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.
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)
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
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)
----------------------------
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
----------------------------
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
----------------------------
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
----------------------------
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
Pignore
Created by: jrogan
Pronunciation: pig-nor
Sentence: John's wife would talk, and talk, and talk. But he didn't mind. He just pignored her, and nodded while he played hangman on his iphone. He didn't even notice when she unplugged it -- the batteries were still half full. And he had just figured out the last letter when she wrapped the cord tightly around his neck.
Etymology: pi (the number 3.14159265, a symbol for techies)+ pig + ignore
----------------------------
COMMENTS:
easy as Pi...good word! - Nosila, 2009-08-14: 12:19:00
----------------------------
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
----------------------------
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
----------------------------
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.)
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
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