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43Folders.com is Merlin Mann’s website about finding the time and attention to do your best creative work.

Goodies from The Word Spy

The Word Spy

Word Spy is a fun site to track neologisms and jargon. I’ve dug it for for a long time but only occasionally remember to drop by for updates. I’m always delighted when I do.

Found a few yesterday you might enjoy:

  • electric-can-opener question - The recognition that some older, low-tech products are superior to the newer, high-tech products that are supposed to replace them.
  • sorceror’s apprentice mode - An e-mail phenomenon in which the receipt of a message causes multiple automatic messages to be sent, each of which triggers the same automatic response, resulting in a flood of messages.
  • joy-to-stuff ratio - The time a person has to enjoy life versus the time a person spends accumulating material goods.
  • mode confusion - Confusion caused by complicated digital technology, particularly when it is difficult to discern the current state or mode of a digital device.
  • normal accident - An accident that is the nearly inevitable result of technological interactions so complex that they cannot fully predicted or controlled.
  • flame sandwich - A note that consists of a negative comment surrounded by two positive comments.

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Kara McNair's picture

So it must be 'mode...

So it must be ‘mode confusion’ then when I’m annoyed that I can’t cut & paste the phone number from my address book to the telephone?

Or when I try to use the phone’s mute to mute the TV? (sadly, I have scads more examples - I must have mode dyslexia…)

w's picture

Word Spy apparently has an...

Word Spy apparently has an RSS feed, http://www.wordspy.com/rss.xml

Unfortunately, all of the entries in the feed are from June 2004.

ashby's picture

"electric-can-opener question" - never heard...

“electric-can-opener question” - never heard that before, but a perfect category. I wonder if there is a list of such items, actually. You know, like, on the internets.

Aaron Stanton's picture

Very amusing. I need...

Very amusing. I need to go check that out. Thanks!

About Merlin Mann

Merlin Mann's picture

Bio

Merlin Mann is an independent writer, speaker, and broadcaster. He’s best known for being the guy who started the website you’re reading right now. He lives in San Francisco, does lots of public speaking, and helps make cool things like You Look Nice Today. Also? He looks like this, answers questions, and has something like a life.

Merlin’s favorite thing he’s written recently is a short essay called, “Better.”

 
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Inbox Zero

The original 43 Folders series looking at the skills, tools, and attitude needed to empty your email inbox — and then keep it that way. Don’t miss the free video of Merlin’s Inbox Zero presentation.

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3-part series on attention management for artists and makers. Read Bad Correspondence, The Job You Think You Have, and One Clear Line.