DIRECTV HD Channel Anticipation (Official Q4 2010 Thread)

Historically, it was a form of punishment in the Roman Army where 1 in 10 was executed. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decimation_(Roman_army)

Current usage typically refers to causing great harm or destruction.

Other common errors: Their/there/they're, loose/lose

 

The greatest error—at least the most frequent— is writing "it's" for the possessive "its"....

Decimilated: How one feels after trying to learn tens and ones in first grade....

 

I saw where regional sports networks require Choice or above or Mas Ultra or above, so you may not get them with the $19.99 package.

 

You get NESN also, don't you?

 

I'm aware of the different usages of decimated. I'd like to hear rich584's reasoning.

 

Be happy to. Don't quite know what you want me to elaborate on tho. I'll wait for your reply.

Rich

 

You're right. I really gotta wonder how decimation went from that clear definition to the many misuses I see today.

I think we've come to accept everything that people say no matter how wrong it is. And that's just not right. Accepting misused words can only lead to folks being baffled by BS.

So many common errors, so hard to understand what people are talking about. I used to sit in staff meetings that were held every Tuesday and my boss would give me something to do and tell me he wanted it done "next Wednesday". My reply would usually be something like "I can't get it done by tomorrow." This would usually spark a good natured argument about when "next Wednesday" would be. And that would eat up the rest of the meeting.

Rich

 

OK, I think I know what you mean now. It means 1 in 10. It has nothing to do with how "devastated" a family is because an accident occurred and a family member was lost, unless it was actually a family of 10 that had lost one member. I realize English evolves, but this is just wrong.

I judge people by how well they speak or write. When I hear someone say, "Irregardless" of what you think, I'm right.", I don't think I'm reading or hearing what a person who has a firm grip on the language is trying to get across. But, even my spell checker thinks irregardless is a word. :nono2:

Rich

 

The best news of all is that this thread ends in less than 62 hours...

 

I agree on irregardless, but "to cause great destruction or harm to" is a perfectly acceptable usage of the word decimated. It is not "just wrong". This definition comes from Merriam-Webster. You do understand that language evolves, yes? Do you say thine and thou when everyone else says yours and you? Of course not, those words haven't been used in many years.

 

Delve a bit into the proper use of thine and thou and you might be a bit surprised. It's proper usage is limited to very personal thoughts or statements. "I thee wed", for instance.

As to decimated, I'm decimated that you don't agree with me. :lol:

Rich

 

+1.

 

Irregardless of the exact usage of thine and thou, my point stands, that language changes. Meanings of words change but you don't seem to believe that. Heck, you even used a contraction! Blasphemy!

 

:balloons: Three more days and we get to start this all over again.

 

Nitpicking lingo here on totally different topics in a thread for Channel Anticipation?

By the way...if someone is going to critique lingo...they need to use proper lingo themselves...

:backtotop (for only 61 more pain-filled hours....)

 

What's blasphemy is wanting and waiting but not getting the national HD channels we're all agreed on.

 

The smilie didn't tip you off? Oh well!

 

Yes!

 

I'm pretty sure I'll never see BBCAHD on D*. I sure hope I'm wrong.

Rich

 

That's not a smilie.... is not like a or

Looks like the grammar and smilie police got ya this time. :lol: