Words! Tosh! Etymology!
Dear sports coaches/motivational speakers/idiots/Americans,

Just because you've spotted some little quirk of language that you think is clever it does not mean that you have to ram it down our throats all the time. These quirks are, at best, occasionally useful mnemonics. They do not give you some greater insight into how the world must necessarily be nor into the etymology of a word.

For example, most of us are aware that making unfounded assumptions is risky and can lead to undesirable consequences. We live our lives with this in mind. Being told that "When you assume you make an ass out of 'u' and 'me'" merely serves to make you look childish and the kind of person who can't remember their own name without having it tattooed on the back of their hand.

Likewise most of us are aware that historical records are often filtered and distorted depending on who records them. Thus "When you break down 'history' you get 'his story'", is also a teeth-grindingly annoying thing to be told, especially when you obviously believe that this is actually the origin of the word 'history'.

Yours etc.,

flimflam
(flimflam_machine, Tue 9 Mar 2010, 16:05, 6 replies)

.
There's no 'I' in 'team'!

There is meat in there though.
( Not Pineapple anymore, Tue 9 Mar 2010, 16:22, closed)

No I in team
I had a boss who used to say this and every time I would mentally add; that's true Tony, but there is a lot of u in useless cunt.
(Kitcar memeless in a meme filled world, Tue 9 Mar 2010, 16:52, closed)

ooh
I'm a mnemonic.

Sorry, that was it.
(jennymnemonic, Tue 9 Mar 2010, 16:32, closed)

Are you
A useful mnemonic?
(flimflam_machine, Tue 9 Mar 2010, 16:49, closed)

i am not.

(jennymnemonic, Tue 9 Mar 2010, 16:53, closed)

*Forwards to the Goat*

( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Tue 9 Mar 2010, 22:12, closed)