Tuesday, July 01, 2003

Deviant

So a very nice woman who works with my department just stopped by my desk to ask me about the words she’s using in a report.  English is not her first language, and though she’s very bright and articulate, she has some insecurity about usage.  In particular, she wanted to know whether or not to use the word “deviation.” We discussed the relative connotations and inferences attaching to that word, as well as “variance,” “difference,” and “discrepancy.”

I wanted to discuss the negative associations some people have with the word “deviant.” I couldn’t bring myself to do it.  I just told her “deviation” could be a very strong word and to be aware that some people might take it a bit personally.  Not me, though.  If someone called me a deviant I’d probably take it as a compliment.  I guess it depends on who’s calling whom abby normal.

Calling me a deviant is like calling me an Aries...I’m all, “Yes, and your point--?”

us earth signs have to stick together - “taurus” is greek for “big horny animal” I think

Abby Normal!!!  love it!

where wolf?  there wolf!

I wish I could call you a deviant, but you are just so fucking normal that I can’t even stand it.

Yes, but what if they called you a “variant” or “discrepant”?

Yeah.  What then, hotshot?

i like perv myself. love perverse. and if the person rolls the Rs just right, oh my. I’ll buy him things. Big, shiny, delicious things. And he wouldn’t even have to share with me. It’s that good, the correct rolling of the Rs. Goodness. Excuse me. I have, uhm, hmm, things to do. Yeah.

perverse is a great word.  However, if it appeared in our memoranda of advisory comments on fiscal review of recipient programs, it might garner unwanted attention.  “We consider your bookkeeping standards to be perrrrverrrrse...” I could tell someone that in person but not in a memo.  It seems the sort of thing that benefits from the personal touch.

yes, perversion definitely benefits from the personal touch!

i wasn’t implying that it be used in a memo silly. i’m sorry, i guess i missed the part where all of my comments are actually supposed to make sense and be 100% relevant to the entry. i’m going to need to see that rule book. and i do sincerely hope it has a goofy clause cuz other wise i’m fucked and not in the good way if you know what i mean. and oh, i think you do.

oops. can i say fuck here? oh! i did it again. please advise.

oh man—i love that word, too.  perverse. 

and fuck, too.  sorry, dan.  i stand with patricia.

I have found that the words “deviated septum” cause me to recoil.