Argh, I think I have a bigger aversion
..to misuse of random than I thought. The downs syndrome story isn't random, it's nice. the Amsterdam story isn't random, it's strange, or maybe a bit surreal. The Charlie Chaplins had presumably all arranged to be dressed that way, so it wasn't even a coincidence, and if you are going to see a lot of people in a costume, either a party or a tourist destination would be the place.

All stories that would be decent enough when related to a term other than bloody "Random"
(clinteastwoodbradfield, Thu 21 Apr 2011, 12:34, 19 replies)

Yes. I believe the subject is using the word in a broad, colloquial sense.
Gay no longer means happy.
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Thu 21 Apr 2011, 12:40, closed)

Fair enough. Well I for one am also looking forward to the "tell us about things that are nang" QOTW, then.
(clinteastwoodbradfield, Thu 21 Apr 2011, 12:44, closed)

A sign
put on a pile of bricks and wood for a joke is not random either, so I'd take this up with whoever phrased the question.

or a shrink.

Oh, and fuck off.
( scarpe We Stole Bikes, Thu 21 Apr 2011, 12:42, closed)

If we all thought like you
This would be a short QOTW and we'd all be pedantic twats
(andythepieman Is surfing the waves of indifference on, Thu 21 Apr 2011, 12:43, closed)

Touchy, eh? The QOTW is asking for trouble, the phrase "Random" is pretty much hated by anyone who has ever used it in its proper sense, of course people are going to whinge about it.
(clinteastwoodbradfield, Thu 21 Apr 2011, 12:49, closed)

Random is not a phrase.
I mean, if we're being strict about adhering to definitions of words.
( scarpe We Stole Bikes, Thu 21 Apr 2011, 12:53, closed)

I will no longer refer to it as a phrase when idiots stop using it as a one word catch-all term that lazily contextualises anything outside of an individual's normal life experience. Sorry if it's, just like, so random, the way this guy on the Internet is moaning about words.
(clinteastwoodbradfield, Thu 21 Apr 2011, 13:03, closed)

that should be
"contextualises lazily".
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Thu 21 Apr 2011, 13:08, closed)

Edit for getting all in a muddle there. I like my way better though
(clinteastwoodbradfield, Thu 21 Apr 2011, 13:13, closed)

Have a wank and a nap.
It will help.
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Thu 21 Apr 2011, 13:16, closed)

Thanks for pointing out the mistake though, I will bear it in mind in future. Unfortunately you will probably hang on to bloody random. Still, it's a good quick way of working out who is likely to be a twat in a bar.
(clinteastwoodbradfield, Thu 21 Apr 2011, 13:19, closed)

Oh, I assure you, that works both ways.
Don't go changing now.
( scarpe We Stole Bikes, Thu 21 Apr 2011, 13:20, closed)

Indeed.
Anyone in a bar who engages in language pedantry is clearly some sort of intellectual masturbator with significant control issues.
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Thu 21 Apr 2011, 13:31, closed)

That should be
"sorry it's just, like, so random"
( scarpe We Stole Bikes, Thu 21 Apr 2011, 13:11, closed)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colloquialism

( rofl harris, Thu 21 Apr 2011, 13:01, closed)

i wrote the downs story
Because it was the first random story that popped into my head.
(OTT, Thu 21 Apr 2011, 13:41, closed)

I think it is random
As the author of the Amsterdam story I would argue that it is was a random occurance. One of the definitions of random is: proceeding, made, or occurring without definite aim, reason, or pattern.

If it wasn't random, what was the purpose or reason of the people on the bike? I personally can't think of a rational reason to don a hat made of light, dress all in black and ride a bike with 3 of my mates. Hence, to me, those people were behaving randomly. That and they were pretty cool.

If the use of the word Random is that much of a problem for you, skip this week's QOTW and go post in /talk instead. Nice story about something that really does meet your criteria of random though.
(Booce, Thu 21 Apr 2011, 13:49, closed)

Hänet tunnetaan parhaiten Paul Simonin kanssa perustamastaan duosta Simon & Garfunkel.
Hän on voittanut viisi Grammy-palkintoa mukaan lukien palkinnon elämäntyöstään, sekä ansainnut Golden Globe -ehdokkuuden. Garfunkel on myös päässyt Rock and Roll Hall of Fameen vuonna 1994.
( Dr. Shambolic je suis charlie, Thu 21 Apr 2011, 13:59, closed)

So what word would you prefer
to 'random'?
( Mrs Entity is in hiding., Thu 21 Apr 2011, 21:17, closed)