Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: v. To engage in conversation while using a technical device, like a TV or computer, to keep you sharp, in case the discussion gets dull. n. A two-way conversation which is technically one-sided.
Verboticisms
Click on each verboticism to read the sentences created by the Verbotomy writers, and to see your voting options...
You have two votes. Click on the words to read the details, then vote your favorite.
Ituneout
Created by: purpleartichokes
Pronunciation: i/tune/out
Sentence: My grandfather lamented that he hated talking to "kids these days" as they always seemed to ituneout him as he was describing how he had to walk to school in three feet of snow, up hill, both ways.
Etymology: i-tune, tune out
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COMMENTS:
It's a technology problem isn't it... - wordmeister, 2007-01-11: 09:46:00
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Geekspeak
Created by: egonschiela
Pronunciation: geek speek
Sentence: Maurice was frustrated by her interruptions and inability to understand his geekspeak, which to his mind was answering her questions perfectly.
Etymology: geek (computer buff) speak (talk)
Tonezoning
Created by: toadstool57
Pronunciation: Tone-zone-ing
Sentence: As Jill barked out orders, David sits tonezoning, using his remote to tune her out.
Etymology: Tone, a noise or sound. zoning, to drift off, tune out the surrounding noise.
Preoccuswitch
Created by: Maureen
Pronunciation: pre-occ-u-switch
Sentence: "Jane you should know that when I am in preoccuswitch mode I can listen and perform at the same time."
Etymology: preoccupation - totally engrossed. Switch - to turn from one thing to another.
Dullstraction
Created by: Javeson1
Pronunciation: dull-strack-shun
Sentence: TV is the best dullstraction for any conversation, and computers come in second.
Etymology: distraction + dull (as in the conversation with the girl pictured at right)
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COMMENTS:
Personally, I find computers are a far more effective dullstraction, because if your dullstractor uses any big words, you can google them. - wordmeister, 2007-01-11: 09:45:00
hahah, that is very true. - Javeson1, 2007-01-19: 00:19:00
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Faultitask
Created by: ErWenn
Pronunciation: /'fol-tE-"task/
Sentence: Natasha liked to pretend that she could check her messages on her cell phone while listening to the lecture, but her teacher knew that she was merely faultitasking.
Etymology: From faulty + multitasking
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COMMENTS:
My teachers hate when I'm faultitasking. Thank goodness I have a laptop so they can't tell. I'm sure my marks would suffer if the knew... - wordmeister, 2007-01-11: 09:50:00
Trust me, they know. As a teacher, I can say that with confidence. What gets on teachers' nerves is not so much when you aren't paying attention but when you're being obvious about it. It's the same difference between trying not to get into a conversation with someone you don't like at a party and actively ignoring everything they say. - ErWenn, 2007-01-11: 20:17:00
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Dialoguediversion
Created by: quippingqueen
Pronunciation: di/a/log/di/ver/shun
Sentence: To engage in dialoguediversion while operating the TV remote control was no easy feat, especially with the Queen of Loneliness at his side.
Etymology: dialogue + diversion
Gadchat
Created by: Carla
Pronunciation: gaj-chat
Sentence: Tim was inseparable from his gadgets. He could not put them down, even to talk to his nearest and dearest. As a result of bitter experience, his family would try to impart important information only during gaps in the gadchat (channel changes, game loading). Yet Tim invariably forgot - or never knew - much of what he had been told.
Etymology: gad (to move restlessly or aimlessly from one place to another) + chat. Wordplay on 'gadget'.
Oneversation
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: won ver say shun
Sentence: Sally knew that a conversation with Leonard was impossible due to his dependence on tecnical toys, so it would have to be another oneversation. They no longer had exchanges, they had x-boxchanges. They didn't dialogue, they monologued. Even their lovelife was virtual...virtually non-existant. She needed a real man to fill the droid-void of her present partner. Maybe she should try e-harmony???
Etymology: One (single, alone) & Conversation (the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.)
Semihearing
Created by: bghicks
Pronunciation: semi hearing
Sentence: I was watching TV and semihearing my wife rant
Etymology: semi - half hearing
Comments:
ErWenn - 2007-01-11: 20:23:00
I like this definition. If there were a good word (or phrase, more likely) for this, I'd actually consider using it. Same with yesterday's.
Hey Erwin, Thanks for the complement on the definition. I appreciate your feedback! So which word are you going to use? Maybe Faultitasking or Digitalk? How about Flipversation? Or if you want something short -- Gabget? ~ James