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.
Semihearing
Created by: bghicks
Pronunciation: semi hearing
Sentence: I was watching TV and semihearing my wife rant
Etymology: semi - half hearing
Converpod
Created by: loosepiece
Pronunciation: conver - pod
Sentence: "Are you listening to me?" Screeched Jayne, once again concerned Alans interest lay less with her choice of shoes and more with his infernal gadgets. "I love these converpods we have dear", said Alan, as he finally found The Cheeky Gilrs on his mp3 player.
Etymology: conver - as in conversation pod - as in ipod
Talktask
Created by: sodium
Pronunciation: tok-task
Sentence: Peter, addicted as he was to the Ernest movies, preferred to talktask while they were playing.
Etymology: talk + task to multitask, where one of the tasks is conversation
Technoccupy
Created by: whimsy
Pronunciation:
Sentence: Bill was technoccupied with the sports game and only cheered as his team scored, not realizing that his girlfriend had just announced her intention to break up with him.
Etymology: technology + occupy (busy)
Dialogout
Created by: maxxy
Pronunciation: die-a-log-OUT
Sentence: Jim's first two divorces were due to arguments with his wives. Then he bought an iPod and was able to dialogout any conflict.
Etymology: dialogue + log out
Communescapetion
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: komm mee yoon es kayp shun
Sentence: Dora told Diego, "We need to talk..." Diego hated conversations that started this way, because he knew he was in trouble for something or would have to make big, grown-up decisions or commitments. His favourite ploy was to get busy on his tv/computer etc. so that he had a communescapetion device. Too bad that Dora was smart enough to disable all his cyber-escape toys before their "chat". You can't really blame her...it was a big deal telling this nerd he would have to grow up and be an adult Daddy to a new little nerd!
Etymology: Communication (be in verbal contact; interchange information or ideas) & Escape (an inclination to retreat from unpleasant realities through diversion or fantasy;remove oneself from a familiar environment, usually for pleasure or diversion)
Nonversation
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: nänvərsāshən
Sentence: If Bill is on the computer or the TV is on Sally can count on a lively nonversation.
Etymology: non (not) + conversation (the informal exchange of ideas by spoken words)
Gabget
Created by: petaj
Pronunciation: gab-jet to rhyme with gadget
Sentence: Kelly, a keen gabgetter, was considered stupid because he only ever caught half the conversation.
Etymology: gadget (technical device) + gab (conversation)
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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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