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The following topic came up at a gathering of friends yesterday when one half of a couple referred to the other as anal because she is overly organized. The less than derogatory term would then, perhaps, be well-organized. If the opposite of being well organized were to be, say, laid back, what would be a more derogatory term for being overly laid back? Suggestions for a new word?

Carpe whatever


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what would be a more derogatory term for being overly laid back?

Hi sol - been a while!

You can often get the derogatory term by saying "So x that s/he is y" and see which y fits best, thus:

So laid-back that s/he is comatose

Fisk

P.S. Of course "anal" is short for the Freudian term "anally-retentive" for those who didn't know...


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wwh Offline
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And Freudian terms ought now be passé.


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Freudian terms ought now be passé

Well, yes, Bill - but on the other hand, "anally retentive" does (for its sins) summarise a certain combination of (supposed) character traits. I doubt many people using the term are being strictly accurate, let alone that they've read Freud, but what else do you call someone who - as far as you are concerned - is tidy and organised to the point of the behaviour looking compulsive?

Ah, "compulsively tidy".

Dunno, I still think "anal" is useful (i.e. I've occasionally found myself using it). I agree the term is offensive, but then you wouldn't be saying it to be nice.

Fisk


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hows about lunchout? s/he is a total lunchout, i lunched out the stuff i had to do today etc


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wwh Offline
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"Anal" describes Keiva.


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...Freudian terms ought now be passé.

I hate to disagree, Dr. Bill, but I think terms such as ego, id, superego, libido and many more of Freud's labels are useful, even though we may no longer accept his word as gospel. I'd include anal retentive. It's a fairly simple way to characterize a pattern of behavior. I tend to use it, but most often in a playful, tongue-in-cheek way. [Note: cheek--not a Freudian slip.]


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wwh Offline
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Dear slithy: The song is over, but the malady lingers on.


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Lazy, indolent, disorganized, forgetful, absent-minded professor, daydreamer, untidy, messy, slob, stoner, spacer, head-in-the-clouds, no common sense, fanciful, moon-eyed, orally fixated (another, less used Freudianism), unmotivated, easy-going, calm, imperturbable. I've been called all of these things. It all depends on how vicious or which shade of "laid back" the person wanted to indicate.

Cheers,
Bryan

You are only wretched and unworthy if you choose to be.


Cheers,
Bryan

You are only wretched and unworthy if you choose to be.
#74672 07/01/02 09:16 PM
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Ah! stoner is a classic, and just right for the job, Bryan.

Though I suppose calling someone "oral" would be an appropriate response to them calling you "anal" in the rare instance that both parties had read the Collected Works of Sigmund Freud.

Fisk


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