IIIIIIIIIIII's recent activity
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Comment on What writing 'tics' stand out to you? Repeated phrases, strange words, or otherwise weird stuff that jumps out at you. in ~books
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What writing 'tics' stand out to you? Repeated phrases, strange words, or otherwise weird stuff that jumps out at you.
Up front: I don't like the term 'tics', as it's a medical term for neurological or psychological involuntary movement, but the term is widely used to describe this phenomenon. I couldn't find a...
Up front: I don't like the term 'tics', as it's a medical term for neurological or psychological involuntary movement, but the term is widely used to describe this phenomenon. I couldn't find a more modern term despite trying. If we could come up with a better term, that'd be great!
I was just reading Starfarers by Poul Anderson, one of my favourite mid-century sci fi writers. He uses the word yonder so much - for space exploration, for what's over the horizon, even calling aliens 'the Yonderfolk'. I don't know if he knew it was an uncommon word or if he didn't like it.
It made me remember reading another sci-fi series, The Expanse, where I noticed a similar phrase that would yank me out of reading. It was essentially 'It is until it isn't.' As in, 'That plan'll work great, until it doesn't.' 'We'll keep living, till we don't.' 'They will until they don't.' Once I noticed it, it was in every second chapter (I guess one of the two writers preferred it).
My more nebulous one makes its way a lot into literary fiction - '[building] was all glass and steel', '[the dress] was all silk and shadows', and, if they're feeling very adventurous, '[something] was all copper and wine and smells of before.' Every time I see that phrasing I whack myself in the head gently with my book.
What are your funny, annoying, infuriating, or notable phrases that stop you in your tracks - or, once noticed, always jump out at you?
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Comment on US FBI readies new war on trans people in ~lgbt
IIIIIIIIIIII Link ParentI'm not nukeman, but I would immediately feel safe if I saw someone of your stature and physique wearing that shirt in my vicinity. In my head everyone on Tildes is a kind of floating digital...I'm not nukeman, but I would immediately feel safe if I saw someone of your stature and physique wearing that shirt in my vicinity.
In my head everyone on Tildes is a kind of floating digital entity. Because we tend to write more formally on Tildes than other sites, those floating digital entities are wearing business attire.
I don't see many white, cis-presenting, physically imposing men wearing shirts professing allyship, and I get around the world a fair bit. If I saw you with your 'free dad hugs', I'd probably approach you and politely request one, as I've never had one in my life.
Thanks for what you are doing.
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Comment on US FBI readies new war on trans people in ~lgbt
IIIIIIIIIIII Link ParentSometimes I find my only coping mechanism that works is laughing. When I realised this was genuinely what they were going with now, I took a break from existential dread to share that with my...Sometimes I find my only coping mechanism that works is laughing.
the love people have for trans people is so strong that they get turned into assassins
When I realised this was genuinely what they were going with now, I took a break from existential dread to share that with my friends. Thanks <3
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Comment on Jimmy Kimmel pulled “indefinitely” by ABC after Charlie Kirk comments in ~tv
IIIIIIIIIIII Link ParentI hope this makes the reality of the situation plain for some of the more 'centrist' or 'I'm not into politics' Americans. I think this is point 4 on Umberto Eco's Ur-Fascism essay. I think many...I hope this makes the reality of the situation plain for some of the more 'centrist' or 'I'm not into politics' Americans.
I think this is point 4 on Umberto Eco's Ur-Fascism essay.
I think many thought that, because a Goebbels-like figure hadn't stepped in to nationalise the media, that the media landscape in the US was completely different to 1930s Germany.
Having studied the period extensively at a postgraduate level, these are the exact tactics that were used. Frighten businesses into compliance, until they are expressing the party line because not doing so carries frightening penalties.
The Sinclair special is a particularly obvious and callous attempt at point 11.
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Comment on Therapists are secretly using ChatGPT in ~health.mental
IIIIIIIIIIII Link ParentYeah those are good points. I think the thing that threw me most was, as you say, asking what antibiotics I wanted. Another big thing was that this was 2012 internet, so the sources he consulted...Yeah those are good points. I think the thing that threw me most was, as you say, asking what antibiotics I wanted.
Another big thing was that this was 2012 internet, so the sources he consulted were (in my mind) authoritative. I remember Mayo Clinic being one of them.
If a doctor used Google to search my symptoms now, even for a minor ailment, I would be horrified!
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Comment on Therapists are secretly using ChatGPT in ~health.mental
IIIIIIIIIIII Link ParentI had a doctor literally google my symptoms while I was in their office once. I was sitting next to them, in their office. This must have been in about 2012, and the doctor was in their 50's. They...I had a doctor literally google my symptoms while I was in their office once. I was sitting next to them, in their office. This must have been in about 2012, and the doctor was in their 50's.
They then asked me what kind of general antibiotics I'd like for what turned out to be a minor chest infection. How the fuck should I know?! It felt like someone on an IT helpdesk asking which drivers I'd like.
It was the most confusing medical interaction I've ever had. And it did make me think the exact same things as your point A, B, and C.
That's exactly what I meant! I remember 'presently'. I think it got better as the books went along, but the book's third person omniscient narration made it confusing enough on first read.