What is the newest installment of 'Random Thoughts' on Physics Forums?

[Ibix]

I would say that is a city/working class thing.

I'd go much further. Acceptable informal address varies by region, social class, age and sex of both parties, and time, and probably a host of other things. That said, I've still not heard "baby" used outside of couples and actual babies.

Slang and unconventional language can be a total minefield. I recommend just accepting any informal address as long as the tone and body language are friendly, and sticking to "mate" if you have to use anything at all.

 

[WWGD]

Or you can do some verbal gymnastics and avoid pronouns or other references. Kind of awkward, but doable.

 

[skyshrimp]

I woke up thirsty and hungover in the middle of the night and went to the fridge. I had some of the juicy peaches chilling in there.

I went back for seconds.

 

[Ibix]

Or you can do some verbal gymnastics and avoid pronouns or other references. Kind of awkward, but doable.

You can usually drop the "mate" (or whatever) without a problem. "Excuse me mate, do you have the time?" or "thanks mate" work equally well without. Actually avoiding pronouns is clumsy, yes. I ended up having to do it at work when I had to advise someone to contact Ashley. Ashley and I had exchanged email a lot but had never actually spoken or met, and I realized mid-email that I had no clue whether to use him or her. Turned out to be a she in the end. The Ashley I work with at the moment is a bloke - I was careful to enquire before emailing.

 

[WWGD]

You can usually drop the "mate" (or whatever) without a problem. "Excuse me mate, do you have the time?" or "thanks mate" work equally well without. Actually avoiding pronouns is clumsy, yes. I ended up having to do it at work when I had to advise someone to contact Ashley. Ashley and I had exchanged email a lot but had never actually spoken or met, and I realized mid-email that I had no clue whether to use him or her. Turned out to be a she in the end. The Ashley I work with at the moment is a bloke - I was careful to enquire before emailing.

EDITWhatever happened to "Dear he/she/it or whatever the #$% you are:" (And why was I put in the corner cubicle so far away from everyone else?)

 

[Ibix]

Whatever happened to "Dear he/she/it or whatever the #$% you are:"

A gender-neutral pronoun that isn't horribly contrived (like using "they" feels to me) would be very useful. I mean, does it really matter whether she's a he or a she? Given the existence of gendered pronouns it seems rude to use the wrong one, but you're going to want to talk to the topic expert, and it wasn't a topic where what's between anyone's legs was relevant to anyone.

 

[WWGD]

A gender-neutral pronoun that isn't horribly contrived (like using "they" feels to me) would be very useful. I mean, does it really matter whether she's a he or a she? Given the existence of gendered pronouns it seems rude to use the wrong one, but you're going to want to talk to the topic expert, and it wasn't a topic where what's between anyone's legs was relevant to anyone.

But is there a singular (non-plural) version? S/he may work in writing but I don't know any spoken version.

 

[fresh_42]

A gender-neutral pronoun that isn't horribly contrived (like using "they" feels to me) would be very useful.

But is there a singular (non-plural) version? S/he may work in writing but I don't know any spoken version.

It.

 

[WWGD]

It.

I thought so, to, but after many years of horrible confusion (even while working in it), I found out it stands for " Information Technology"

 

[Ibix]

But is there a singular (non-plural) version? S/he may work in writing but I don't know any spoken version.

I've seen various attempts at engineering one (xhe for he/she, for example), but they don't seem to catch on. In my opinion, because made-up words sound made-up. I suspect that if it ever happens it'll be that he/she goes the way of "thou" and "they" becomes singular as well, as "you" has done.

 

[Bystander]

(xhe for he/she, for example), but they don't seem to catch on.

Perilously close to "politically incorrect" for the area of NA located between Canada and Mexico.

 

[fresh_42]

I thought so, to, but after many years of horrible confusion (even while working in it), I found out it stands for " Information Technology"

That's the exit strategy if it feels offended.

I've seen various attempts at engineering one (xhe for he/she, for example), but they don't seem to catch on. In my opinion, because made-up words sound made-up. I suspect that if it ever happens it'll be that he/she goes the way of "thou" and "they" becomes singular as well, as "you" has done.

We have a gender even on roles, aka professions, similar to the appendix "-ess" in English, but everywhere. The doctor-he-she jokes don't work in German, as it would be Arzt/Ärztin, Chirurg/Chirurgin, Doktor/Doktorin. To solve this gender dilemma, especially in job offer announcements, people write Chirurg(in) or ChirurgIn or Chirurg/-in, all of which are straight away ugly. Especially the capital "I" spelling looks odd. I haven't seen any satisfactory solution, yet. And "they" in English is equally strange.

 

[Ibix]

Perilously close to "politically incorrect" for the area of NA located between Canada and Mexico.

I don't think it's a bad idea. The circumstances under which I care what sex you are are fairly limited, so the effort needed to find out what sex you are solely so I can pick a pronoun seems disproportionate. I just don't like "xhe" for some reason.

One distinguishing feature of good fantasy/SF is that the names roll off the tongue even when they're made up names for members of an imaginary species or ethnic group. Some people seem to have a knack for it - they need to get someone with the knack to make up their new pronouns IMO.

 

[WWGD]

I don't think it's a bad idea. The circumstances under which I care what sex you are are fairly limited, so the effort needed to find out what sex you are solely so I can pick a pronoun seems disproportionate. I just don't like "xhe" for some reason.

One distinguishing feature of good fantasy/SF is that the names roll off the tongue even when they're made up names for members of an imaginary species or ethnic group. Some people seem to have a knack for it - they need to get someone with the knack to make up their new pronouns IMO.

I think that by " The ar

Perilously close to "politically incorrect" for the area of NA located between Canada and Mexico.

Is " The area of NA between Canada and Mexico" slang for what is between someone's legs? I am not hip to your slang ;).

 

[Ibix]

We have a gender even on roles, aka professions, similar to the appendix "-ess" in English, but everywhere. The doctor-he-she jokes don't work in German, as it would be Arzt/Ärztin, Chirurg/Chirurgin, Doktor/Doktorin. To solve this gender dilemma, especially in job offer announcements, people write Chirurg(in) or ChirurgIn or Chirurg/-in, all of which are straight away ugly. Especially the capital "I" spelling looks odd. I haven't seen any satisfactory solution, yet. And "they" in English is equally strange.

There's a similar issue in Spanish (doctor/doctora, usually solved by writing doctor/a, which I agree is ugly). Oddly, although there's a distinction between he/she/it there's no distinction between him/her/it.

 

[Ibix]

Is " The area of NA between Canada and Mexico" slang for what is between someone's legs? I am not hip to your slang ;).

You are not hip to slang about what's slung from your hips?

 

[Ibix]

Is " The area of NA between Canada and Mexico" slang for what is between someone's legs? I am not hip to your slang ;).

Also, I think you may just have implied that the USA is a [slang term of your choice for sexual organ of your choice]. Don't know if you meant to do that...

 

[WWGD]

Also, I think you may just have implied that the USA is a [slang term of your choice for sexual organ of your choice]. Don't know if you meant to do that...

Well, it is represented by an orange one depicted often in London recently...

 

[WWGD]

Another passenger on the crazy train. Lady telling me she is being hacked. But it is a waiter who hates her, who has a black-hat friend who is doing the hacking. She mentions how her computer keeps denying her access to her email, programs not functioning. Hey, lady, it is called Windows! If that was the conspiracy, Bill Gates is a terrorist.

 

[CWatters]

Forty years ago I was visiting a university trying to decide what engineering subject to study. In one lab they had a machine demonstrating the electronics and control theory required to balance a pencil on its tip by moving the platform it was balanced on.

Today had my first ride on a Segway. Surprisingly good fun riding around forest trails with my kids.

 

[skyshrimp]

I'd like to own a USB digital microscope with 4K resolution. I have one of those cheap Chinese USB microscopes that you can get on eBay, but the resolution isn't so great.

I was looking at some store bought strawberries I was eating with the microscope the other day and saw these tiny white spider looking things crawling around on them. They weren't visible to the naked eye. I also saw blood flowing through capillaries on my hand. I had to mod the microscope to see this by snapping off the one inch long plastic guard that protects the lens and LEDs, but that doubled the resolution. It was advertised as 200x but I doubt that.

I would love a set up that was powerful enough to view blood cells or sperm etc. I want to view it on my 55" 4K screen in 4K. I'd share the vids on YouTube. Not for profound research. Just for hobby procrastination :)

Just finished season one of Stranger Things. Not bad. I'll see what season two is like.

 

[WWGD]

I was looking at some store bought strawberries I was eating with the microscope the other day

I personally prefer something like whipped cream, but I have never tasted microscopes with it. May be my loss; a little "glassy" for me...

 

[fresh_42]

I personally prefer something like whipped cream, but I have never tasted microscopes with it. May be my loss; a little "glassy" for me...

Do you know his store? Maybe he needed the microscope to eat them.

 

[WWGD]

Do you know his store? Maybe he needed the microscope to eat them.

Possibly infinitesi-Strawberies from the Non-Standard Real Strawberry (Fields forever).

 

[fresh_42]

Possibly infinitesi-Strawberies from the Non-Standard Real Strawberry (Fields forever).

If straws will be banned, what happens to strawberries?
Is 'forever' in your quotation a hint to the characteristic of the field - zero?
And what if I refuse to let you take me down?
Do we need a Riemann-Strawberry to get strawberries forever from these infinitesi-strawberries?

Question after question ...

 

[WWGD]

If straws will be banned, what happens to strawberries?
Is 'forever' in your quotation a hint to the characteristic of the field - zero?
And what if I refuse to let you take me down?
Do we need a Riemann-Strawberry to get strawberries forever from these infinitesi-strawberries?

Question after question ...

No, we need Kraftwerk-berries.

 

[fresh_42]

No, we need Kraftwerk-berries.

This could help:
But I haven't checked the latest developments in Chernobyl.

 

[DrGreg]

I personally prefer something like whipped cream, but I have never tasted microscopes with it. May be my loss; a little "glassy" for me...

I was told the best way to prepare strawberries is to sprinkle with sugar and pile cream on top.

Don't try it! Pile cream tastes awful!

 

[WWGD]

Other people talk the bizarre talk. We ( at least three of us in this exchange) own it!

 

[pinball1970]

I'd go much further. Acceptable informal address varies by region, social class, age and sex of both parties, and time, and probably a host of other things. That said, I've still not heard "baby" used outside of couples and actual babies.

Slang and unconventional language can be a total minefield. I recommend just accepting any informal address as long as the tone and body language are friendly, and sticking to "mate" if you have to use anything at all.

[/QUOTE]

Mate is a common one in Manchester, I agree baby is not one I have heard. "Sweet" is another common one.