# Embarrasment **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [June 8, 2003, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrasment/180439 "2003-06-08T10:19:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Cid_Viscoso)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrasment/180439/21 "2003-06-09T19:11:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Q.E.D. \* > \*\*That would be me. **Q.E.D.** is an abbreviation for the Latin phrase _quod erat demonstrandum_. It was sort of like him calling me by my last name, as it were. \*\* By no means, Q.E.D., I would never presuppose to be so gauche; I was simply alluding to the phenomenon you seemed to clearly validate, in a rather licentious attempt at _Amphibology Latina_. Next time, I’ll just “res ipsa loquitur.” ---
**Author:** ![Juice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@Juice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Juice)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrasment/180439/22 "2003-06-09T22:22:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Q.E.D. \* > \*\*That would be me. **Q.E.D.** is an abbreviation for the Latin phrase _quod erat demonstrandum_. It was sort of like him calling me by my last name, as it were. \*\* hmmmm…sounded like Latin to me…OR Greek!😃 ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrasment/180439/23 "2003-06-09T22:24:56Z")
\<\\> Could have been either Laughing OR Grief. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrasment/180439/24 "2003-06-09T22:45:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by C K Dexter Haven \* > \*\*Could have been either Laughing OR Grief. \*\* That some sort of crack? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Cid_Viscoso)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrasment/180439/25 "2003-06-10T04:48:13Z")
…and the low slow-ball to Q.E.D., and this one could be in the bleachers… whoa, thanks, Diva. Glad I previewed. That guy was in and out in a heartbeat! ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrasment/180439/26 "2003-06-10T05:04:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Q.E.D. \* > \*\*That some sort of crack? 😛 \*\* **Dex** was _mocking_ you. You really need to study up on your uglification and derision. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrasment/180439/27 "2003-06-10T05:07:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Desmostylus \* > \*\ ***Dex** was _mocking_ you. You really need to study up on your uglification and derision. \*\* Yeah? And just what the hell is a _ **Desmostylus** _, anyhow? ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrasment/180439/28 "2003-06-10T05:23:52Z")
You really have no idea what we’re talking about, do you? Anyway, a desmostylus is either a band of pencils, or [one of these](http://www.aist.go.jp/GSJ/cGM/tour/tour06e.html). ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrasment/180439/29 "2003-06-10T05:29:58Z")
You do mean a b **r** and of pencils, do you not? And if you care to explain, I’ll listen. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrasment/180439/30 "2003-06-10T05:35:33Z")
No, a _band_ of pencils, or a bunch of pencils. And **Dex** was quoting the Mock Turtle from _Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland_. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrasment/180439/31 "2003-06-10T05:38:40Z")
Haven’t read that since I was a kid. Way too long ago. _sigh_ Anyway, I think I like you better as that dinosaur thingy. Much scarier and more impressive than a bunch of pencils. But, that’s your choice. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2003, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrasment/180439/32 "2003-06-10T05:47:04Z")
Look at these [teeth](http://www.humboldt.edu/~natmus/Exhibits/Life_time/Neogene.web/445.jpg). Looks sorta like a bunch of pencils. Hence the name given to the animals - “Desmo”-“stylus”, which means “bunch of pencils” in Grief, er, Greek. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/embarrasment/180439.md?page=1)