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Do You Notice "Contrived" Wording?
Old 11-25-2012, 07:28 AM   #1
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Do You Notice "Contrived" Wording?

Contrived phrases annoy me. I wonder if I am alone in this?

1. Every new housing development has a name that uses the affected, and to my ears odd, construction "The XXX at YYY."

So we have:
  • The Homes at River Meadow. [No river or meadow anywhere nearby].
  • The Townes at Fox Chase. [Note the gussying-up of "Townes." "Town houses" doesn't look elegant enough, apparently].
  • The Residences at Chapel Manor. [I live in a house, but you live in a Residence! I'm so impressed!]
2. While getting out boxes of Christmas tree ornaments, had my yearly moment of annoyance at seeing "The Signature Gifts of Christmas" in fancy script on a box. Everything about that phrase is affected and contrived. "The." "Signature" (of the department store that sold them). "Gifts of Christmas" (not Christmas gifts). C'mon, they're just Christmas ornaments! Get over yourself!

Anybody else feel the sensation of fingernails on a blackboard when they see contrived phrases?

Amethyst
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Old 11-25-2012, 07:32 AM   #2
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And what about the clothes poor people wear. Do they have no fashion sense whatsoever?
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Old 11-25-2012, 07:34 AM   #3
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It is slightly annoying but mainly just marketing and I've been doing my best to tune that out for over thirty years now.
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Old 11-25-2012, 07:37 AM   #4
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Gotta admit, you lost me with this one Relevance to contrived marketing phrases?

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Originally Posted by REWahoo View Post
And what about the clothes poor people wear. Do they have no fashion sense whatsoever?
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Old 11-25-2012, 07:39 AM   #5
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Gotta admit, you lost me with this one Relevance to contrived marketing phrases?
Irritants of little consequence, curmudgeonistic complaints, etc....
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Old 11-25-2012, 07:51 AM   #6
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There are superficial people catering to other superficial people everywhere, probably more so in the western world than anywhere else. That's the ego at work, makes people do stupid things without realizing it. I don't have any problem ignoring that kind of thing...just ignore it.
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Old 11-25-2012, 07:54 AM   #7
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I think the one that blew me away was when there were no longer "used cars...:" Now they're previously owned or pre-owned.
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Old 11-25-2012, 07:58 AM   #8
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Quote:
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...just ignore it.
Yup, just ignore it. The irritation is only in your mind so, you you have total control over your irritation...

...and also over whether REW calls you a curmudgeon.
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Old 11-25-2012, 08:00 AM   #9
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Quote:
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It is slightly annoying but mainly just marketing and I've been doing my best to tune that out for over thirty years now.
+1

Sent from "The Trailers of Meth Manor"
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Old 11-25-2012, 08:03 AM   #10
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Oh, I get it! Actually I think it's an honor on this board to be called a Curmudgeon. I have arrived!

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Yup, just ignore it. The irritation is only in your mind so, you you have total control over your irritation...

...and also over whether REW calls you a curmudgeon.
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Old 11-25-2012, 08:04 AM   #11
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...and also over whether REW calls you a curmudgeon.
Hey!

I One can occasionally exhibit curmudgeon-like behavior without actually being a curmudgeon - or a curmudgeoness.
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Old 11-25-2012, 08:07 AM   #12
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I understand why it's done. The mental mechanics puzzle me, though. I don't know why these particular phrases are used. Why is it somehow more desirable to be "at" a development, than "in" it or "of" it?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Midpack View Post
There are superficial people catering to other superficial people everywhere, probably more so in the western world than anywhere else. That's the ego at work, makes people do stupid things without realizing it. I don't have any problem ignoring that kind of thing...just ignore it.
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Old 11-25-2012, 08:10 AM   #13
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Every one of those "Towne Homes" has a junk drawer...just sayin'
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Old 11-25-2012, 08:12 AM   #14
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Why is it somehow more desirable to be "at" a development, than "in" it or "of" it?
For the same reason GM advertises their trucks as "Professional Grade". It has no real meaning, it's simply marketing fluff.
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Old 11-25-2012, 08:14 AM   #15
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For the same reason GM advertises their trucks as "Professional Grade". It has no real meaning, it's simply marketing fluff.
But Dodge has "Ram", made all the more "tough" by having Sam Elliott say it in baritone...
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Old 11-25-2012, 08:15 AM   #16
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I don't know why these particular phrases are used. Why is it somehow more desirable to be "at" a development, than "in" it or "of" it?
Possibly due to the 'presumption' that whatever wording has become associated with the hoi polloi is therefore infra dig for the parvenues.
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Old 11-25-2012, 08:16 AM   #17
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I understand why it's done. The mental mechanics puzzle me, though. I don't know why these particular phrases are used. Why is it somehow more desirable to be "at" a development, than "in" it or "of" it?
Because you have arrived, dahling.
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Old 11-25-2012, 08:23 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Amethyst View Post
Contrived phrases annoy me. I wonder if I am alone in this?

1. Every new housing development has a name that uses the affected, and to my ears odd, construction "The XXX at YYY."

So we have: [LIST][*]The Homes at River Meadow. [No river or meadow anywhere nearby].[*]The Townes at Fox Chase. [Note the gussying-up of "Townes." "Town houses" doesn't look elegant enough, apparently].[*]The Residences at Chapel Manor. [I live in a house, but you live in a Residence! I'm so impressed!]

Amethyst
When I see listings like that I say "Another place Lazarus wouldn't live at."
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Old 11-25-2012, 08:24 AM   #19
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Because you have arrived, dahling.
+1

Bought this to mind:

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Old 11-25-2012, 08:25 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by antmary
Every one of those "Towne Homes" has a junk drawer...just sayin'
. We are planning a new kitchen and the designer suggested we think about where the "junk drawer" would be.

The Junk Drawers of Olde Cabinetry.
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