attribution
attribution by The Empire Did Nothing Wrong January 15, 2018
Words you can keep
Fundamental Attribution Error
When a problem with a person is really a problem with the situation.
We tend to attribute people’s behavior to their core character rather than to their situation. It's the Situation, Not the Person.
We tend to attribute people’s behavior to their core character rather than to their situation. It's the Situation, Not the Person.
“What a jerk!... see how he drives!”
“Fundamental Attribution Error honey, I wonder the situation he’s in that’s causing him to drive so crazy.”
"What do you mean?"
"He is the doctor in charge of emergency at the hospital few blocks away... don´t you remember?"
“Fundamental Attribution Error honey, I wonder the situation he’s in that’s causing him to drive so crazy.”
"What do you mean?"
"He is the doctor in charge of emergency at the hospital few blocks away... don´t you remember?"
Fundamental Attribution Error by rperazag June 10, 2010
Correct Attribution
A way of wording an expression in a way that specifies which individual, entity, or other thing committed an act or caused something to happen.
An example of an 'indirect attribution' is, "It was determined that 'unless exempt by diplomatic status, all persons entering the United States, including U.S. citizens, are subject to examination and search by Customs and Border Patrol officers'." Transformed into a "correct attribution" that statement would say something like, "In August of 2009, CBP Directive 3340-049 laid out its policies on searching electronic devices....In the course of a border search, with or without individualized suspicion, an Officer may examine electronic devices and may review and analyze the information encountered at the border.” Though correctly attributing an action increases transparency and accountability, and generally furthers the common good, it takes more time to say and/or space to write.
Correct Attribution by but for October 14, 2017
Con-Textual Attribution Error
The tendency to mistake the superficial excitement derived from receiving text messages for the excitement bourne out of genuine chemistry between you and your text-happy new friend, especially prevalent in the budding stages of romance when a high degree of unfamiliarity is present between said parties. In the alternate context of an in-person or phone conversation, the same conversation would not be nearly as exciting.
It's no wonder your romances always crash so hard after you finally get to know the person, all the excitement between you is nothing more than the anticipation and reception of text messages. It's classic Con-Textual Attribution Error. Similar to the excitement and subsequent letdown of Christmas.
Con-Textual Attribution Error by mckwistonator October 22, 2011
cast-attrition thriller
A film sub-genre in which the characters are picked off one by one, often by a masked killer or malignant force. Salient examples: Friday the 13th (Jason); Final Destination (Death); Sunshine (the Sun).
Coined by Tasha Robinson of the AV Club to describe Danny Boyle's film "Sunshine"(2007).
Coined by Tasha Robinson of the AV Club to describe Danny Boyle's film "Sunshine"(2007).
Originating quote, from the review of "Sunshine"(2007) -
In many ways, Sunshine is a been-there-done-that cast-attrition thriller: Alien with an exterior monster instead of an interior one, Event Horizon with better effects and less gore, Pitch Black with the contrast turned way up. The cast members make wry jokes about getting eliminated one at a time, horror-movie style, but they still follow all the horror-movie procedures, even duly splitting up in a dangerous, unknown situation. It's like they've gracefully accepted that they're just hitting a series of predestined, genre-mandated marks. - Tasha Robinson, Onion A.V. Club
In many ways, Sunshine is a been-there-done-that cast-attrition thriller: Alien with an exterior monster instead of an interior one, Event Horizon with better effects and less gore, Pitch Black with the contrast turned way up. The cast members make wry jokes about getting eliminated one at a time, horror-movie style, but they still follow all the horror-movie procedures, even duly splitting up in a dangerous, unknown situation. It's like they've gracefully accepted that they're just hitting a series of predestined, genre-mandated marks. - Tasha Robinson, Onion A.V. Club
cast-attrition thriller by PhD (Pretentious hipster Douchebag) September 4, 2007
War of Attrition
A war in which forces do not confront each other in direct combat with the full strength of their teams, but instead aim to wear each other down over a period of time using tactics such as guerilla warfare, sabotage and other dishonourable means of combat.
The war is a war which will not necessarily be won by superior skill but by patience and skillful resource management.
The war is a war which will not necessarily be won by superior skill but by patience and skillful resource management.
Person 1: How did you lose all your poker chips you had 3/4 of the entire box?
Person 2: It degenerated into a war of attrition
Person 1: But you had the advantage so how did you lose?
Person 2: Patience is a virtue, the enemy was virtuous.
Person 2: It degenerated into a war of attrition
Person 1: But you had the advantage so how did you lose?
Person 2: Patience is a virtue, the enemy was virtuous.
War of Attrition by Super_Dash August 12, 2010
More from Urban Dictionary
board chow
A)
The Crud that collects under the keys in a keyboard. Usually more severe in the keyboards of programmers and webmasters as they tend to spend a lot of time at the the computer and thus eat at their desk. Mainly affecting IBM Model M (clicly) style boards.
B)
Can also be used to gross out Non-Techie people
The Crud that collects under the keys in a keyboard. Usually more severe in the keyboards of programmers and webmasters as they tend to spend a lot of time at the the computer and thus eat at their desk. Mainly affecting IBM Model M (clicly) style boards.
B)
Can also be used to gross out Non-Techie people
A)
Bill: want to go to the club?
Bob: No, I've got to clean out my board chow, keys are starting to stick.
B)
Bill: Want to go out to get a bite?
Bob: No, i am just going to have some of my board chow/
Bill: Whats' that?
Bob: The food scraps that collect in my keyboard; Want some?
Bill: *GAG* *HURL* *GAG*
Bill: want to go to the club?
Bob: No, I've got to clean out my board chow, keys are starting to stick.
B)
Bill: Want to go out to get a bite?
Bob: No, i am just going to have some of my board chow/
Bill: Whats' that?
Bob: The food scraps that collect in my keyboard; Want some?
Bill: *GAG* *HURL* *GAG*
board chow by BinaryHackerMan September 3, 2007
Word of the Day on August 26, 2026
grebo
West Midlands slang word for rockers, bikers, greasers etc. In the late 1980s it was used by the UK music press to refer to a specific scene centered around the bands Pop Will Eat Itself and Crazyhead. The term never found favour with readers of 'the inkies' (Sounds, Melody Maker and the still extant NME) and was soon dropped. Now often used in predominantly working-class areas of the midlands and the north to mean someone who listens to rock-derived music and/or dresses in a manner that suggests they affiliate themselves with rock music of some kind.
TikTok Farlands
TikTok Farlands is a term to refer to videos that you see after scrolling for a long time. These videos can potentially be disturbing, or weird. Said videos can also have low likes, or low comments.
TikTok Farlands by PINES FAMILY TORTURER July 24, 2026
Word of the Day on August 23, 2026
mormon assault vehicle
another term for a station wagon, mini-van, or any other kind of vehicle that is targeted at the "family" demographic(also M.A.V.)
"Tactical advantages aside, the M.A.V. is top of the line for the holy warrior troop transport manufactured by the Church of Latter Day Saints Military Industrial Complex. Also great for family trips...to heathen lands."
mormon assault vehicle by KVRX January 10, 2005
Word of the Day on August 22, 2026
Shakira Law
Richard Tice of Reform now lives in Dubai, under Shakira Law, although telling Brits that we should worry about it
Shakira Law by Reformltd February 16, 2025
Word of the Day on August 21, 2026