Posted by Ian Wright on June 04, 2001 at 15:26:20 from 195.92.194.18:
In Reply to: Re: 'slovenly' habit posted by Peter H on June 04, 2001 at 13:59:09:
Oh, I don't know,,,,, seems a perfectly good word to me, my dictionary gives "negligent and careless; slipshod" as one definition. It seems to fit the case,,,,,,
Try to SAY Double-u, Dee, Em, Tee, Gee, Tee, Ess. Does it sound like a book anyone would want to read? "We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea" though,,,,, much more interesting.
I know the society has use the abbreviated form since the year dot, and more's the pity. It's another bit of jargon designed to exclude the 'outsider' and make the 'insider' feel just that little bit special.
Did Arthur Ransome write Swallows and Amazons or did he scribble S&A?
Away with Initials say I, have nothing to do with them.
,,,,,,if you really, really object to "slovenly" I'll happily substitute "pernicious", "idle", "ugly" or "irritating",,,, your choice.
IanW.