This thread has been so much fun to read. I've a couple of peeves to add : when people say or write "could of" and "would of" for "could have" and "would have" when people begin a sentence (most often a response to a question) with "So" - it does serve to orientate the listener, but that in itself is patronizing. This use of "so" seems to be a relatively recent (within the last 5 years or so) linguistic tic.
This reminds me of a story. Yeah, everything does. Long ago, before I learned better, I used to watch the Today show. Al Roker was on and he couldn't get through three sentences without an "unbelievable". I had no computer back then, so I wrote a letter to The Today show pointing out that Al sounded like he was calling everyone a liar. Some days later, as I was watching the show, I heard Al start to say "unbelievable", several times but catch himself in time. I couldn't help but laugh it up.
Oh, guess, what- "like" is back! Whenever I happen to be riding the city bus, if high schoolers are there talking to each other it's like a flashback to early 1980's Vals- not a sentence comes out of their mouths without 'like' inserted someplace. A little behind the times, wouldn't you say? lol
Or how about LOLCats? I almost get a little concerned when I have no difficulty reading these things...
@Janice Martin Beautiful! The look of intent concentration on the kitty's face is precious! How often I am reminded of our dear little cats, and their individual ways and habits, no two alike! We have none now, but have often questioned why. Frank
@Janice Martin A few hours ago, having finished my half-hour watching Wheel of Fortune with my wife (the only TV show I watch regularly), she switched over to a "relocation show", a couple moving overseas. During the intro, a large cat was seen squatted on a toilet seat ring, peeing into the stool! No mention was made of it in the dialogue, we both got a tremendous "kick" out of it! We then commiserated over how would one teach a cat to use a stool? Obviously, no cat would do this without prompting, I think. Frank
Oh, it's possible. We had a cat for many years- a huge Maine Coon- and he somehow taught himself to use the toilet. I thought the kids were making it up til I happened to see him sitting there.
@Janice Martin Well, now, if I could see a cat calmly pushing the lever to flush after completing the business at hand, I would be absolutely convinced of cats' intelligence abilities overshadowing that of dogs. Failing in that, I am still in belief of cats being able to out-do dogs in most ways. Frank
Well, he "did his business," but he never learned how to flush!!! I loved that cat... he was with us for 13 years... and still miss him