A. Of course I got down this far. I always do since I have to scroll down here every time to get to the link where I can open in my browser instead of my email. Why don't you put that link first thing up at the top? B. Why are joining the ignorant rabble who have recently started using gift as a verb? It is a noun. There is a perfectly adequate verb, viz., give.
Yes, but it tells me I'm not logged in and that I haven't subscribed which I have. I have to go down and click on that web link in order to sign in. It won't let me vote in the poll otherwise.
Ah well Martha --- you are swimming against the current and as I mentioned here in the early days, Dear Leader is on trend with his denominalization or "verbing" of "gift." Turning nouns into verbs (although not new --- Shakespeare, for example, was an avid verber) has become a modern epidemic ---whether it's because nouns (and other words) are becoming endangered or disappearing altogether under unabated texting or, for some other nonsensical reason I'll come up with later. So "gifting" and "keyboarding." Sure. "Efforting ?" If you insist. But it's not only your common, everyday nouns which are under attack. There are those (gasp!) proper nouns. You have to effort to "Houdini" your way out of a sticky situation. Or to "Trump" up a grievance. Where will it end !?
God yes! And impacted refers to dentistry and similar tightly packed conditions. Also the conversion of launch, transform, and manifest from transitive to intransitive verbs. Likewise the recreation of fun as an adjective. As my father-in-law said many years ago, the language is going to hell.
Thank you for this. My thoughts exactly (on both counts). In fact, I actually scrolled down to the poll just to get to the site, then went back up and read the content.
I still do not know if I have a paid subscription. You have refused to answer my repeated efforts to find out. It may be why I am never a winner in your contests. It doesn't matter anymore as the contests have now fallen into "Only George Will" could be a winner skill category. I guess my only pleasure will be to discover if my Poll answers fall into the most popular responses.
Jackie, the only questions I have seen from you have arrived without any ID. I wanted to answer you BUT had no idea who you were. If you speak via the observations button, you must include personal info in your message.
Eleven percent voted “no”? I can’t imagine they were serious, and I can’t imagine they would joke about something so serious. Czar and Empress, what kind of pathetic readers do you have? By the way, I am a subscriber.
I was being facetious. In order to vote in the poll, they’d HAVE to get down that far. And, by announcing that I’m a subscriber, I figured that it would make it obvious that I was one of those who appreciates sarcasm, thus making it more likely that I’d engage in it myself. But I do believe it’s not possible to answer “no” truthfully to the question, “Did you get this far?” That’s something like truthfully answering “no” to “Are you still alive?”
I said yes but probably should have said no. I skipped the pet stories—I hesitate to admit this in public because it often generates outrage, but just not a pet person.
I too loved the pet stories, and I did read the whole thing. I regretted my "yes" vote to the question--stupidly, I now realize--because I belatedly thought it was a trick question, but now realize that many people actually did get down to the question without having read what preceded. D'oh! once more, now for a different reason.
I'm happy to see that more than 1 out of 20 Gene Pool readers are smart-assed enough to answer "no" to essentially "Are you reading this?"
A. Of course I got down this far. I always do since I have to scroll down here every time to get to the link where I can open in my browser instead of my email. Why don't you put that link first thing up at the top? B. Why are joining the ignorant rabble who have recently started using gift as a verb? It is a noun. There is a perfectly adequate verb, viz., give.
Gift as a verb is heinous. It seems like a sinister coinage (much like "free gift"); what happened to "give"?
"Gift" in German is "poison."
Maybe it's just my device. If I tap the 'headline' in my email, it links to Gene's substack.
Yes, but it tells me I'm not logged in and that I haven't subscribed which I have. I have to go down and click on that web link in order to sign in. It won't let me vote in the poll otherwise.
Once on the site I copied and pasted the link on my bookmark bar. I see the email, and click the link.
Ouch. Sorry! Maybe Gene can get his tech guru to fix it.
Ah well Martha --- you are swimming against the current and as I mentioned here in the early days, Dear Leader is on trend with his denominalization or "verbing" of "gift." Turning nouns into verbs (although not new --- Shakespeare, for example, was an avid verber) has become a modern epidemic ---whether it's because nouns (and other words) are becoming endangered or disappearing altogether under unabated texting or, for some other nonsensical reason I'll come up with later. So "gifting" and "keyboarding." Sure. "Efforting ?" If you insist. But it's not only your common, everyday nouns which are under attack. There are those (gasp!) proper nouns. You have to effort to "Houdini" your way out of a sticky situation. Or to "Trump" up a grievance. Where will it end !?
And where would you find a better example of turning a very (im)proper noun into a verb or vice versa than your last example. Talk about an aptonym.
Is there similar outrage for nouns converted into verbs? I have a strong gag reflex whenever I hear "incentivize".
God yes! And impacted refers to dentistry and similar tightly packed conditions. Also the conversion of launch, transform, and manifest from transitive to intransitive verbs. Likewise the recreation of fun as an adjective. As my father-in-law said many years ago, the language is going to hell.
Thank you for this. My thoughts exactly (on both counts). In fact, I actually scrolled down to the poll just to get to the site, then went back up and read the content.
7 percent said no? They lied.
Anyone else remember the Adventure Dog theme song? “Adventure Dog, Adventure Dog! Kinda big, kinda strong, stupid as a log, Adventure Dog!”
I have fond memories of the exploits of Earnest (Main Dog) and Zippy (Emergency Back-up Dog.)
I can't believe I said "yes" to the question about who was still reading. D'oh!
I watched The Millionaire faithfully as a young girl and always heard his name as John Bares Striptiptin.
I still do not know if I have a paid subscription. You have refused to answer my repeated efforts to find out. It may be why I am never a winner in your contests. It doesn't matter anymore as the contests have now fallen into "Only George Will" could be a winner skill category. I guess my only pleasure will be to discover if my Poll answers fall into the most popular responses.
You are indeed a paid subscriber, Jacksie. Thanks for entering so persistently.
Jackie, the only questions I have seen from you have arrived without any ID. I wanted to answer you BUT had no idea who you were. If you speak via the observations button, you must include personal info in your message.
I saw the "1050s TV show" typo before it was corrected. The Bayeux Millionaire.
Eleven percent voted “no”? I can’t imagine they were serious, and I can’t imagine they would joke about something so serious. Czar and Empress, what kind of pathetic readers do you have? By the way, I am a subscriber.
I was being facetious. In order to vote in the poll, they’d HAVE to get down that far. And, by announcing that I’m a subscriber, I figured that it would make it obvious that I was one of those who appreciates sarcasm, thus making it more likely that I’d engage in it myself. But I do believe it’s not possible to answer “no” truthfully to the question, “Did you get this far?” That’s something like truthfully answering “no” to “Are you still alive?”
I said yes but probably should have said no. I skipped the pet stories—I hesitate to admit this in public because it often generates outrage, but just not a pet person.
I love the pet stories! Especially Dave Barry's and Gene's.
I too loved the pet stories, and I did read the whole thing. I regretted my "yes" vote to the question--stupidly, I now realize--because I belatedly thought it was a trick question, but now realize that many people actually did get down to the question without having read what preceded. D'oh! once more, now for a different reason.