# Whew it's hot out here! Summer Mini-Rants **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 23, 2010, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whew-its-hot-out-here-summer-mini-rants/544239 "2010-06-23T14:33:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**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:** [June 24, 2010, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whew-its-hot-out-here-summer-mini-rants/544239/61 "2010-06-24T17:20:46Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > Perhaps you can enlighten me: where in that quote is the “mis-punctuation”? I’ll give you a hint: it ain’t there. In the U.S., periods and commas go inside of quotation marks. > [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > No, it’s there - “mis-punctuation?” Punctuation goes inside quotation marks. Actually, that one you did there was wrong. In that context, it was correct with the question mark outside the quotation marks. > [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > It’s perfectly acceptable usage. Not by any U.S. style guide I’ve ever seen. And I’ve used quite a few. Care to cite that? > [@](#): > > I find it odd that she who rails against prescriptivism would engage in it herself when it suits her. Spoken language and written language are two entirely different creatures, comparable to, say, walking and driving a car, respectively. You can make much better arguements for standardization in writing than you can in speaking. Also, note, I was simply pointing out the irony of someone who takes such umbrage at contracting a word making an error in their punctuation. One that, apparently, they don’t view as an error, despite much evidence to the contrary. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whew-its-hot-out-here-summer-mini-rants/544239/62 "2010-06-24T17:26:08Z")
Is it really contracting a word? I could see “san’ich” as a contraction, but AFAICT there’s not a single “m” in the word, so there’s a substitution, which is what makes it sound so infantile - it’s the kind of word a child would use when they couldn’t pronounce the real word properly. Sorry it hurts your pussy so much that I think it sounds utterly retarded, though. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whew-its-hot-out-here-summer-mini-rants/544239/63 "2010-06-24T17:29:52Z")
Fucking bastard ass gardeners. Yes, this is a first world problem, deal with it. I live in a place with an HOA where the gardeners cut all the shared grass, as well as my little plot of grass in front of my house (seriously little-- like, I dunno, 14x4 or something). In addition to the grass, the gardeners will randomly trim the bushes in front of my house (but with no regularity) and murder my rose bushes by taking a slicey trimmer thing to them and cutting them all super low, often slicing off all the goddamn buds. All that I can deal with, though. What I can’t deal with is these cock suckers rolling it at fucking 7 AM. I’m pretty sure my little corner is where they start, because without fail on Thursdays AND Fridays, right about 7 AM, all the fucking machinery starts. I get it, there’s a lot of grass, but do you REALLY need to use a riding lawn mower that sounds like a mother fucking jet engine RIGHT OUTSIDE MY BEDROOM WINDOW AT 7 AM? Then, the fucking leaf blower! I’m not kidding when I say these idiots are literally using a leaf blower six inches from my open window (and my bed is right by the window). Argh. Fucking idiots. Why can’t they come later in the day? Rage! ---
**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:** [June 24, 2010, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whew-its-hot-out-here-summer-mini-rants/544239/64 "2010-06-24T17:33:59Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > Is it really contracting a word? I could see “san’ich” as a contraction, but AFAICT there’s not a single “m” in the word, so there’s a substitution, which is what makes it sound so infantile - it’s the kind of word a child would use when they couldn’t pronounce the real word properly. I suppose you never say “won’t,” then, since it’s not “willn’t”? Words shift constantly to make them easier to pronounce. (E.g., in English, the way the prefix _in-_ has in many cases become _im-_.) If that kind of thing bothers you, promise me you’ll never study Sanskrit–[sandhi](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandhi) would drive you insane. > [@](#): > > Sorry it hurts your pussy so much that I think it sounds utterly retarded, though. Couldn’t care less what you think of it–all it influences is my opinion of you. But bless your heart for thinking well enough of yourself to assume I care. That kind of self-confidence is sure to benefit you. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whew-its-hot-out-here-summer-mini-rants/544239/65 "2010-06-24T17:34:33Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > Is it really contracting a word? I could see “san’ich” as a contraction, but AFAICT there’s not a single “m” in the word, so there’s a substitution, which is what makes it sound so infantile - it’s the kind of word a child would use when they couldn’t pronounce the real word properly. Sorry it hurts your pussy so much that I think it sounds utterly retarded, though. Do you get this much sand about words like gonna? ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whew-its-hot-out-here-summer-mini-rants/544239/66 "2010-06-24T17:36:31Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > I suppose you never say “won’t,” then, since it’s not “willn’t”? Words shift constantly to make them easier to pronounce. (E.g., in English, the way the prefix _in-_ has in many cases become _im-_.) If that kind of thing bothers you, promise me you’ll never study Sanskrit–[sandhi](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandhi) would drive you insane. I do study Sanskrit, as a matter of fact. Sammich is still fucking retarded. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whew-its-hot-out-here-summer-mini-rants/544239/67 "2010-06-24T17:49:44Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > Do you get this much sand about words like gonna? Nope - words like “gonna” and “ain’t” and the like were all frowned upon by authority figures when I was a kid, so I was naturally attracted to them. “Sammich”, as I said, just sounds infantile. It’s called mini-rants, bitches! I don’t need to quote fucking linguistics textbooks and the Chicago Manual of Style to back up my argument! I don’t like the shit-ass word - it doesn’t have to be rational. How’s this: _In my opinion_, you sound like a pillow-licking retard when you say sammich. Is it acceptable according to linguists? Don’t give a shit! Still makes you sound like a mongoloid in my book. If you (generic “you”) want to get yourself all het up over something I do regularly, like use the word “retard” or putting the period after the quotation marks, be my guest. I guarantee you I won’t care. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whew-its-hot-out-here-summer-mini-rants/544239/68 "2010-06-24T17:54:27Z")
Language is one of those things like tipping that can never be “mini” on the SD. 😛 ---
**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:** [June 24, 2010, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whew-its-hot-out-here-summer-mini-rants/544239/69 "2010-06-24T17:57:51Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > It’s called mini-rants, bitches! I don’t need to quote fucking linguistics textbooks and the Chicago Manual of Style to back up my argument! I don’t like the shit-ass word - it doesn’t have to be rational. How’s this: _In my opinion_, you sound like a pillow-licking retard when you say sammich. Ahem. If I may direct you back to my first post on the subject: > [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > I enjoy playing with language. This includes saying “sammich.” You are entitled to think I’m a retard; I, in turn, will think you’re boring and pendatic. Everybody wins! _You’re_ the one who decided that you needed to defend your opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whew-its-hot-out-here-summer-mini-rants/544239/70 "2010-06-24T17:58:42Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > Language is one of those things like tipping that can never be “mini” on the SD. 😛 Right up there with IQ and cock size for “other things that cannot be mini, Alex.” ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whew-its-hot-out-here-summer-mini-rants/544239/71 "2010-06-24T18:13:06Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > Well? And was he making a valid point? What medical solution were you hoping for? Well, I had asked for a prescription for a pain reliever that was a little more robust than OTC naproxen. She told me to lose weight instead. ---
**Author:** ![Mauvaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mauvaise/32/11084_2.png) [@Mauvaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mauvaise)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whew-its-hot-out-here-summer-mini-rants/544239/72 "2010-06-24T18:22:22Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > I detest it when people decide to infantilize language like that. The word “belly” strikes me similarly - say “stomach”; you’re not talking to pound puppies. Jesus. But if I am talking about pound puppies, I get a pass, right? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whew-its-hot-out-here-summer-mini-rants/544239/73 "2010-06-24T18:29:45Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > Nope - words like “gonna” and “ain’t” and the like were all frowned upon by authority figures when I was a kid, so I was naturally attracted to them. This is exactly why all us super-cool awesome people use “sammich.”.\* It is to annoy old fogeys like you. \*Use of double peroids is on purpose because one of those is proabbly right. ---
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whew-its-hot-out-here-summer-mini-rants/544239/74 "2010-06-24T18:44:00Z")
2 year molars: FUCK YOU! That is all. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whew-its-hot-out-here-summer-mini-rants/544239/75 "2010-06-24T18:53:47Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > Ahem. If I may direct you back to my first post on the subject: > > _You’re_ the one who decided that you needed to defend your opinion. I’d probably not have bothered except that I was shocked into incoherence by such a defense of the indefensible (use of “sammich”). ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whew-its-hot-out-here-summer-mini-rants/544239/76 "2010-06-24T18:54:48Z")
> [@Mauvaise](#): > > But if I am talking about pound puppies, I get a pass, right? 😛 “Belly” is all right when talking to a pound puppy. So it hath been decreed! ---
**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:** [June 24, 2010, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whew-its-hot-out-here-summer-mini-rants/544239/77 "2010-06-24T19:10:01Z")
Oh, and not to mention: “stomach” is at least as inaccurate as “belly” is infantile. Call it an abdomen, if you’re going to get serious about that shit. Unless you’re referring to the sac that digests stuff, in which case, go ahead and say stomach. But I’m guessing you’re not. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whew-its-hot-out-here-summer-mini-rants/544239/78 "2010-06-24T19:19:10Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > Oh, and not to mention: “stomach” is at least as inaccurate as “belly” is infantile. Call it an abdomen, if you’re going to get serious about that shit. Unless you’re referring to the sac that digests stuff, in which case, go ahead and say stomach. But I’m guessing you’re not. I am precisely talking about that, especially in instances such as “I need to get some food in my belly” or “I need to fill up my belly”. You know what happens when you assume. While we’re still on this pointless subject, **Tahssa** , the difference between “gonna/ain’t” and “sammich” is the authority figures in question saw the former as denoting ruffian/hooligan slang, while the latter is just cutesy. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2010, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whew-its-hot-out-here-summer-mini-rants/544239/79 "2010-06-24T19:21:32Z")
> [@Mauvaise](#): > > But if I am talking about pound puppies, I get a pass, right? 😛 And pillow-lickers, whatever that is. > [@Tahssa](#): > > \*Use of double peroids is on purpose because one of those is proabbly right. You know a period on steroids is a bullet point, evolving language and all that. ---
**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:** [June 24, 2010, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whew-its-hot-out-here-summer-mini-rants/544239/80 "2010-06-24T19:29:31Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > While we’re still on this pointless subject, **Tahssa** , the difference between “gonna/ain’t” and “sammich” is the authority figures in question saw the former as denoting ruffian/hooligan slang, while the latter is just cutesy. “Psh, guys, c’mon! I wanna sound like a _badass_, not some _fag_!” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whew-its-hot-out-here-summer-mini-rants/544239.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whew-its-hot-out-here-summer-mini-rants/544239.md?page=5)