The Meaning of Words

[Black_Bird]

Ever find yourself disagreeing with someone, only to find that the disagreement was only a result of two different people having two different definitions for one word?

I find myself doing that a lot... What word have you had arguments over? What was your definition and what was their definition?

 

[Topher]

asshole

I think I had the argument that I did because the people that I was arguing with probably epitomized the word.

I'm sure my definition of "asshole" was not the same as theirs.

 

[seXieleXie]

sex

i hate the "define sex" arguement.

 

[Tyrael]

I really can't see how someone could mistake what you meant when you used the word "asshole". Perhaps you could educate me as to what other meaning it has as I can't think of but one meaning for that word. (besides the anatomical meaning)

 

[Black_Bird]

I really can't see how someone could mistake what you meant when you used the word "asshole". Perhaps you could educate me as to what other meaning it has as I can't think of but one meaning for that word. (besides the anatomical meaning)

Um... I think he was just being comical... *shrugs*

 

[Tyrael]

It's hard to tell just looking at text. Subtle humor is usually lost when you read it instead of hear it.

 

[Topher]

I was actually referring to a real event and I meant it, though I did post it with lightness in my heart.

What I was saying is that there are certain types of people that I pigeonhole as assholes by default (like frat guys, businessmen, coaches, &c.) that others might not consider assholes at all.

 

[phrodeau]

Speaking of defining sex,

This historic testimony revolved around the word "is":

QUESTION: Mr. President, I want to go into a new subject area, briefly go over something you were talking about with Mr. Bittman.

The statement of your attorney, Mr. Bennett, at the Paula Jones deposition -- counsel is fully aware -- it's page 54, line 5. Counsel is fully aware that Ms. Lewinsky is filing, has an affidavit, which they were in possession of, saying that there was absolutely no sex of any kind in any manner, shape or form with President Clinton. That statement was made by your attorney in front of Judge Susan Webber Wright.

CLINTON: That's correct.

QUESTION: Your -- that statement is a completely false statement. Whether or not Mr. Bennett knew of your relationship with Ms. Lewinsky, the statement that there was no sex of any kind in any manner, shape or form with President Clinton was an utterly false statement. Is that correct?

CLINTON: It depends upon what the meaning of the word is means. If is means is, and never has been, that's one thing. If it means, there is none, that was a completely true statement.

But as I have testified -- I'd like to testify again -- this is -- it somewhat unusual for a client to be asked about his lawyer's statements instead of the other way around. I was not paying a great deal of attention to this exchange. I was focusing on my own testimony. And that if you go back and look at the sequence of events, you will see that the Jones' lawyers decided that this was going to be the Lewinsky deposition, not the Jones deposition. And given the facts of their case, I can understand why they made that decision.

But that is not how I prepared for it. That is not how I was thinking about it.

And I am not sure, Mr. Wisenberg, as I sit here today that I sat there and followed all these interchanges between the lawyers. I'm quite sure that I didn't follow all the interchanges between the lawyers all that carefully. And I don't really believe, therefore, that I can say Mr. Bennett's testimony or statement is testimony that is impugnable to me. I didn't -- I don't know that I was really paying that much attention to him.

QUESTION: You've told us you were very well-prepared for the deposition.

CLINTON: No, I said I was very well prepared to talk about Paula Jones and to talk about Kathleen Willey, because she had made a related charge. She was the only person that I think I was asked about who had anything to do with the -- anything that would remotely approximate sexual harassment. The rest of this it looked to me like it was more of a way to harass me.

QUESTION: You're the president of the United States, and your attorney counseled the United States District Court judge that there's no sex of any kind or any way, shape or form whatsoever. And you feel no obligation to do anything about that at that deposition, Mr. President?

CLINTON: I had told you, Mr. Wisenberg -- I will tell you for a third time -- I am not even sure that when Mr. Bennett made that statement that I was concentrating on the exact words he used. Now, someone had asked me on that day, are you having any kind of sexual relations with Ms. Lewinsky -- that is ask me a question in the present tense -- I would have said no. And it would have been completely true.

 

[cymbidia]

Uh, yeh.

"Vanilla" and it's offshoot "nilla" leap immediately and painfully to mind as an at-Lit illustration.

Then there's the always popular "relationship", as in 'i'm not really looking for or ready for one, but i would like a hot kinked fuck every so often'.

 

[seXieleXie]

i get that clinton shit all the time when i bring this up...

but people's definitions of sex vary.

does oral sex count? does same gender oral sex count? does fingering count? only if you get off? does anal sex count? only if he cums inside you? does it have to be consentual? do you have to be concious to have sex?

it's not such an easy question in this day and age...

 

[Guest]

 

[Black_Bird]

Uh, yeh.

"Vanilla" and it's offshoot "nilla" leap immediately and painfully to mind as an at-Lit illustration.

Then there's the always popular "relationship", as in 'i'm not really looking for or ready for one, but i would like a hot kinked fuck every so often'.

Um... We're talking Icecream and waffers, right? That "relationship" thing sound familiar...

My ExGF: I just want everything to be *light* and *airy*...

Me: But you told me you wanted to marry me!

My ExGF: Um, yeah... but can we just not be too serious?

... The girl was a miscommunication waiting for someone guilible enough to listen - me.

 

[Black_Bird]

Re: Re: The Meaning of Words

Heh. I had a running argument with an ex over the definition of "faithful". His definition was he was being faithful if I didn't catch him screwing around.

Don't even go there on the definition of "committment".

Are you sure your ex isn't dating my ex? They sound like the perfect pair!