Exceeding Thresholds in reverse | Q&A about words

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#193701 - 10/27/10 11:51 AM Re: Exceeding Thresholds in reverse [Re: TheFallibleFiend]
TheFallibleFiend veteran Registered: 01/23/02 Posts: 1523 Loc: Virginia, USA	Boogers.
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#193703 - 10/27/10 01:50 PM Re: Exceeding Thresholds in reverse [Re: TheFallibleFiend]
BranShea Carpal Tunnel Registered: 06/23/06 Posts: 5295 Loc: Netherlands, the Hague	Plunged?
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#193705 - 10/27/10 04:02 PM Re: Exceeding Thresholds in reverse [Re: TheFallibleFiend]
Buffalo Shrdlu Carpal Tunnel Registered: 06/24/02 Posts: 7210 Loc: Vermont	Originally Posted By: TheFallibleFiend Boogers. well, you don't have to have that impression! ;¬ ) _________________________ formerly known as etaoin...
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#193710 - 10/28/10 05:35 AM Re: Exceeding Thresholds in reverse [Re: Buffalo Shrdlu]
Faldage Carpal Tunnel Registered: 12/01/00 Posts: 13803	I tell ya, man. Drop the whole threshold metaphor for this sort of thing. It just ain't working. I'm with Buffy on the rejection of undershot.
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#193733 - 10/29/10 10:03 AM Re: Exceeding Thresholds in reverse [Re: TheFallibleFiend]
TheFallibleFiend veteran Registered: 01/23/02 Posts: 1523 Loc: Virginia, USA	The word "threshold" is commonly understood in computer science (and probably throughout engineering). I suspect it has a formal definition in technical dictionaries that has no relation and probably no reference to its etymology. In that field, I don't think it's a metaphor - any more than "semaphore," "key," or "web" - at least not in the minds of those who use it in this technical sense. The audience of my writing is generally technical - engineers mostly, hard scientists, but occasionally a non-technical person who is otherwise surrounded by technical people. My guess is that even this person would understand the word threshold in the context I have described. I don't know for sure, but I strongly suspect that none of them (or only a very few) would be aware of the etymology, let alone be confused by the use of the term. Of course I could (and often do) use the terms "upper limit" and "lower limit." But it makes otherwise dry text less monotonous, if I mix up the vocabulary a little. Also there are some few cases when I need to refer collectively to upper and lower limits.
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#193736 - 10/29/10 07:31 PM Re: Exceeding Thresholds in reverse [Re: TheFallibleFiend]
Faldage Carpal Tunnel Registered: 12/01/00 Posts: 13803	So if it's commonly used but you still can't think of a way of saying what you want to say, I'd say that there's still a sense of 'getting over' in the minds of those using the term.. If you want to spice up your language maybe something like "under the bar'.
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#193754 - 10/30/10 11:27 AM Re: Exceeding Thresholds in reverse [Re: TheFallibleFiend]
Buffalo Shrdlu Carpal Tunnel Registered: 06/24/02 Posts: 7210 Loc: Vermont	sounds like we're in limbo.... _________________________ formerly known as etaoin...
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#193755 - 10/30/10 01:35 PM Re: Exceeding Thresholds in reverse [Re: TheFallibleFiend]
Faldage Carpal Tunnel Registered: 12/01/00 Posts: 13803	Heh
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#193756 - 10/30/10 04:31 PM Re: Exceeding Thresholds in reverse [Re: Buffalo Shrdlu]
TheFallibleFiend veteran Registered: 01/23/02 Posts: 1523 Loc: Virginia, USA	cute
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