# "A vicious \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_" **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 11, 2010, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vicious-________/549937 "2010-08-11T15:04:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2010, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vicious-________/549937/81 "2010-08-14T21:21:01Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > > [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > > > Anyway, I have tessered over the remote and assigned 4,696 bees to your service. > > Is there a programming manual? I don’t see a programming manual. > > > [@](#): > > > > Just remember that they will not on any account attack Kristen Bell. > > Saving her for later, eh? Of course not. I love her as much as is possible given my black, selfish, tiny little heart, and can never harm her. Once I am GKotE she will be allowed to roam the lands unmolested, like you, Angua, Natalie Portman, and what’s-her-name. You’re supposed to figure out the programming for your ownself. Only thus can you be proven worthy. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2010, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vicious-________/549937/82 "2010-08-14T21:23:37Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > **Thank you** for not using _honing_ bees. While it is possible in theory to genetically modify bees so that they can sharpen bayonets, glaives, & so forth, it is simply not cost effective. Odin gave us whetstones for a reason. ---
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2010, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vicious-________/549937/83 "2010-08-14T22:56:21Z")
FWIW, in Greek it’s “favlos kyklos”, where kyklos can mean either circle or cycle 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2010, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vicious-________/549937/84 "2010-08-14T23:45:18Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > I don’t care what your facts say. It’s “cycle”. “Circle” makes no sense. A causes B, which causes A, which causes B. That’s not a circle, it’s a cycle. Exactly! ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vicious-________/549937/85 "2010-08-15T02:44:09Z")
> [@CanvasShoes](#): > > > [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > > > I don’t care what your facts say. It’s “cycle”. “Circle” makes no sense. A causes B, which causes A, which causes B. That’s not a circle, it’s a cycle. > > Exactly! “Circle” makes perfect sense. It keeps coming around and around again. Both words make sense, but “circle” is the real McCoy, and only bad people would use “cycle” anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vicious-________/549937/86 "2010-08-15T04:18:02Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > I don’t care what your facts say. It’s “cycle”. “Circle” makes no sense. A causes B, which causes A, which causes B. That’s not a circle, it’s a cycle. “This way makes more sense to me,” by the way, is the exact reason [folk etymology](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folk_etymology) occurs in the first place. It’s a well-understood phenomenon in languages. [QUOTE=Wikipedia] popularly held (and often false) beliefs about the origins of specific words, especially where these originate in “common-sense” assumptions rather than serious research [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![dba\_Fred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c37758/32.png) [@dba\_Fred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dba_Fred)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2010, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vicious-________/549937/87 "2010-08-15T11:59:55Z")
I go with cycle. A circle looks like a Happy Face 😃 which isn’t vicious; while a cycle is what the Hell’s Angels :eek: ride and they are vicious. ---
**Author:** ![Staggerlee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/staggerlee/32/3134_2.png) [@Staggerlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staggerlee)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vicious-________/549937/88 "2010-08-16T15:20:30Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Persons who say _vicious cycle_ are not to be trusted. You shouldn’t distrust them. That will only lead to them feeling persecuted, which in turn will compel them to rebel against the establishment by mispronouncing well-worn phrases, and we’ll be right back where we started. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vicious-________/549937/89 "2010-08-16T15:32:14Z")
> [@dba\_Fred](#): > > I go with cycle. > A circle looks like a Happy Face 😃 which isn’t vicious There are some pretty [vicious](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breaking_on_the_wheel) [circles](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panjandrum) [out there](http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=124499). ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vicious-________/549937/90 "2010-08-16T15:38:45Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > > [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](#): > > > > _Metaphor_, folks. We’re talking metaphor. “Vicious cycle” is too literal. “Vicious circle” is more metaphorical, like the circle of life, and thus better. > > Also you can do that joke where you form your finger and thumb into a circle and make it go “raaar”, then say “what’s that?” So for a moment, I thought, “What in the heavens is he talking about?” And then I started giggling uncontrollably. Excellent! > [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > FWIW, the expression even in Japanese is 悪循環 _akujunkan_, which could be translated overly literally as “evil sequential ring/circle.” \*Not \*cycle. I am so going to start calling it an evil sequential ring from now on. I don’t care if nobody knows what I’m talking about. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vicious-________/549937/91 "2010-08-16T15:49:16Z")
> [@Staggerlee](#): > > > [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > > > Persons who say _vicious cycle_ are not to be trusted. > > You shouldn’t distrust them. That will only lead to them feeling persecuted, which in turn will compel them to rebel against the establishment by mispronouncing well-worn phrases, and we’ll be right back where we started. That sounds pretty vicious: perhaps it’s a vicious triangle. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vicious-________/549937/92 "2010-08-16T16:07:28Z")
It’s circle. A metaphor! It reminds me of the “another think/thing coming” argument. “Think” is the original/correct word, but less literate folks said “‘thing’ makes more sense” and corrupted it. Another folk etymology. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vicious-________/549937/93 "2010-08-16T17:07:38Z")
> [@DaveRaver](#): > > It’s cycle, of course! We seem to be losing the fight against ignorance. Oh boy, are \*you \*in for some fun when you actually take the time to read the rest of the thread. > [@Sailboat](#): > > You have to [dance around shaking your fanny](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waggle_dance). If I were British, I’d be snickering at your choice of words. As-is, I’m simply liable to suspect you’ve rigged my apartment with cameras. > [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > You’re supposed to figure out the programming for your ownself. Only thus can you be proven worthy. That sounds like a recipe for something terrible. Or hilarious. Or terrible \*and \*hilarious. > [@dba\_Fred](#): > > A circle looks like a Happy Face 😃 which isn’t vicious A circle also looks like an asshole, which can shit all over you. > [@MeanOldLady](#): > > I am so going to start calling it an evil sequential ring from now on. I don’t care if nobody knows what I’m talking about. _Excellent_. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2010, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vicious-________/549937/94 "2010-08-16T17:36:23Z")
> [@Staggerlee](#): > > > [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > > > Persons who say _vicious cycle_ are not to be trusted. > > You shouldn’t distrust them. That will only lead to them feeling persecuted, which in turn will compel them to rebel against the establishment by mispronouncing well-worn phrases, and we’ll be right back where we started. What’s your point? I LIKE rebellion! ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vicious-________/549937/95 "2010-11-08T14:10:28Z")
Update: The NY Times used \*\*circle \*\*in their Sunday Money section [Can the Fed Draw a Virtuous Circle?](http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/07/your-money/07stra.html) ---
**Author:** ![Chopper9760](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@Chopper9760](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chopper9760)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vicious-________/549937/96 "2010-11-08T15:44:25Z")
Holy Ike! I can’t believe it’s an even split between cycle and circle. I’ve only heard/said ‘vicious cycle’ but the words are similar enough that I wonder if I have selective hearing. Interesting poll. I have to restrain myself from savagely beating people who say “addicting” when they mean “addictive.” ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vicious-________/549937/97 "2010-11-08T18:40:19Z")
> [@Chopper9760](#): > > I’ve only heard/said ‘vicious cycle’ […] I have to restrain myself from savagely beating people who say “addicting” when they mean “addictive.” Those glass houses can be awfully hard to see, can’t they? ETA: Do you even have a cite for your gripe with addicting as a synonym for addictive? M-W thinks it’s valid. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vicious-________/549937/98 "2010-11-08T18:43:11Z")
_checks date of OP, smacks forehead_ “Aw geez, not this shit again.” ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vicious-________/549937/99 "2010-11-08T19:18:03Z")
It’s such a vicious [del]circ[/del] [del]cyc[/del] [del]circ[/del] [del]cyc[/del] [del]circ[/del] This shit sure does keep comin’ 'round, don’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2010, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vicious-________/549937/100 "2010-11-08T20:11:13Z")
A vicious man-eating [gazebo](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_and_the_Gazebo). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vicious-________/549937.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-vicious-________/549937.md?page=6)