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@everyone trying to help: bosskev, sent you a message explaining a bit. when i visit consumerist i can use the reply and profile buttons, etc just fine. i can't do it at Giz, Jalopnik, Deadspin, etc. i am at work so i can't reinstall the browswer, but i don't think that is the issue. the problem first started on 04/01 and went for about a week. it mysteriously fixed itself and then returned a couple days ago. so far i have: -cleared cache, cookies, internet files, history, checked security, etc. obviously didn't work. -tried browsing the site in classic and threaded view, but also no impact.
i am really sorry for the thread jack guys. i am just really hoping crowd sourcing this problem will get it fixed.
@The Lab: Well, if the offense/offender is egregious enough and your writing is witty enough that you can go all Dorothy Parker on them, then please do lambaste the dullard publicly.
@shiftyeyedgoat: you are again wrong about the definition and referring back to the example you provided the third definition does not make use of the word to imply and negative connotation, but instead is actually referring to size. The enormity of such an act of generosity is staggering. I don't think the example is trying to convey in any sense the generosity exhibited was heinous.
@Nick: It may be that you are viewing comments in "classic" rather than "threaded" mode. More likely, you need to reinstall your browser. It s kind of embarrassing (for you) to be posting on a tech website without being able to fix a problem with the reply button.
@The Lab: Just for kicks, I switched this thread into "classic" view (I normally run in "threaded" view) and am now using the "reply" button to connect my reply to your comment. Let's see what happens, "submit"...
@bosskev: Worked just fine, as expected. Nick, your system and/or browser would seem to have some kind of major issue. As a quick test, might I suggest you try an alternate browser and see if you get a different result.
@bosskev: I have been having trouble with reply as well, on and off, for over a week. Also, I tend to stick to classic view vs threaded since the threaded view will exclude some comments from being shown. If you want to see this for yourself, check back on secret thread (you know the one) and click back and forth between views and watch the # of comments. There is a significant difference on the count
Enormitynessinglyerton. That was just to piss off the grammer Nazis.
@soggy_cheerio: It'd be far more helpful if people would use shityeyedgoat's informative comment to learn something, instead of using it as an opportunity to jump down someone's throat.
@shiftyeyedgoat: per your definition tell me how 3. greatness of size, scope, extent, or influence; immensity: The enormity of such an act of generosity is staggering. doesn't work?
@Nick: Nick, are you having trouble with the "click here to reply to this comment" button? I've noticed how for quite a while now your replies, like this one as an example, have not been attached to the comment to which you are replying.
I'm a (reformed) grammar/spelling Nazi, but before I (used to) chastise someone for poor usage, I always made damn sure I knew what the hell I was talking about.
@shiftyeyedgoat: Also, from the same continued entry at dictionary.com:
Usage note:
3. Enormity has been in frequent and continuous use in the sense "immensity" since the 18th century: The enormity of the task was overwhelming. Some hold that enormousness is the correct word in that sense and that enormity can only mean "outrageousness" or "atrociousness": The enormity of his offenses appalled the public. Enormity occurs regularly in edited writing with the meanings both of great size and of outrageous or horrifying character, behavior, etc. Many people, however, continue to regard enormity in the sense of great size as nonstandard.
@shiftyeyedgoat: Dude, you are digging in your heels in a situation that simply does not warrant such obstinacy. Language evolves. Even in the article to which you linked it is recognized that the word "enormity" has multiple usages, including a meaning of great size.
Wait for someone to go all there/their/they're incorrectly, then jump all over them, and preferably in a witty or entertaining way. In the meantime, settle down with "Eats, Shoots & Leaves" until you get this out of your system.
@shiftyeyedgoat: I'm with you. You are 100% correct. The people trying to correct you are uneducated twits. Unfortunately, after enough of these heathens use a word incorrectly, it does become acceptable usage.
@soggy_cheerio: Of all the arguments against this usage, you managed to chose the least defensible one. Originally, enormity meant enormousness but has evolved into the usage it has now. If you are against the bastardisation of the English language, you should really be defending the original meaning, no?
Language has been evolving for hundreds of years before we got our dirty little hands on it, so I find it hard to understand what you feel you are defending. Our English is no more 'correct' than it was 200 years ago or will be 200 years from now.
@scuba_steve: No, sir. You are incorrect. The use of enormity as a synonym for enormousness has gradually become more accepted. The use of the word as shiftyeyedgoat suggests dates from the 15th century, while the use of the word as a synonym for enormousness or immensity dates from the late 18th century(as mentioned above).
Mr. Ellis: [in model rocket class] What is that, Tomkinson?
Tomkinson: [standing before an enormous rocket he's assembling] It's a model rocket, sir.
Mr. Ellis: It's a bit big for a model, isn't it?
Tomkinson: It's a full-scale model, sir.
Mr. Ellis: [annoyed] It's not a model if it's full-scale, Tomkinson, it's a rocket.
Tomkinson: Yes, it's good, isn't it, sir? It's got nine engines, an enormous...
Mr. Ellis: No no no, that's not the point. That is not a model. It'll be hell if this comes out at speech day exhibition. You're a very stupid boy building rockets like this, Tomkinson.
36 feet? 1600 pounds? Being launched by an amateur? It might be a scale model Saturn V rocket going UP, but on the way back DOWN all I see is one gigantic, deadly lawn dart.
@bosskev: I think then is an important time to remember a lesson Anne Heche taught me, in that awesome documentary, Volcano, when it comes to flying lava bombs.
"Hey, no. Look at it. Keep watching it. You don't do anything until you know where it's gonna land."
04/25/09
04/25/09
As an aside, I didn't know microphones that shitty even existed.
04/25/09
-cleared cache, cookies, internet files, history, checked security, etc.
obviously didn't work.
-tried browsing the site in classic and threaded view, but also no impact.
i am really sorry for the thread jack guys. i am just really hoping crowd sourcing this problem will get it fixed.
04/25/09
Just sent you a message back with a possible fix. Maybe.
04/25/09
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04/25/09
04/25/09
@shiftyeyedgoat: you are again wrong about the definition and referring back to the example you provided the third definition does not make use of the word to imply and negative connotation, but instead is actually referring to size.
The enormity of such an act of generosity is staggering.
I don't think the example is trying to convey in any sense the generosity exhibited was heinous.
/finger wag
04/25/09
04/25/09
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04/26/09
Enormitynessinglyerton. That was just to piss off the grammer Nazis.
04/25/09
3. greatness of size,
I would say it was used in the proper context.
04/25/09
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04/25/09
It does not mean something large. The closest word is enormousness. Enormity means (per dictionary.com)
1.outrageous or heinous character; atrociousness: the enormity of war crimes.
2. something outrageous or heinous, as an offense: The bombing of the defenseless population was an enormity beyond belief.
3. greatness of size, scope, extent, or influence; immensity: The enormity of such an act of generosity is staggering.
04/25/09
*greatness of size, scope, extent, or influence**
if greatness of size isn't a definition of large, then I don't know wtf is...
04/25/09
"the large size or scale of something"
I'm a (reformed) grammar/spelling Nazi, but before I (used to) chastise someone for poor usage, I always made damn sure I knew what the hell I was talking about.
04/25/09
[/sarcasm]
04/25/09
But sure, use English as you wish. Just know grammarians worldwide and wagging their fingers derisively: [blog.oup.com]
04/25/09
3. Enormity has been in frequent and continuous use in the sense "immensity" since the 18th century: The enormity of the task was overwhelming. Some hold that enormousness is the correct word in that sense and that enormity can only mean "outrageousness" or "atrociousness": The enormity of his offenses appalled the public. Enormity occurs regularly in edited writing with the meanings both of great size and of outrageous or horrifying character, behavior, etc. Many people, however, continue to regard enormity in the sense of great size as nonstandard.
04/25/09
Wait for someone to go all there/their/they're incorrectly, then jump all over them, and preferably in a witty or entertaining way. In the meantime, settle down with "Eats, Shoots & Leaves" until you get this out of your system.
04/25/09
I have severe disdain for "evolving" language. I prefer the creationist philosophy of words.
@1 DVS BSTD-Its off the Hizzle fo $hizzle My Dizzle: Really, guy? If this weren't such a blatant affront to all that is holy in both English and acronyms, maybe.. but the punctuation had to go, too?
04/25/09
Christ, people, it's Saturday; do you have to shit on people seven days a week?
04/25/09
I save that for Saturday night. Preferably after a few drinks.
04/25/09
Quit bastardizing the language!
04/25/09
Language has been evolving for hundreds of years before we got our dirty little hands on it, so I find it hard to understand what you feel you are defending. Our English is no more 'correct' than it was 200 years ago or will be 200 years from now.
04/25/09
04/20/09
Tomkinson: [standing before an enormous rocket he's assembling] It's a model rocket, sir.
Mr. Ellis: It's a bit big for a model, isn't it?
Tomkinson: It's a full-scale model, sir.
Mr. Ellis: [annoyed] It's not a model if it's full-scale, Tomkinson, it's a rocket.
Tomkinson: Yes, it's good, isn't it, sir? It's got nine engines, an enormous...
Mr. Ellis: No no no, that's not the point. That is not a model. It'll be hell if this comes out at speech day exhibition. You're a very stupid boy building rockets like this, Tomkinson.
04/20/09
04/20/09
04/20/09
The strongly worded resolution should be coming in anyday now, assuming that France doesn't veto it first...
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BTW, are they going to go all the way and have a somewhat realistic gantry?
04/20/09
04/20/09
"Hey, no. Look at it. Keep watching it. You don't do anything until you know where it's gonna land."
04/20/09
Amateur doesn't mean anything. There are lots of amateurs who do things better than someone who's paid because they love what their doing.
04/20/09
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04/20/09
Hard to reach orbit at only 4,000 feet. I mean, the highest parachute jump by a human was 102,800 feet, and as far as I know, he didn't reach orbit.
04/20/09