If we do that, it seems to be more appropriate then her regular handle.
Since when is buffy an insulting term???
- Thread starter Syzygys
- Start date
If we do that, it seems to be more appropriate then her regular handle.
Fraggle Rocker
Staff member
* * * * NOTE FROM THE MODERATOR * * * *
Yes it is! I have explained that in excruciating detail. The universal standard convention for forming a nickname in English is to truncate the name to one syllable, and optionally add Y, IE, EY or (lately) I. This is a grammatical rule of vernacular English. To object to it is to not understand how language works, and one of my duties as the Linguistics Moderator is to teach all of you how language works. This is not just a personal avocation: it serves to improve the flow and clarity of information on an English-language website, and to reduce the number of stupid arguments--like this one.
You have absolutely no right to complain about "Buffy." Your objection seems to be based on the fact that it's customarily a feminine nickname. Well duh! That's because, up to now, there were no masculine given names starting with the syllable BUF-. (Indeed I can find none on the baby names websites.) Now that there is one, the standard grammatical rule has mechanically turned it into "Buffy." You don't object to "Buff," and "Buffy" is formed on the same rule. Unisex nicknames are increasingly common in anglophone countries, especially the USA. My wife and I both have them, so now you do too. Welcome to this august group.
Besides, as I noted earlier, I guarantee that all those rich boys who were named Buffett or Buffington, after their maternal grandfather's surname, were called "Buffy" by their friends.
The proper way for you to react to this is as a gentleman, with grace and good humor. If you detect an offensive intention behind it, the absolute best way to respond is to ignore it. Trolls are poorly socialized children who live for attention, no matter how perverse, so to ignore them is the cruelest punishment.
Sorry I haven't been in the loop on any of those. If you have a couple of examples of your attempts handy, please present them to me and I will apply my own judgment. This sounds like a matter of language so the Linguistics board is the place to sort it out.
Actually, Bruce is right, it isn't a contraction, it is an abbreviation. A contraction is:
"the shortening of a word, syllable, or word group by omission of internal letters."
The key word is internal. Leaving out the end of a name is not internal, it is external. An example of contraction is 'can't' instead of 'cannot' or 'Jr.' for 'Junior'...
"the shortening of a word, syllable, or word group by omission of internal letters."
The key word is internal. Leaving out the end of a name is not internal, it is external. An example of contraction is 'can't' instead of 'cannot' or 'Jr.' for 'Junior'...
Last edited:
Buffalo Roam
Registered Senior Member
Trippy, a lot of things disappeared when the Mods shut down the forum and cleaned the sight, including the Rule Post from Asguard that any diminutive contractions of members name for the purpose of insulting them and trash there argument, would be deleted and or result in a Ban.
Last edited by a moderator:
I demand my right to be called Vomit-face. 
You have absolutely no right to complain about "Buffy"
so court is out?..Buffy is ok?
so court is out?..Buffy is ok?
I demand my right to be called Vomit-face.
Can I all you 'Vommy' in an affectionate manner?
Hehe! Sure!
I think Bruce, the Buffman is better, so we don't hurt his sensitive, feminine side...
Syz, the Syllogist
Last edited:
Fraggle Rocker
Staff member
* * * * NOTE FROM THE MODERATOR * * * *
That is my judgment as the Linguistics Moderator. However, I do not run this forum. The decision is up to James. I am merely advising him.
This kind of reminds me of the "political correctness" that the conservatives/Republicans are always complaining about. We cannot use Buffy because someone gets offended. I thought Republicans/conservatives were bigger than that, especially since Buffy is the name of a hot vampier killer too.
I thought it was a fairly straightforward question BR. Is that the post you were referring to or not?
Buffalo Roam
Registered Senior Member
And I answered you straight forward, and as a Mod you are fully aware that a lot of information was taken off the forums when they were shut down, and topic merged and postings of rules in the Forums were deleted for the cleaning......you were a part of this weren't you?
You are a Mod aren't you? You sure act like one........
"Do As I Say Not As I Do"
.
No you did not, I asked you if this post 2029082/216 was the post from Asguard you were refering to. A simple yes/no question, and one that, so far, you have avoided answering.
Is that the post you were referring to or not.
No, I'm fairly sure I wasn't.
The events you're referring to, apparently, only applied to the WE&P fora, fora which, generally speaking, I stay out of, because I didn't sign up to a science forum to discuss politics in the United States or the Middle East which is where most of those threads seem to end up heading.
I also do not recall String or Tiassa mentioning this occuring in the soopa-secrit moderator forum.
So to explicitly answer your questions (although it is, strictly speaking, off topic, and I will not be addressing it further), I do not recall having any knowledge of it, and I had no involvement in it.
Now, if you will repay the courtosey of my straight answer with one of your own, I would greatly appreciate it.
Is this post: 2029082/216 the post you were referring to or not?
Yes or No?
Buffalo Roam
Registered Senior Member
Does that post have anything to do with the term Buffy, I though you claim to be logical.
Seriously?
Let's review the conversation then shall we?
The last few posts have been, in essence me trying to get a yes or now answer out of you to a yes or no question, and you engaging in behaviour that is bordering on being insulting and offensive.
Now, I'm asking you again.
Is this post 209082/216 the post from Asguard that you were referring to or not?
Incidentaly, you seem to be implying that this line of questioning is off topic, however I note that Fraggle has been through this thread, deleted one of mine and part of yours as being offtopic, but has let the line of questioning stand, so... :shrug:
Otherwise, there's always
Learned Hand
Registered Senior Member
RE: Abbreviation vs. contractions. All contractions of words are abbreviations (of language), but not all abbreviations are contractions. Buffalo to Buffy is not a contraction anymore than Buffalo is to Buffoon. Steve is not a contraction of Steven, it is an abbreviation of the name. Steve is a truncation of Steven which abbreviates (i.e. shortens) the name. Won't is a contraction, but also an abbreviation of the two words, "will not." Dr., Jr., Sr., are each not a contraction, but an abbreviation. Formal grammar does in fact identify the period following the truncation as a designation of pure abbreviation, not contraction. For those who consider Dr., Sr., Jr., Mr., Mrs., Ms., etc, to be contractions, consider the formal contraction for "Madam:" Ma'am. This is a contraction, as well as an abbreviation. Hence, "Missus" is abbreviated to Mrs., which cannot be a contraction because the letter "r" is added, not removed. Etc. is also an abbreviation. A contraction is a shortened two or more word or phrase with the same meaning. Grammatically, an abbreviation is a shortening of one word or group of words. LASER, SCUBA, SADD are special types of abbreviations called "acronyms." U.S.A., N.A.S.A., F.D.A. are abbreviations known as "initializations." That's grammar. Now, linguistically you can somersault all you want with the words "contraction" and "abbreviation," but you may look like a buffoon.
Anyway, I like the name Buffy, even though memories of the vampire-slayer movie with Kristy Swanson still leaves that 80s "blond ditz" flavor in the air sometimes.
Anyway, I like the name Buffy, even though memories of the vampire-slayer movie with Kristy Swanson still leaves that 80s "blond ditz" flavor in the air sometimes.
Bells
Staff member
The one who objects to Buffy said:
You serious?
The very topic of this thread would have to be one of the most ridiculous to have graced this forum in a long time.
I can understand complaining if someone called you something insulting, like arsewipe or something. But Buffy?
You complained about "Buffy" when your tag on this forum is "Buffalo Roam"?
/Laughs
God, this just takes the cake..
Fraggle, I mostly agree with everything you say, and respect you a great deal.
However, the above comment would seem to lead one to believe that childish insults can not be insulting as well. I'm sure that's not what you meant, right?
As to the SAM - SpAM issue, I was thinking of the spam interpretation, as in "spamming" the site, although the pork angle is certainly an interesting point.
Anyway, spam is against the forum rules, so I saw Buffalo's use of "SpAM" as a sideways method of referring to SAM's posts as being "spam" and therefore unworthy of being allowed. In effect, she is against the rules and should be banned. Personally, I would consider this insulting, even though she is gracious enough to overlook the slight.
So we are back to allowing friendly adaptations of user names, providing no one complains and there is not an egregious insult contained within. (See my post #34) Right?
Last edited: