Discussion
#WritersCoffeeClub 10 July: Share a bit of written word that drives you wild. What speaks to you about this?
This may be a British/American usage mismatch, but "drives you wild" to me means"makes me angry", although I gather it means exactly the opposite to our transatlantic cousins!
And today's hashtag prompt is itself so poorly grammatically composed that it drives me wild.
@cstross It's even worse than that--it can mean either and you can only tell which from context.
(And for the prompt, I can't tell which!)
Perhaps we could "table" the issue of words that mean the opposite in UK/US usage.
@cstross Fascinatingly (to me, a nerd), that phrase can mean to make angry in American English, too, it just has a broader range of emotions it could be conveying, depending on tone and context. The question in the second sentence indicates to me that the prompt-writer intends this in the more positive aspect, but a real life, much more British usage I've heard in my career is "Em-dashes drive me wild!"
@barubary I don't do YouTube (or video/film in general). Got a written version?
@cstross A lot of the fun is in the audio; the visuals are secondary. (If you just don't want to visit the YouTube website, https://inv.nadeko.net/watch?v=QclgVeB6YDo may be an alternative.)
That said, here's my attempt at a written version:
[Dramatic background music: Handel's Sarabande in D minor, obnoxiously loud]
Wesley: Rest assured, Hawksworthy, it was my intention to reach out to you sooner, but I confess, I have been in a very bad place of late.
Rupert: [sat in a chair, croaking] Yorkshire?
Wesley: In truth, I often thought of touching base, but with the passing of Lady Chuntly-Brie I needed time to process.
Broadstank: Smoke, milord?
Wesley: I'm good, Broadstank. Can I get a sherry?
Broadstank: I shall fix one momentarily.
Rupert: Look here, old man, let's cut to the chase. Is this about money?
Wesley: How dare you, sir! You know very well I could care less about money. Why, when I inherit, I shall have £10,000 a year, ballpark figure. I believe I shall take a raincheck on that sherry and bid you Good Day!
Rupert: Wesley!
Wesley: Don't you "Wesley" me, Rupert! I simply cannot deal with you right now. Goodbye! leaves
Rupert: Wesley! Wesley! [coughs]
Broadstank: Mr Chuntly-Brie has left us, Your Grace. Shall I prepare milord's mac and cheese?
Rupert: I'm ... dying ... Broadstank ...
Broadstank: Yes, milord.
Rupert: [coughs] Rather funny, isn't it?
Broadstank: No, milord.
Rupert: No, I don't suppose it is. You've always been there for me, Broadstank.
Broadstank: [sheds tear] That's because ... I love you, Master Rupert.
Rupert: I love you too, Broadstank.
Microwave with mac and cheese: [pings]
@cstross I may be alone in this, but any time I see the construction "just because... doesn't mean..." I want to punch a hole in the wall.
Is a bit of written word a sylab?
@cstross I had no idea the British meaning is so different. That could cause as much confusion as chips and crisps.
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