statistics Forums16 Topics13,913 Posts229,809 Members9,187 Most Online3,341 Dec 9th, 2011 Newest Members Karin, JeffMackwood, artguitar, Jim_W, Rdbuffalo 9,187 Registered Users Who's Online Now 0 members (), 875 guests, and 1 robot. Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod Top Posters(30 Days) wofahulicodoc 31 A C Bowden 17 LukeJavan8 5 Top Posters wwh 13,858 Faldage 13,803 Jackie 11,613 wofahulicodoc 10,851 tsuwm 10,542 LukeJavan8 9,944 Buffalo Shrdlu 7,210 AnnaStrophic 6,511 Wordwind 6,296 of troy 5,400

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