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  #91 (permalink)  
Old 12-December-2005, 05:57 PM
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Originally Posted by The Bad Astronomer
I think it's OK to use "themseves". "He/she" and its variants is awkward.
Stop that! I know you're doing that on purpose, but it's riling up all the OCDs on the board.
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  #92 (permalink)  
Old 12-December-2005, 05:58 PM
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Originally Posted by The Bad Astronomer
I think it's OK to use "themseves".
You're the BA...you can use "themseves" any time you want.
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  #93 (permalink)  
Old 12-December-2005, 05:59 PM
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Originally Posted by hhEb09'1
I should have known better. Sorry.
No worries. I'm finally going to be learning about the Big Bang theory next semester. I'm sure there's lots you'll be able to catch me on then.

Quote:
Originally Posted by hhEb09'1
This is an interesting area of grammar evolution/devolution. "They" or "them" or "their" are being used in place of the singular he (him, his) or she (her, hers) because some writers are attempting to be gender neutral.
Indeed. It's a shame we must be so politically correct. It would be nice if someone could come up with a method that sounded less awkward.
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  #94 (permalink)  
Old 12-December-2005, 06:01 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by The Bad Astronomer
I think it's OK to use "themseves". "He/she" and its variants is awkward.

English is an evolving language, and there are times we should let it change. But that's a bit OT...
I agree. I probably would have let it slide if that had been the word used as opposed to one that doesn't exist. Then again, creating new words is part of the evolutionary process of language, so I guess it's six to one, half dozen to the other.

And yeah, it's starting to look like we've lost the plot on this topic.
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  #95 (permalink)  
Old 12-December-2005, 06:09 PM
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Reading the new rule, it is a bit vague, but is it designed to protect against taking threads hopelessly off topic? For example, any thread that devolves into a grammar vs PC discussion?
BTW how many BA’s does it take to change a light bulb?
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  #96 (permalink)  
Old 12-December-2005, 06:27 PM
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Originally Posted by Hugh Jass
Reading the new rule, it is a bit vague, snip
I don't see any way you can not make it vague. How can you make unknowns clear? Although, it does convey a message of intent.
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  #97 (permalink)  
Old 12-December-2005, 09:16 PM
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Originally Posted by SciFi Chick
Indeed. It's a shame we must be so politically correct. It would be nice if someone could come up with a method that sounded less awkward.
Many have tried; few have succeeded in getting anyone to pay attention to their solutions.

Isn't there already a rule against taking threads hopelessly off topic?
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  #98 (permalink)  
Old 12-December-2005, 09:19 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hhEb09'1
This is an interesting area of grammar evolution/devolution. "They" or "them" or "their" are being used in place of the singular he (him, his) or she (her, hers) because some writers are attempting to be gender neutral.
"They" and "their" have been used to refer to persons of unknown sex for centuries.
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  #99 (permalink)  
Old 12-December-2005, 09:23 PM
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Hmm. Try: "warning violators ... and giving them a chance to explain their behaviour".
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  #100 (permalink)  
Old 13-December-2005, 07:40 PM
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BTW how many BA’s does it take to change a light bulb?
Only one , but the bulb has to be "bad"!
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  #101 (permalink)  
Old 16-December-2005, 06:49 AM
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Good rule.

I bit worried that it can open the door to punishing someone for just being human and correcting someone's misstep even if it is off topic.

Another problem I can see is moderators being too subjective in what is thought of as "off topic".

Things could be taken too far end evolve into someone taking action against someone because of personal preference. But I will have faith that this will not happen.

There is an obvious joke I could make here about worrying what I just said now was off topic, but I won't tell it.
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  #102 (permalink)  
Old 16-December-2005, 09:44 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kaptain K
Only one , but the bulb has to be "bad"!
And these are the ones resistant to change.
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  #103 (permalink)  
Old 16-December-2005, 10:36 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by William_Thompson
Good rule.

I bit worried that it can open the door to punishing someone for just being human and correcting someone's misstep even if it is off topic.

Another problem I can see is moderators being too subjective in what is thought of as "off topic".

Things could be taken too far end evolve into someone taking action against someone because of personal preference. But I will have faith that this will not happen.

There is an obvious joke I could make here about worrying what I just said now was off topic, but I won't tell it.
Anyone a moderator believes is misbehaving under this rule will be warned and given a chance to correct their behavior before any punitive action is taken.
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  #104 (permalink)  
Old 19-December-2005, 12:40 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mosheh Thezion
For the most part it is reasonable...

but the idea that one must answer each and every question put to them, in a timely manner is questionalble... since in many cases the question itself is flawed due to a misunderstanding and in answering it.. it is not answered, but is made clear in its relevance to the topic, while still being part of the mystery.
thus your rule that everything must be answered is suspect.. and should i think be reviewed.. and changed to allow more flexibility in discussion.

after all would it be wrong to shut someone down just because they dont have every answer? are we all to be Einsteins now? and pull the knowledge out of a hat?

2) the idea that you would openly state that we should be prepared for.."attacks"
is i think a bad choice of words.. its fundamental in your rules.. which contradicts the basics of calm nice discussions...
attacks are quick and mean.. and have nothing to do with sharing ideas and knowledge.

the survival of the strong and fittest is for the jungle.!

we are supposed to be better than that...
-MT

Yes I agree whole heartedly with your direction. That is the best attitude for allowing ideas to flow,and to maintain the enthusiasm.
May I quote Trenton's first principle: Nothing is absolutely right and nothing is absolutely wrong. but everything is necessary.

We pride ourselves on our democratic values. So here is my definition:
A democratic society gives each member of that society, The Freedom to Make Responsible Choices. Responsible not only to themselves but also to the other members of that society.
Each person must respect other people's freedom to make responsible choices. If you don't agree. Then that is your freedom of choice.
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  #105 (permalink)  
Old 19-December-2005, 06:12 AM
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Originally Posted by howard2
We pride ourselves on our democratic values.
To repeat what's often been said, this is not a democracy, it's a Duumvirate
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  #106 (permalink)  
Old 19-December-2005, 06:14 AM
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Originally Posted by HenrikOlsen
To repeat what's often been said, this is not a democracy, it's a Duumvirate
Great link. Short, but sweet.
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  #107 (permalink)  
Old 31-December-2005, 10:33 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hhEb09'1
This is an interesting area of grammar evolution/devolution. "They" or "them" or "their" are being used in place of the singular he (him, his) or she (her, hers) because some writers are attempting to be gender neutral.
Before the days of PC, the word "he" was often used to mean "he/she." This use of the word "he" is still recognized. See definition 2 here. "They" can also be used in this way. See defintion 1b here.
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  #108 (permalink)  
Old 02-January-2006, 06:02 AM
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Why isn't this thread locked?
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  #109 (permalink)  
Old 02-January-2006, 06:24 AM
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What rule does it break...

I wish it would go away though...
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  #110 (permalink)  
Old 02-January-2006, 06:37 AM
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Originally Posted by sarongsong
Why isn't this thread locked?
Exactly why should it be locked?
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