this post was submitted on 15 Jul 2024
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Sometimes we are bugged by some commonplace behavior, belief, or attitude, but bringing it up will come off as obnoxious and elitist. We all have those. I will tell you two of mine, in hope I am not unknowingly a snide weirdo.

1 - And/Or is redundant: Just use OR

At some point it was funny in context (like "the OP is stupid and/or crazy). I can hardly find a context that is not similar to this (arguably) ableist template.

In formal logic there is no use case for saying 'and' OR 'or', because simply OR entails AND.

If there was a valid case it should represent the logical structure of 'AND' OR 'XOR', but it is obvious that this is OR.

So, whenever we are tempted to say "and/or" it is kinda definitive that just OR should suffice.

2 - A 'steep' learning curve means the skill is quickly mastered : Just use 'learning curve'

Apparently stemming from an embodied metaphor between the steepness of a hill and the difficulty of climbing it, this misnomer is annoyingly common.

I have yet to find a single source that does not yield to this erroneous, ubiquitous misconception.

Same goes for the fancier alternative 'sharp' learning curve.

In fact, in a diagram where the vertical axis is the skill mastery and the horizontal is time, a steep curve would mean that the task is quick or easy to master, since it reaches the higher level quickly, hence the steepness.

Since the literal alternative ('Rust has a smooth learning curve') will be counter-intuitive and confusing, and I bet nobody will adopt it, I suggest the following solution.

Almost every time you feel the need to reach for this phrase, YSK that probably just using 'learning curve' should suffice. For example 'This language has a learning curve'. It gets the message across, without making others question your position in the graph interpretation learning curve.

What are your mundane grievances?

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[–] Phenomephrene@thebrainbin.org 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Anybody else get irked that people increasingly seem to not know the proper distinction between worse and worst? I see people frequently using the wrong one in the context of what they are trying to say. I just don't understand because bad/worse/worst is as simple of a concept as good/better/best which people don't tend to ever get wrong.

Also, the custom of saying 'bless you' after somebody sneezes. That can go away now. It's utterly useless. Somebody sneezed, that doesn't deserve any special acknowledgement. If there's a want to be polite offer them a tissue if they need it and you can accommodate.

[–] HeavyRaptor@lemmy.zip 1 points 4 months ago (1 children)

It would be weird to not acknowledge it. What should we say instead?

[–] Phenomephrene@thebrainbin.org 1 points 4 months ago

You only think it'd be weird not to acknowledge it because you're used to it being acknowledged. There is no real necessary follow up.

[–] SirSamuel@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Things that grind my gears but I don't comment on them because I don't want to be viewed as a pedantic twat:

Anywho Lose/loose It's/its

Driving behaviors:

Breaking small rules like changing lanes on a solid line Tailgating Not going on a green Blocking the box

Common courtesy:

Is a smile and a thank you too much to ask?

Miscellaneous:

Lists Irony Misplaced humor Niche references Very small rocks Bits of lead Churches

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[–] Jourei@lemm.ee 1 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Doors. I live alone so I don't need many but some are always in the way, blocking a closet if open etc.. I have been thinking of taking off several cabinet doors but where the hell am I to store them? Also, I paid a pretty penny for them, which I ofc regret, I don't need to hide my plates and cups or dry stuff...

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[–] BrianTheeBiscuiteer@lemmy.world 1 points 4 months ago

Not sure how shallow this is but bad math really irks me. Not getting the numbers wrong but overly simplifying a calculation like saying a "$20mil condo with 40 units is $500k per unit". Uh, there's a lot of material that exists outside of each room, not to mention permits and other fixed costs that are required to make a building of any size.

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