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.
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'.
Cyversation
Created by: artr
Pronunciation: sahy-ver-sey-shuhn
Sentence: Alex thinks he is expert at multi-tasking. He thinks he can talk to his girlfriend while he is texting friends or updating his Facebook status. Their cyversation works for them. She talks. He acts like he is listening and reacts with grunts and nods. She can do whatever she wants because he "agreed".
Etymology: cyber (computer-related) conversation (dialogue, discourse)
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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Multislacking
Created by: Thunderfoot
Pronunciation:
Sentence:
Etymology:
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COMMENTS:
That's a pretty good one. - ErWenn, 2007-01-11: 20:20:00
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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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Hypnoverbalcom
Created by: StephLeeY
Pronunciation: hypno-verbal-comm
Sentence: Peter lost interest in the conversation because he became hypnoverbalcommed by the shiny object.
Etymology: hypnosis, verbal, communication.
Converspacetion
Created by: mrskellyscl
Pronunciation: con-ver-space-shon
Sentence: Having a conversation with Jim was more like having a converspacetion. His addiction to the SciFi channel kept his mind in a galaxy far, far away. Jen found it difficult to talk to him about their relationship when he was wearing his Mr.Spock ears. "But Honey," he grinned, "how can you say I'm not listening? I'm all ears!"
Etymology: conversation + space (as in space cadet-unfocused, inattentive)
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COMMENTS:
Sounds like Jim has lots of space between his ears - jrogan, 2009-08-14: 08:37:00
He won't live long and prosper...logical word and sentence, Earthling! - Nosila, 2009-08-14: 12:17:00
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Technobabble
Created by: Mustang
Pronunciation: TEK-no-babl
Sentence: Lance is a techie dweeb and a social nerd so it just comes natural to him to sprinkle all kinds of technobabble in all of his conversations, a practice that really irritates his fiancé, Paula, as she is totally techno illiterate.
Etymology: Blend of 'technology' (the branch of knowledge that deals with the creation and use of technical means and their interrelation with life) and 'babble' (To utter a meaningless confusion of words or sounds)
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