# Is it me or .... ? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 30, 2013, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or/667552 "2013-08-30T00:51:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![want2befree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3e96dc/32.png) [@want2befree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2befree)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or/667552/81 "2013-08-30T17:05:54Z")
> [@Penny](#): > > Is it just me or are you folks needlessly verbose? I have to say, as a newb I’m finding it such a turn off to have to slog through so much faux intellectual posturing to get to the point. Is this how this place rolls? > > (Please be gentle. I’m new 🙂 ) What I find funny about Penny is that she comes in and accuses of verbosity, while at the same time posturing with her vocabulary and coming off as an intellectual herself. It seems that someone who would be genuinely asking this question would consider themselves on a lower level, someone who just uses normal everyday words and simple answers (like myself. :)) ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or/667552/82 "2013-08-30T17:10:30Z")
> [@Penny](#): > > That is the point of communication isn’t it? To get your point across? If I grunt and point to my mouth and belly or say “I’m hungry” do you not understand a want for food? > > There is also a difference between typos, auto correct and lacking knowledge of grammar. Mr. Door, I already addressed the auto correct grammar issue above. LTR? That maybe “a” point of communication, but it’s not the only point. If you grunt and point at your belly, do you have a stomach ache, are you hungry, too full? If you’re hungry, what can I get you? Are you allergic to anything, keep kosher? Plus, are you peckish, ravenous, feel like a nosh, etc. How will I know with a simple grunt? Sometimes the point is to fully communicate and that requires more words than a “grunt” equivalent post will suffice. Plus, sometimes there is additional meaning in the specific words you choose. Individual words can convey meaning beyond their simple definition, so choosing how you communicate something can be greater than the sum of its parts. Adding a few extra words can add to the meaning more than the number of extra words might suggest they will. Sometimes the point is to write well. An elegant, if wordier, post is simply a beautiful thing. Shakespeare could be pared down to simple “communication” of a story, but oh what would be lost then! Sure every message board post is probably not a Shakespearean soliloquy, but the idea applies. ---
**Author:** ![Truman\_Burbank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@Truman\_Burbank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truman_Burbank)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or/667552/83 "2013-08-30T17:15:13Z")
> [@Penny](#): > > That is the point of communication isn’t it? To get your point across? If I grunt and point to my mouth and belly or say “I’m hungry” do you not understand a want for food? > > There is also a difference between typos, auto correct and lacking knowledge of grammar. Mr. Door, I already addressed the auto correct grammar issue above. LTR? On the other hand, if all you offer is a paucity of worthwhile content, what then is the point? I vote you go away, attention-seeker. And yes, you have posted enough for me to assign you to a row. You can don the pointed cap on the way to your seat, or out the door. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or/667552/84 "2013-08-30T17:33:35Z")
> [@Penny](#): > > I like Twain and like to use the language of the people. He had a strong opinion on verbosity as well. I’m more of a Dickens fan myself. > [@kayT](#): > > Many of us here are quite nit-picky about grammar, punctuation and spelling. It’s wrong to say “wait it’s turn”. You could look it up. (Not to menntion “agrement”.)\ Dammit, you were so close! 😃 > [@YogSosoth](#): > > Personally, and I can’t speak for anyone else, the more words I type, the harder it is for the aliens to get me Ooh, Mr. Fancypants - “I use words to keep the aliens away!” Tinfoil hats not good enough for you? ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or/667552/85 "2013-08-30T17:41:41Z")
The answer to any question which opens “Is it me or . . .” is, at first approximation, “Yes, it is you.” ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or/667552/86 "2013-08-30T17:50:59Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > While brevity may often be the most efficient way of conveying an idea, some concepts are better served by fuller exposition For example, there is the classic question, ‘Have you stopped beating your wife? Answer “Yes” or “No.”’ If one answers ‘Yes’, then obviously he used to beat his wife. The implication of the answer ‘No’ is that he has been beating his wife, and is continuing to do so. Of course, ‘No’ would be correct if the man does not beat his wife and never has beaten his wife; he cannot stop beating her if he never started. Thus, a brief answer will not suffice for the innocent man. He needs to explain, against the instructions by the querent, that he has never beaten his wife. > > Additionally, many statements require background information in order to be understood, or not misunderstood. A person may observe behaviour amongst a certain group, which he does not observe in other groups. If his enquiry is brief, such as ‘Why do [these people] do [this]?’, then others will certainly chime in with examples that the person has not observed. They may point out that some members of the specified group do engage in the given activity, but that members of the group as a whole do not. It behooves the questioner to give some context to his query. For example, ‘I have noticed that some members of [this group] engage in [this activity]. By no means do I suggest that all or most [members of this group] do this. It occurred to me that this behaviour is something engaged in by some members of a subset of this group, as I have not seen it amongst members who appear to be from a different demographic. Could this be a cultural behaviour by this subset; behaviour which I have not seen amongst people who are not [members of this group]?’ To be sure, more background information or various disclaimers may be needed to ensure that one’s intentions are not misconstrued; but it’s better than the simple question as to why [Group X] engages in a certain activity. > > There is a concept of ‘simple answers for simple people’, which can lead to people believing that there are easy answers to very complex issues. We have seen, for example, how this adversely affects our political system. If we, as a group, tend to be somewhat verbose, it is only because we wish to provide context for our statements and arguments. +1 (I’m trying to be less wordy these days. Well, not really, but I am pretty aware that I’m a wordy sonofabitch and have even been called out on it recently–in a backhanded kind of way.) ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or/667552/87 "2013-08-30T17:55:06Z")
> [@Penny](#): > > I like Twain and like to use the language of the people. He had a strong opinion on verbosity as well. “Eschew surplusage.” ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or/667552/88 "2013-08-30T18:00:04Z")
> [@Penny](#): > > I like Twain and like to use the language of the people. He had a strong opinion on verbosity as well. Right. You’re just like Mark Twain. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or/667552/89 "2013-08-30T18:03:50Z")
I use as many words as I need elephant. ---
**Author:** ![Katriona](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/katriona/32/113_2.png) [@Katriona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katriona)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or/667552/90 "2013-08-30T18:13:13Z")
> [@Penny](#): > > I like Twain and like to use the language of the people. He had a strong opinion on verbosity as well. He also didn’t suffer fools gladly. It seems the board is stuck suffering for a while. Though probably not gladly. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or/667552/91 "2013-08-30T18:20:23Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > “Eschew surplusage.” Well, I’ll be superamalgamated. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or/667552/92 "2013-08-30T18:32:14Z")
> [@Penny](#): > > That is the point of communication isn’t it? To get your point across? If I grunt and point to my mouth and belly or say “I’m hungry” do you not understand a want for food? Bullshit. Are you merely communicating your hunger? Or communicating your desire for somebody to satiate your hunger? And/or communicating you do not care one bit about how you come across to the person you expect to serve you food? You aren’t _merely_ communicating your hunger but also your expectations and your perception of relative social position and several other things. Even children understand that grunting and pointing to their stomachs is not an appropriate way to communicate hunger. ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or/667552/93 "2013-08-30T18:42:20Z")
Pseudo-intellectualism is all the intellectualism some of us got. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or/667552/94 "2013-08-30T18:53:22Z")
> [@Penny](#): > > I like Twain and like to use the language of the people. He had a strong opinion on verbosity as well. No, this simply won’t do, it won’t do at all. Twain was not opposed to verbosity, he was opposed to _needless_ verbosity, if it took one hundred words to set up his punch line, then one hundred it was, but one hundred _precisely_ chosen words, not one hundred synonyms pressed into counterfeit service. The English author of his age would take page after page to set up his dramatic moment in the garden, where we might finally expect Lady Winsome to reveal the Dark Secret that forbids her acceptance of Lord Blatherskate’s ardent pursuit. But first, the garden! The garden must be explored and described in exacting detail. No, _excruciating_ detail, every shrubbery, every vine, the burdened reader must have it all, save for the gnarled old gardener who’s life was squandered in attendance. Lady Winsome does not know his name, does not notice his presence, the author does not, nor will the reader, but the hedge he is trimming is lavishly described. In the meantime, the characters have wandered off in their nobly feckless fashion, it is afternoon by now, and Lord Blatherskate needs to change his cravat accordingly. Lady Winsome has stumbled and fallen face down into a poorly placed fountain. Being unattended by servants, she has drowned, like a dim reflection of Ophelia. Her dark secret is lost, but the reader has quite forgotten it by now, and is left only with the surety that she had a rather splendid garden. ---
**Author:** ![Truman\_Burbank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@Truman\_Burbank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truman_Burbank)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or/667552/95 "2013-08-30T19:06:36Z")
'Luci, I must admit to a great fondness for you. Perhaps…but, no! It must not be… ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or/667552/96 "2013-08-30T19:11:23Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > No, this simply won’t do, it won’t do at all. Twain was not opposed to verbosity, he was opposed to _needless_ verbosity, if it took one hundred words to set up his punch line, then one hundred it was, but one hundred _precisely_ chosen words, not one hundred synonyms pressed into counterfeit service. > > The English author of his age would take page after page to set up his dramatic moment in the garden, where we might finally expect Lady Winsome to reveal the Dark Secret that forbids her acceptance of Lord Blatherskate’s ardent pursuit. But first, the garden! The garden must be explored and described in exacting detail. No, _excruciating_ detail, every shrubbery, every vine, the burdened reader must have it all, save for the gnarled old gardener who’s life was squandered in attendance. Lady Winsome does not know his name, does not notice his presence, the author does not, nor will the reader, but the hedge he is trimming is lavishly described. > > In the meantime, the characters have wandered off in their nobly feckless fashion, it is afternoon by now, and Lord Blatherskate needs to change his cravat accordingly. Lady Winsome has stumbled and fallen face down into a poorly placed fountain. Being unattended by servants, she has drowned, like a dim reflection of Ophelia. Her dark secret is lost, but the reader has quite forgotten it by now, and is left only with the surety that she had a rather splendid garden. ti;cr [sub]too intellectual; couldn’t read[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or/667552/97 "2013-08-30T19:39:32Z")
> [@Penny](#): > > If I grunt and point to my mouth and belly or say “I’m hungry” do you not understand a want for food? I read about this! You’re the chick that was booted from Denny’s, right? ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or/667552/98 "2013-08-30T19:54:19Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > No. Once you go troll, that’s just how you roll. How much troll could a non-troll troll if a non-troll could troll trolls? ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or/667552/99 "2013-08-30T20:11:02Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > (Not to menntion “agrement”.) Not to mention “menntion.” (kayT: Sorry, I couldn’t resist. Be not pissed.) ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or/667552/100 "2013-08-30T20:14:45Z")
> [@Truman\_Burbank](#): > > 'Luci, I must admit to a great fondness for you. Perhaps…but, no! It must not be… If you are so moved, I can include your delivered restraining order in my collection. I have a whole wall in my living room wallpapered just with those from Rachel Maddow and Elizabeth Warren. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or/667552.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-me-or/667552.md?page=6)