fandomsecrets | [ SECRET POST #2802 ]

⌈ Secret Post #2802 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

01.

__________________________________________________

02.

__________________________________________________

03.

[Warriors]

__________________________________________________

04.

__________________________________________________

05.

[Harry Potter]

__________________________________________________

06.

[Sweet Fuse: At Your Side]

__________________________________________________

07.

__________________________________________________

08.

[Stargate Atlantis]

__________________________________________________

09.

[Black M]

__________________________________________________

10.

[The Lyon's Den]

__________________________________________________

11.

[Hannah Simone]

__________________________________________________

12.

[Bouletcorp]

__________________________________________________

13.

Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 01 pages, 018 secrets from Secret Submission Post #400.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I have a very large vocabulary -- maybe not in the sense that I know more words, but that I regularly use a wider variety of words in everyday conversation without thinking. Most people understand what I'm saying, or can at least figure it out. Some people can't, and they're constantly asking me what I said, and while I know it's so condescending of me to feel this way, it gets really annoying. (The people who repeatedly do this are usually 5-6 years younger than me, but still, it just...ugh. It makes me think things about their intelligence that I know aren't true and I really feel bad for thinking it.)

But like...can't they at least Google it? That's another pet peeve of mine: the fact that so many people apparently never think to Google things before asking what they are (presuming they're having the conversation online in the first place). It's so simple. It's so easy. Why isn't it second nature to everyone by now? I get so annoyed when people ask meaningless questions that are so easily answered with a ten-second search...argh.

Maybe their constant asking is a way of saying "Please stop using so many obscure words"? I can't imagine it's very fun to have a conversation where you have to run off to look up a word every other minute. But it's also a bit embarassing to ask straight out, since -- as you said -- people will automatically assume you are stupid. Regardless of their reasoning, couldn't you just try to adjust your language based on who you're talking with? I think that should be the most painless way to deal with this.

I can't seem to rein in my vocabulary without sounding like I'm talking to a little kid (which is not only even ruder, but it's a problem because I write fiction as a hobby but I can't seem to pin down the voice of any character between the ages of five and 25).

You sound like you would not be fun to be around

Yeah, no kidding.

Wow, judgmental much?

I have a large vocabulary, and I don't reign it in usually. But the first time someone I'm talking to asks what a word I just said means? I immediately say a similar, wimple word that means the same thing, and try to use the $2 over the $10 word in that conversation if I can. I don't reign in the complexity of my sentences or thoughts, I just change the vocab. It takes a bit or practice and effort to not seem like you're talking down to someone, but it's worth it to be able to communicate without making the other person feel stupid.

There are any number of reasons a person might not have as big a vocab as you - they might be ESL, for one. Or just be interested in another subject area. It doesn't mean that they're stupid, at all. And there is absolutely no reason - ever - to make someone feel stupid for not knowing all the same things that you know when they they are brave enough to show their ignorance and ask.

this is a good comment, anon.

*rein in

Sorry, just in a conversation about linguistic superiority...

ayrt

Lol, i said I had a large vocabulary, not that I knew how to spell ;p

I agree with this. Knowing how to speak to your audience is what half of communication is about, so maybe OP should think of it that way. If a layperson can't understand them, a large vocabulary won't help at all.

I can't distinguish between "normal words" and "too big", that's the problem. I don't know what words to expect people to know. They all feel the same to me. It happened with the word "stickler", is that too much? It doesn't seem like it. I just don't know. I can't tell. I just...know words, and they're all the same to me.

I'm kind of the same way, I use big words without realizing they're big. I won't dumb down my language because other people don't get it but I also don't expect everyone to google every word they don't understand in order to converse with me. Maybe what someone upthread suggested is a happy alternative, when they look confused, use another synonym that's a bit simpler. If your vocab is as big as you claim, you won't have a problem coming up with other words. This is what I do if the other people look confused, or I use the word in an example, and the people I'm talking to not only learn a new word for the day, I also get to keep an acquaintance and/or friend.

"stickler" is kinda...yeah, I'd expect most people to know that one tbh. unless they were ESL.

So you mean writting and not talking irl?
Personally I hate Googling when I can ask. Asking is more... friendly.
5-6 y. younger is not a huge disparity if you're past 30.

Edited (typo) 2014-09-05 00:13 (UTC)

Yeah, personally whenever I don't know about something that someone is talking about, I ask them directly because I'm talking with them, not with Google. I want to know about their perspective on the matter because we're having a friendly conversation, not a lecture...

You put into words my vague thoughts. Moreover when someone sends you to search online, it's like they don't want to 'waste' their time actually speaking. At least sometimes.

If you're asking for clarification of a point, that's one thing - Google won't give you the person you're talking to's answer.

Asking for the dictionary definition of a word when you can just look it up is obnoxious, though. It's not being friendly, it's demanding to be taught because Googling is too much effort.

Well, I don't use rare words, so we have different prespectives on this. I don't mind explaining jargon words and such.

The chief problem I have with Google and word definitions these days is it's so easy to find bits and pieces of sources that can be used to validate a person's biases and prejudices, especially when it comes to horrendously complex topics that can't be reduced to a one-paragraph soundbite such as religion, philosophy, politics, and sexuality.

[ SECRET POST #2802 ]

Re: Complaning thread!

Re: Complaning thread!

Re: Complaning thread!

Re: Complaning thread!

Re: Complaning thread!

Re: Complaning thread!

Re: Complaning thread!

Re: Complaning thread!

Re: Complaning thread!

Re: Complaning thread!

Re: Complaning thread!

Re: Complaning thread!

Re: Complaning thread!

Re: Complaning thread!

Re: Complaning thread!

Re: Complaning thread!

Re: Complaning thread!

Re: Complaning thread!

Re: Complaning thread!

Re: Complaning thread!

Re: Complaning thread!