Robert Seeberger wrote: > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Sonja van Baardwijk-Holten" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "Brin-L" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Friday, May 03, 2002 4:33 AM > Subject: Re: And here we go again. (L3) > > > Robert Seeberger wrote: > > > > > > > > I see 2 patterns superimposed on each other. > > > 1 You like to argue with Americans > > > 2 You have a problem admitting that you are a disagreeable cuss > > > > I'd say the latter is an inexcusable personal attack (weather it was meant > funny > > or not). If Jeroen had said something like this he'd be crusified by a > number of > > people on this list by now. I don't think it is funny and it doesn't > contribute > > anything to the discussion. > > "Disagreeable cuss" was intended to make Jeroen laugh. > I'm pretty sure I put a <G> in the post (I'm gonna make myself late to work > by answering this post) > Now if you used a dictionary to try to understand what a "disagreeable cuss" > is, you might get the idea that it is a great insult. But in colloquial > english as commonly used in this part of the USA it is about as mild an > insult as could possibly be made, and is obviously an attempt at humor (in > that it makes fun of the entire situation). > The fact that you would even think to complain about it shows how easy it is > to misunderstand a "second language", and how easy it is to jump to > conclusions. > "Disagreeable cuss" was a friendly jibe and should not be viewed as an > actual insult.
Explaination accepted and filed away for future reference. I apreciate you took the time to respond. And I checked and actually missed the <G> on first reading and recomposing your post. Sorry 'bout snipping it. It was unintentionally and I hope you will accept my appologies for jumping down your throat. I guess you won't make it to the badies page after all. :O) <Jerry Springer mode> Maybe we should all remember that understanding something written down, weather or not in a first, second, third or even fourth language can be full of pitfalls leading us to adopt certain assumptions as an absolute true as clearly shown by this example. </Jerry Springer mode> ;o) Sonja
