Sunday, January 18, 2009

A MOST SUBVERSIVE MISSIVE — by Steve Nadis

I might be weird but I’m fond of the word missive and use it often. But it’s not familiar to some and perhaps mathematicians. And when I refered to some papers that were unexpectedly posted on the math archives as “missives,” one mathematician told me to use another word, as people would not trust missive and would be looking for a “hidden agenda.” Rather than try to fight that irrational battle, I tried to use a more neutral term. Does anybody got a problem with “papers?”
Posted by Snake at 04:49:25
Comments

8 Responses to “A MOST SUBVERSIVE MISSIVE — by Steve Nadis”

  1. Gordon Marshall says:
    January 19, 2009 at 9:54 pm

    It won’t be long before “papers” is just as archaic as “missives.” How about “e-missives”?

  2. Anonymous says:
    January 19, 2009 at 10:10 pm

    That sounds possibly dirty, which could help its chances of entering the vernacular.–S

  3. Gordon Marshall says:
    January 20, 2009 at 4:05 am

    “Everybody had a good year, everybody had a nocturnal e-missive.”

  4. Anonymous says:
    January 20, 2009 at 5:17 am

    Please, we’re trying to run a respectable blog. Let’s not go there…
    –S

  5. Anonymous says:
    January 20, 2009 at 6:25 am

    “Does anybody got”?? Really, Snake. I’m shocked.
    -M.P.
    P.S: “papers”? No prob, as long as they’re EZ-Widers.
    ~~;-p

  6. Anonymous says:
    January 20, 2009 at 2:37 pm

    Sorry for my improper diction. Whoever wrote that post is gonna hear from Mr. Trump: “You’re fired!” –S

  7. Anonymous says:
    January 22, 2009 at 9:47 pm

    I thought “does anybody got” added an implied tone of comic belligerence: “You gotta problem with that?”
    - Carol

  8. Anonymous says:
    January 23, 2009 at 2:55 am

    Thanks, Carol. At least somebody gets it around here… -S

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