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Sorry, wwh. I should have taken the cue from your use of the word "cute" in describing the use of the term "uber-frugal". My twist on "uber" was definitely "uber-the-top". As to your proposal that I come up with another take on this, how about uber-understatement?
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That sound like a variety of weaseling, supporting both sides at once.
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That sounds like a variety of weaseling, supporting both sides at once.I hope not, wwh. You are a very civilizing influence on this Board and I respect what you have to say. That said, my experience of uber-speak is probably less benign than yours. How did the weasel get bummed with the rap of running in 2 different directions at the same time, anyway? In some circles, this is high art, more befitting a diplomat than a weasel. I have heard that there is a mythological animal known as a "Luferlang" that can run in either direction without turning around. Quite fittingly, its tail appears in the middle of its back. I do think we have to allow for some differences of opinion, wwh. One person's lovable 'uber-frugality' is another person's curmudgeonly penny-pitching. In my time, I have met both. Perhaps you have as well. No offence intended to your humane millionaire, wwh. My uber-innuendo was not intended for him (or the person who interviewed him, or the person who profiled him, either). (Can a 'weasel' run in 3 different directions at the same time?  )
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Old Nick quoth It presumably derives from Nietzsche's Übermensch, which in English became known as Superman. (Was Shaw the first to use Superman in English, or were there translations of Nietzsche before him?) Freud then coined the term über-ich, Englished as super-ego.
The use of über in English seems to me to be a geeky or subculture thing: someone might be described as an über-geek or indeed an über-babe. (Members of one site I use include Uberfetus and Ubermeme.)
But the guy was eating sushi from the freezer in the original quote. Without quite wanting to take TEd's pun crown away from him, wouldn't that make the guy an übermunch?
The idiot also known as Capfka ...
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"ego" is Latin for "I". Freud used ich "id" is Latin for "it". Freud used es.
It didn't sound high-falutin' enough to translate them into English, hence the Latin.
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Dear plutarch: My idea of derivation of "weasel words" is using one word to suck the blood out of another, leaving equivocal meaning. And I am a bit nervous that your kind words might be the anaesthesia before the needle.
Dear CK: I like crunchy Chinese vegetables, but the idea of crystal-crunchy sushi makes me cringe.
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(typical of his über-frugal tendencies, he has microwaved it so briefly that the California rolls are still partially frozen)
Or maybe he just likes them crunchy; sort of a sushisicle.
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And I am a bit nervous that your kind words might be the anaesthesia before the needle.
No need to be "nervous", wwh. I have no "needles" for you, only genuine regard. I admit I am cynical about Talk Show hosts ... and not only the Gerry Springer types. Also the gushy, fawning types who inspired my "uber-the-top" rant about uber-egos and Nielsen ratings. But you are certainly not a target for any such parody, wwh. From all I have seen, you are neither fawnor nor fawnee - NOT a fit subject for anyone's "needles". If you and I have any disagreement about "uber speak", it is that I believe that "uber" can be used to cloak a deserving derisive comment (perhaps because the speaker is a subordinate of the target, or otherwise vulnerable to reprisals by the target) whereas you believe, I think, that uber-speak should only be used to soften a harsher word (eg. "uber-frugality" in preference to "stinginess"). I believe "uber" can fit both applications. Some people ARE "stingy" and there may be occasions when they SHOULD be called "stingy", not "uber-frugal". But I grant those occasions would be rare (especially in public). BTW how about "uber-onics" , wwh? We have "phonics", "ebonics", "Bushonics". Why not "uber-onics"?
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Dear plutarch: to borrow but modify a gibe by GBS, too bad only you and I feel as you do regarding me.
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to borrow but modify a gibe by GBS, too bad only you and I feel as you do regarding me
Sounds like something GBS would say. GBS sent 2 tickets to the opening of one of his plays to Winston Churchill, along with a note reading: "Bring a friend, if you have one." Churchill replied: "I can't make the opening but I'll attend on the second night, if you have one." BTW you are being modest (if not uber-modest) in questioning your influence on this Board.
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