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.
Mechonversation
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: mek kon ver say shun
Sentence: Gary always conducted a mechonversation with his wife...that way he could multitask and play some useful game while she nagged him about the time he wasted.
Etymology: Mechanized (the condition of having a highly technical implementation; the act of implementing the control of equipment with advanced technology; usually involving electronic hardware) & Conversation (the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.)
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.
Comediate
Created by: IanArcher
Pronunciation: ko-MEE-dee-ate
Sentence: She was all blah blah blah talking talking, and so I turned on the stereo to comediate.
Etymology: from "co-" and "media," with a semi-intentional sonic similarity to "comedy."
Converstraction
Created by: ahwinters
Pronunciation: con-ver-strac-shen
Sentence: While Kate attempted a conversation, Peter was watching TV, making it a more one-sided converstraction.
Etymology: conversation + distraction
Semihearing
Created by: bghicks
Pronunciation: semi hearing
Sentence: I was watching TV and semihearing my wife rant
Etymology: semi - half hearing
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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Digitalk
Created by: Stevenson0
Pronunciation: dig/i/tawk
Sentence: The need to multitask by watching 3 tv shows, the stock market, CNN and have a conversation with his girlfriend, made digitalking a must.
Etymology: digital + k or digital + talk
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COMMENTS:
I think that's more like digibalking (refusing to engage in conversation) - Jabberwocky, 2007-01-11: 11:48:00
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Technochat
Created by: mickey666
Pronunciation: teck-no-chat
Sentence: He sighed and, summoning all of his dexterity, he changed channels before saying, "great honeymoon"
Etymology: techno and chat - obvious, I would have thought.
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
Tronversate
Created by: lebeast
Pronunciation: tron-ver-sayte
Sentence: Kim didn't realize that the entire time she spoke of the mole on her left thigh that seemed to be changing color, Marty was tronversating to avoid missing the rose ceremony on The Bachelor.
Etymology: Electronics+Conversation
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