Comments on: Some linguistic curios

By: eleonora

eleonora — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 13:51:06 +0000

Nice to see you again.
I just would like to point out that this construction of to opt out is one of the many constructions born with the use of new medias like chat programs (especially IRC). The message is generated by the server (that opts you out) and it has been used by the users with the new construction. Languange changes, pals

By: jangari

jangari — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 21:46:46 +0000

Hey, nice catch Alejna. I’m just waiting for This door is alert, but not alarmed.

Laredhel, yes, probably. But this instance wasn’t spam as such, it was merely unsolicited. My email address was unfortunately attached to a registration form for those snap preview things, that irritatingly pop up when you scroll over a hyperlink. However, I don’t believe I checked that box that said ‘inform me of updates/news’.

By: Jangari

Jangari — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 21:39:47 +0000

Hm, you’re absolutely right, David. Must be that less-than-prime cognitive state again.

By: David Nash

David Nash — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 21:16:09 +0000

“overseen”?! ┄ I reckon “overlooked”.

By: alejna

alejna — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 13:28:37 +0000

I’m reminded a bit of a sign I’ve seen pretty frequently around buildings lately: “This door is alarmed.”

By: lauredhel

lauredhel — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 08:41:29 +0000

"You have been opted out" is the logical result of spamspeak. It is the opposite of "You have been opted in", which is an illustration of Rule #1: Spammers Lie. Spammers have co-opted "opt in" and "opt out" as something they do to you, rather than something you do yourself. They do this in an effort to make it seem as though the HaWt LiZard Pr0N was all your idea. You can't "opt out", really, because you never "opted in" in the first place: they did it to you.