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'Honey, you just ran a red light!'

DEFINITION: v. To unintentionally encourage bad behavior by responding to it in a manner that incites even worse behavior. n. A response designed to stop bad behavior, which paradoxically produces more of it.

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Verboticisms

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Negatentional

mrskellyscl

Created by: mrskellyscl

Pronunciation: neg-a-ten-shen-al

Sentence: As a teacher, Mary knew that negatentional responses were equal to posintentional ones to the kids who acted up to get her attention, although the results were disastrous for her classroom management. She soon realized that by nagging Kevin the same result would happen, Kevin would do the opposite of what she wanted to get a response from her. She decided to ignore the inappropriate behavior and reward him for proper behavior, just as she would her kindergarten children, in order for him to get posattention from her.

Etymology: negative: unfavorable or disconfirming + intentional: done deliberately + attention: notice or recognition. Teachers and trainers understand that to some children or animals negative attention is just as good as positive attention because it gives them the reward of recognition and response.

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COMMENTS:

Do I not lie it? Negatory! Good word. - Nosila, 2009-06-30: 17:31:00

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Scaradigm

Created by: mweinmann

Pronunciation: skair - a - dime

Sentence: There was a scaradigm shift in Tony's behavior after Lisa tried to soothe him during the drive through the Catskills. The road was narrow and slippery and an antelope strolled out and started to play around in the headlights.

Etymology: scare (A general state of alarm), paradigm (A set of assumptions, concepts, values, and practices that constitutes a way of viewing reality)

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Pacifry

Created by: splendiction

Pronunciation: pass i FRY

Sentence: Blaze was having a small melt down when the ice cream truck sped by their home too quickly. His parents inadvertently pacifried him with the comment that ice cream from ice cream trucks, "is bad for you anyway." Blaze's melt down progressed into a full blown explosive fit of stamping, arm-flinging, and fiery-hot tearful cries: "BUD I WANNED NICE-CREAM!"

Etymology: A blend of PACIFY and FRY, overdo to the point of ruin.

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Exacerbait

Created by: theCountess

Pronunciation: ex ass er bate

Sentence: Jill would constantly exacerbait Jack to complete exasperation; I think that's why he's now her ex.

Etymology: Exacerbate & Bait

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COMMENTS:

Good one - Nosila, 2010-07-21: 00:15:00

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Nagression

Created by: Nosila

Pronunciation: nag resh shun

Sentence: Rhoda Rage always lectured her spouse,Red, about the importance of defensive driving. She also pointed out potential hazards to him along the route...like a person crossing the road, a mile ahead. Or a red light, three blocks away. Although she could not drive herself, she was an expert on what he should be doing. But all her cautions became a form of nagression and irritated the heck out of Red. Her constant comments made him nervous and edgy. He took his frustration out on other motorists. They eventually split up, because he wanted to take another Rhoda and she did not want to see Red anymore.

Etymology: Nag (remind or urge constantly; bother persistently with trivial complaints;worry persistently) & Aggression (violent action that is hostile and usually unprovoked;deliberately unfriendly behavior; the act of initiating hostilities;a disposition to behave aggressively;a feeling of hostility that arouses thoughts of attack)

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Hamperpetuate

Created by: rebelvin

Pronunciation: HAMper+PERPETUATE

Sentence: Whatever you do, don't even mention his driving, you will only hamperpetuate his bad habits.

Etymology: HAMper+PERPETUATE

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Wrecktify

Created by: galwaywegian

Pronunciation: rek tifff eye

Sentence: Herhigh pitched complaints only managed to wrectify the situation, as she put her foot on the imaginery brake.

Etymology: rectify wreck.

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COMMENTS:

wreckscellent word! - Nosila, 2008-05-20: 22:37:00

Nice word. - OZZIEBOB, 2008-05-22: 01:21:00

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Reitirate

Created by: Mustang

Pronunciation: re-IT-eye-rayt

Sentence: While she was well intentioned Muriel would invariably overdo her prodding to get Stan to do things her way and in the end would almost always reitirate, harping on a topic until Stan would just blow his cork.

Etymology: Blend of reiterate and irate.

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Miscourage

Created by: jrogan

Pronunciation: mis-cur-rage

Sentence: Every time Sally miscouraged her boyfriend go slower, he went faster. It didn't matter whether they were on the highway, or in the bedroom.

Etymology: miss + courage as opposed to discourage

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Exacerbloop

Created by: OZZIEBOB

Pronunciation: Eks-asz-SUR-bloop

Sentence: When Bob tried to smooth things over with a few words of "wisdom", he quickly found out that many an embarassing moment wouldn't be so embarassing if it only lasted a moment. The daftermath of his exacerblooper and exacerblooping, lead to a hellishing harangue from Roxie that lasted an hour.

Etymology: Blend of EXACERBate & BLOOP/er: an embarassing, silly, verbal error, usually during a serious moment.

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COMMENTS:

great sentence - Jabberwocky, 2008-05-20: 15:32:00

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Comments:

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2008-05-20: 00:00:01
Today's definition is inspired by Amy Sutherland's observation that if we are going to use "progressive animal training techniques" on humans, that we simply need to reward behavior we want and ignore behavior we don't. Of course this is easier said than done, and requires a great deal of self-awareness and self-discipline. In fact, Amy calls it the "Zen of Animal Training". See: "What Shamu Taught me About Life, Love and Marriage". Thanks Amy! ~ James

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2009-06-30: 00:00:01
Today's definition is inspired by Amy Sutherland's observation that if we are going to use "progressive animal training techniques" on humans, that we simply need to reward behavior we want and ignore behavior we don't. Of course this is easier said than done, and requires a great deal of self-awareness and self-discipline. In fact, Amy calls it the "Zen of Animal Training". See: "What Shamu Taught me About Life, Love and Marriage". Thanks Amy! ~ James

Verbotomy Verbotomy - 2010-07-20: 00:00:00
Today's definition was suggested by amysutherland. Thank you amysutherland. ~ James

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