but for's definitions
One or more words which state something other than—or the opposite of—what the words which do not have a covert ulterior motive in the message express.
One example of a Covert Intent Word is, “The Test Administrators will do their best to make your testing experience as smooth and stress free as possible.” The word “stress” reminds the test takers that there is such a thing as "stress." And makes anyone who is exposed to that word feel some level of stress—if only by remembering what stress is to grasp what the writer is saying.
by but for October 18, 2017
Get the Covert Intent Wordmug. Treating someone in certain ways to give them an identity that is better or worse than the one they have.
After people's appearance, the next thing that comes into play when they interact is the identity each person has of themselves. As they interact, people project their identity and in subtle ways, verbally or nonverbally, others accept or reject it, and sometimes they attempt to give the other person the identity they think they should have of themselves, and that identity can be better or worse than the one the person has of themselves. An example of identity-giving is when one day, someone treats someone else as if they were a genius.
by but for January 17, 2021
Get the Identity-givingmug. Confronting a recalcitrant student who when I told her she misspelled the word "concision" by writing "consition", I unintentionally took myself to and beyond the EMOWINPOINT, the point when emotion overrides reason. That common human error contributed to my being fired about one hour later from my job as a university instructor.
by but for September 13, 2018
Get the emowinpointmug. When an individual perceives a person, place, or thing, or him or herself in a way that is different than the way most other people perceive it.
When he got to his 60s, the many failures he suffered in his life distorted how he perceived his surroundings, individuals, and many other things. That is called perceptual distortion.
by but for May 9, 2018
Get the perceptual distortionmug. An imagined court which tries lawsuits against a specific word or phrase which is accused of being illogical, deceptive, fraudulent, or offensive to someone.
Word Court is currently trying the word HAMBURGER, LIPSTICK, BIRTH CONTROL, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, and others.
NARRATOR
Welcome to Word Court, where words go on trial.
SECRETARY
Today, we will hear oral arguments in case number 52-67-42, Consumers v Commercial Users of the word HAMBURGER.
JUDGE WORDY
Mr. Prosecuting Attorney, please state your case.
PROSECUTOR
Your honor and members of the jury. This class action lawsuit is against the individuals, businesses, and corporations which use the word HAMBURGER to get consumers to buy what they call hamburgers, but are really dead cow flesh sandwiches. They do so by indirectly saying that the dead animal flesh is a meat which is or contains HAM. That is a false statement. Ham is more expensive than beef because it is made from a cut of a dead pigs’s leg, processed, and preserved by adding salt and other spices. Ham is made around the world including regional specialties such as Westphalian ham, Spanish jamón, Italian Prosciutto, and Smithfield ham in the US. The curing process takes from 9–months to a year.
JUDGE
Thank you, Mr. Prosecutor. We will now hear the defense attorney.
DEFENSE ATTORNEY
Your honor and members of the jury, the facts you just stated make it clear that the word HAM does not belong in the word HAMBURGER. Hamburgers should be called beefburgers or meatburgers, not HAMBURGERS.
JUDGE
How do you clients plea?
My clients plea "nolo contendere",
and apologize to everyone for having used the word HAMBURGER.
NARRATOR
Welcome to Word Court, where words go on trial.
SECRETARY
Today, we will hear oral arguments in case number 52-67-42, Consumers v Commercial Users of the word HAMBURGER.
JUDGE WORDY
Mr. Prosecuting Attorney, please state your case.
PROSECUTOR
Your honor and members of the jury. This class action lawsuit is against the individuals, businesses, and corporations which use the word HAMBURGER to get consumers to buy what they call hamburgers, but are really dead cow flesh sandwiches. They do so by indirectly saying that the dead animal flesh is a meat which is or contains HAM. That is a false statement. Ham is more expensive than beef because it is made from a cut of a dead pigs’s leg, processed, and preserved by adding salt and other spices. Ham is made around the world including regional specialties such as Westphalian ham, Spanish jamón, Italian Prosciutto, and Smithfield ham in the US. The curing process takes from 9–months to a year.
JUDGE
Thank you, Mr. Prosecutor. We will now hear the defense attorney.
DEFENSE ATTORNEY
Your honor and members of the jury, the facts you just stated make it clear that the word HAM does not belong in the word HAMBURGER. Hamburgers should be called beefburgers or meatburgers, not HAMBURGERS.
JUDGE
How do you clients plea?
My clients plea "nolo contendere",
and apologize to everyone for having used the word HAMBURGER.
by but for April 20, 2019
Get the Word Courtmug. "Freedom to Speak" is the way to say "Freedom of Speech" which makes more sense because it encourages people to speak more than when that right and freedom are called the "Freedom of Speech."
"Freedom of Speech" is a way of wording the "freedom to speak" in a way that distances the speaker(s) from the act. Humans do not "speech," they speak and can give a "speech." Calling that freedom the "Freedom to Speak" encourages people to speak more often and for longer swaths of time than when it is called the "Freedom of Speech." It is time to start using the expression which encourages Americans to SPEAK UP more. " God is in the details."
by but for October 29, 2017
Get the Freedom to Speakmug. A medical procedure which will—if and when it becomes reality—allow patients to modify and logically upgrade their genes to eliminate certain genetic problems, diseases, increase their intelligence, physical height; change the color of their hair, eyes, skin; increase or decrease the size of certain body part(s); and bring about other specific changes.
Marsha underwent a DNA upgrade, and in about 7-years, when her body has accepting her entire DNA upgrade she will be 5-inches taller. As of today she will be growing a tiny bit each day. It remains to be seen if all or only some children of DNA upgrade patients inherit their parent's upgraded DNA.
by but for June 7, 2018
Get the DNA upgrademug.