Accidental Politics | 38 comments (38 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: Coincidental subject (2.67 / 3)

When you can't find any native speakers to back-up your interpretation of a phrase, it's time to leave it. That interpretation of scumbag is in your head, not anyone elses. Scum isn't slang for semen as far as I know, and bag isn't slang for vagina. How big a sample of far flung native speakers do you need?

You appear to be attempting to resurrect a previous argument for no reason in the face of the facts. That is trolling. Stop it.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Tue Nov 4th, 2008 at 12:47:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Scum would be the green stuff that collects on ... (none / 0)

... the top of stagnant ponds. And bag would be a container, normally with a non-rigid shell.

Calling a person a scumbag would then be saying a person is offering the world a value equivalent to a bag of skin full of scum.

I've been accused of being a Marxist, yet while Harpo's my favourite, it's Groucho I'm always quoting. Odd, that.

by BruceMcF (agila61 at netscape dot net) on Wed Nov 5th, 2008 at 04:31:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Scum would be the green stuff that collects... (none / 1)

Urban Dictionary supports a precious-bodily-fluids interpretation of the term, rather than a reference to algae or simple aquatic plant forms.

The difference between theory and practise in practise ...

by DeAnander (de_at_daclarke_dot_org) on Wed Nov 5th, 2008 at 05:10:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Scum would be the green stuff that collects... (3.00 / 2)

Apparently the use of 'scumbag' to mean 'used condom' dates from 1967 and the word didn't exist before. Scum is solid residue of a liquid. (source)

Long time no see, I'm glad we found a topic worthy of your interest.

Most economists teach a theoretical framework that has been shown to be fundamentally useless. -- James K. Galbraith

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Nov 5th, 2008 at 05:14:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Scum would be the green stuff that collects... (none / 0)

However, that still leaves the absurd leap from that connotation of the term to the proposed connotation.

I've been accused of being a Marxist, yet while Harpo's my favourite, it's Groucho I'm always quoting. Odd, that.

by BruceMcF (agila61 at netscape dot net) on Wed Nov 5th, 2008 at 06:43:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Scum would be the green stuff that collects... (none / 0)

Hey, DeAnander - how you been?

Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes

by Izzy (izzy at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Nov 5th, 2008 at 05:49:42 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Scum would be the green stuff that collects... (none / 1)

you're....alive!

thought you were investigating green scum in davy jones' locker, your blog has been so dead in the water, and no sign of you here for months!

this place has really gone downhill since you left, everyone's using capital letters so traditionally, hope you stick around and bless us with some good lowercase, full page soliloquies again, lol.

jeez, you've been missed, welcome back!

does happy summersault

'The history of public debt is full of irony. It rarely follows our ideas of order and justice.' Thomas Piketty

by melo (melometa4(at)gmail.com) on Wed Nov 5th, 2008 at 05:57:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Accidental Politics | 38 comments (38 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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