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.
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
Technersate
Created by: mweinmann
Pronunciation: tek - nur - sate
Sentence: When Lila wants to talk to Milton about something important; like their relationship, all he manages to do is technersate. He watches TV or uses the computer while she pours her heart out.
Etymology: technical, converse, conversation
Surfbanter
Created by: Alchemist
Pronunciation: SERF-ban-tuhr
Sentence: The other day when I was surfbantering with Jane, I got an offer from Nigeria that sounded really good.
Etymology: surf + banter
Flipversation
Created by: chofu67
Pronunciation: flip ver sa shun
Sentence: I watched as they conducted a flipversation - she talking of her boyfriend problems while he nodded and stared at the continuous string of changing images on his new plasmsa TV.
Etymology: flip = change from one thing to the next; conversation
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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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)
Techonversate
Created by: celebrityskyn
Pronunciation: teck/on/verse/ate
Sentence: Don't techonversate with me when I'm telling you something important!
Etymology: "Tech" is derived from "technology" and "onversate" is derived from "conversate," which isn't really a word but has nonetheless worked its way into the lexicon and refers to 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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Gizspeak
Created by: hortonroundtree
Pronunciation: giz-speak
Sentence: When the group started to talk about plants, I had to gizspeak to stay awake.
Etymology: gizmo + speak
Converstation
Created by: Jabberwocky
Pronunciation: con/ver/sty/shun
Sentence: He would flip the stations to reply to her questons. Anything on BBC Canada meant she was sounding like his mother and switching to the sports channel meant that he wasn't listening.
Etymology: conversation + TV station
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COMMENTS:
No, no, no... When he converstations to the sports channel, that means he's excited! - wordmeister, 2007-01-11: 09:40:00
He'd get more brownie points clicking into the Women's network - Jabberwocky, 2007-01-11: 11:44:00
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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