My father and I were discussing a Straight Dope article on Yiddish and had the following conversation via email, one line per email. I think this helps explain my sense of humor (D are my Dad’s lines, B are mine):
D: Very scholarly and essentially correct.
B: Essentially? What mistakes does it make?
D: None that I could see. It’s just a way of phrasing it.
B: Ah, such lovely precise language!
D: Precise is for pedagogues.
B: Also for communicating clearly and accurately. And that would be precision, not precise!
D: Don’t be so picky!
B: Why?
D: Why not?
B: Precision is useful because it conveys the information accurately.
D: As long as it isn’t overemphasized or obsessed upon.
B: I don’t think that one mention is too much.
D: I forgot what we were originally discussing.
B: Your comment on the Yiddish article.
D: Yes, but I forget what it was.
B: You suggested the article was (and I’m paraphrasing here) less than completely correct. When I asked what specifically was wrong, you replied that there really wasn’t anything wrong with it.
D: I didn’t say it was in any way incorrect. I said it was essentially correct, which means that there’s nothing wrong with it.
B: No, your phrase implies that there is something not quite right with the article.
D: I know what I meant, which, unless you have hitherto undisclosed ESP, you couldn’t possibly have.
B: You may have meant what you are thinking, I am not disputing that, but the words you used convey a commonly-accepted meaning. So again, your response was imprecise.
D: I am in total disagreement with your interpretation, which is, after all, only your opinion.
B: I see that even at your supposedly mature age, you still can’t admit to minor errors. Oh well.
D: I can’t?
B: Apparently not. So sad…
D: It’s amazing how mistaken one son can be!
B: Yes but not in this instance.
D: That’s another example of how mistaken you can be! It’s sad.
B: Sad is one way of characterizing it. Mistaken, though, is terribly wrong.
D: You keep persisting with the same error. I’m so disappointed!
B: And who is responsible for your feelings? You are, so don’t go putting them off on me.
D: Don’t put that on me, buddy! At almost 41 years old, you’re entirely responsible for yourself.
B: You misunderstood me, as usual. I am saying you are responsible for your own emotions! Such as being sad.
D: Well, of course, but you need to express yourself much more clearly.
B: Hmm, I believe this is where we came in.
This was 34 emails for those of you still reading. 34!
BillSaysThis 