Bob, at 13:04 on Jun 14 1995, you annoyed Bill Grimsley...

BL> but Bill's use of "wonderfully" made it just as clear that
he intended the
BL> technical meaning of "prosaic," and that he did not know
the other, more 
BL> common interpretation.

BG> Quite correct. I'd never even heard it used before, in that context.

BL> Yes.

Oh, that reminds me, one of my absolutely favourite TV shows of all time is
back on Mondays to Thursdays at 1830 on ABC-TV, "Yes, Minister!".
 No further comment required, right?  What a classic!

BL> The problem is with "wonderfully" as much as anything. He could
BL> have said "distinctive prosaic styles" and got away with it.

BG> No, because the meaning which I'd (correctly) attributed to the
BG> word, is actually _enhanced_ by the addition of "wonderfully".
BG> IOW, there was really nothing to get away with. The Macquarie
BG> makes that quite clear too. 

BL> "wonderfully prosaic" is like saying "wonderfully dull"; 

Not at all, Bob.  You're forgetting the context in which I used it.

BL> it can be interpreted as irony, and is funny. 

Could have been, had I meant definition #1.  But I din't.

BL> Your dictionary merely makes it clear that the word has two meanings: #1 
BL> the common meaning, and #2 the less common meaning.

Well, that's a matter of opinion, IMO. :)

As I read some books backwards, that would make #2 the more common meaning.

BL> Rod has gone off as usual, misunderstanding everything and arguing about 
BL> something different and calling Bill a liar, of all things. ROFL.

BG> No, Rod called me a "pathetic faker", I think you'll find.
BG> Which, I suppose, is much the same thing anyway.

BL> Even worse, I think... and that's when I came back in. Rod was being
BL> unfair.

Yeah, I thought so too.  In fact, much of his text is plainly insulting
lately, and it's starting to annoy me a bit.  I can have some good
discussions with him occasionally, but I can certainly do without the
condescending attitude. 

BL> I reckon I deserve a 9.6 for stirring... 
BG> Will you settle for a .38 perhaps ? :)

BL>   (grin)

Not for you, of course!  I meant for Rod.  :)

BL> He looked it up like I said... and I got him! He, he, he.

BG> Says he, conveniently forgetting that the second interpretation is exactly 
BG> what I meant anyway. So no, I'm not annoyed at all. You bastard! 

BL> he, he, he. I reckon it's a genuine 9.6 stir... especially when Rod 
BL> did most of it for me.

Fuck you!  Oops, looks like I might have just offended David again.  Oh
well, that's tough shit.  Anyway, I have saved points here, as I plead
ignorance on the common usage of "prosaic", and I flatly refuse
to award any points to Rod, because he was just being his usual self.  :)

Regards, Bill
@EOT:

--- Msgedsq 3.10 alpha