Comments on: looking for a thread about communication

looking for a thread about communication

needs more cowbell — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 14:26:14 -0800

I remember (and am trying to find) an AskMe thread about communication/conversation which included a comment that described the following scenario:

Person A: Do you have a dog? Person B: No. Do you? Person A: Nope. [Person A doesn't go on to talk about dogs or give any explanation or context for the question and moves on to another topic.] The point of the comment was that this is somewhat weird/awkward conversationally--that generally in conversation you'd expect some kind of context for questions, or expect the asker to use the question as a way to start chatting about dogs (or whatever they're asking about), but in the example Person A does nothing. The example may not have been "Do you have a dog?" but I think it was. I can't find it. Maybe you can?

By: cortex

cortex — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 14:35:54 -0800

This is a shot in the dark, but discursive weirdness like this always makes me think of Grice's maxims, and the most promising thing I found searching Askme comments for "Grice" was this thread about missing the point.

By: needs more cowbell

needs more cowbell — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 14:45:11 -0800

Thanks Cortex. That's an interesting thread, but not the one. I think the thread in question was about conversation (or maybe possibly dating/getting to know people) in general, and just one comment mentioned this phenomenon.

By: softlord

softlord — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 14:45:47 -0800

I can't find it. Maybe you can?

Nope.

By: Autumn

Autumn — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 15:00:59 -0800

This sounds familiar to me too! And there were other examples featuring more appropriate responses.

By: sallybrown

sallybrown — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 15:02:41 -0800

I remember this comment, just not the thread...it definitely happened though! I think there was an Ask thread where the poster was perplexed about why people didn't like her, maybe specifically referring to people she was in school with (and if I remember correctly it was clear from the tone/content of the Q that the poster was condescending, awkward, sort of unfriendly, etc).

By: Autumn

Autumn — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 15:13:26 -0800

Is this the comment you're looking for?

By: spitbull

spitbull — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 15:43:19 -0800

Does your dog bite?

By: edgeways

edgeways — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 18:20:58 -0800

that is not my dog!

By: Nomyte

Nomyte — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 18:22:32 -0800

And the portions are too small!

By: sallybrown

sallybrown — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 18:24:08 -0800

I also remember there being some discussion in the question or in the thread itself about how the OP disliked that her classmates/friends would make jokingly disparaging remarks about one of her hobbies, or something like that.

Both of these answers (1, 2) are fairly similar, if not the exact answer you were looking for.

By: Miko

Miko — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 18:52:21 -0800

I never heard of Grice's maxims before and am really glad they were mentioned here, as I'd have missed them otherwise. Cool.

By: oulipian

oulipian — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 18:55:11 -0800

Do you have stairs in your house?

By: The Whelk

The Whelk — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 19:35:03 -0800

We've met before, haven't we.

By: Pudhoho

Pudhoho — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 03:24:53 -0800

You ever seen any peat?

By: flabdablet

flabdablet — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 03:36:37 -0800

Sure. Want a penguin?

By: Miko

Miko — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 04:46:27 -0800

Two blocks down and it's the third on the right. Look for the yellow mailbox.

By: From Bklyn

From Bklyn — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 04:54:20 -0800

I just put it down over here. Have you see it?

By: Mister_A

Mister_A — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 05:56:49 -0800

If you look into a mirror and say 'mauve' 300 times you will decohere.

By: philipy

philipy — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 06:35:36 -0800

This is not the dog you're looking for. Move along now.

By: patheral

patheral — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 09:43:32 -0800

Wanna buy a duck?

By: Pudhoho

Pudhoho — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 11:03:33 -0800

It's just over the bridge that used to be painted silver.

By: cmoj

cmoj — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 12:18:05 -0800

My dog barks some.

Mentally, you picture my dog, but I have not told you the type of dog which I have.

Perhaps you might even picture Toto from the "Wizard of Oz!

But I can tell you... my dog is always with me.

By: alyxstarr

alyxstarr — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 13:12:12 -0800

Maybe it's this comment?

By: Omnomnom

Omnomnom — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 13:49:19 -0800

Yes.

By: needs more cowbell

needs more cowbell — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 13:53:51 -0800

Yes, that's it! Thank you alyxstarr!

By: maryr

maryr — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 14:55:58 -0800

Are you in Europe? Do you need an adapter?

By: flabdablet

flabdablet — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 15:17:44 -0800

Yeah, you got it... time machines.

By: Navelgazer

Navelgazer — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 10:27:43 -0800

As long as it's not with bleu cheese.