SilasBarta comments on The Tragedy of Group Selectionism - Less Wrong

36 Post author: Eliezer_Yudkowsky 07 November 2007 07:47AM

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Comment author: MrHen 12 February 2010 05:18:30PM *  0 points [-]

Interesting. The meaning from "full stop" translates well enough into American English, but it dodged the insta-reaction associated with "period." It sounds like it doesn't fair as well the other way, however. "Period" translates poorly into British English.

It now seems likely that using "full stop" has a more innocent purpose than just dodging icky feelings. Good to know, thanks for the tip. :)

Comment author: SilasBarta 12 February 2010 05:56:26PM *  0 points [-]

Yeah, along the same lines: whenever I saw British speakers write "[X is true.] Full stop.", I assumed the metaphor referred to a ship making a "full stop", not a period. But at least the meaning comes across correctly! British speakers seeing "period" aren't so lucky! :-P

Comment author: Cyan 12 February 2010 05:59:55PM 0 points [-]

As a Canadian, neither expression ever elicited unintended imagery for me, so this conversation has been doubly enlightening.

Comment author: ciphergoth 12 February 2010 06:00:14PM 0 points [-]

British speakers seeing "period" aren't so lucky! :-P

Well, except for the fact that we all learn to speak much of your language. Not all - baseball and American football (what you call "football") metaphors or references to your sports stars are still pretty opaque!

Comment author: MrHen 12 February 2010 06:03:38PM 1 point [-]

Nothing like cricket references are to us. Good lord...

Comment author: MrHen 12 February 2010 06:02:34PM 0 points [-]

In case you are wondering, the term "full stop" harks back to telegrams:

The term STOP was used in telegrams in place of the period. The end of a sentence would be marked by STOP, because punctuation cost extra. The end of the entire telegram would be noted by FULL STOP.

How full stop became associated with the punctuation used to end sentences is beyond my knowledge. The wikilink doesn't seem to have that info either.

Comment author: mattnewport 12 February 2010 06:24:14PM 2 points [-]

Leading to the classic Blackadder line:

Yes... take down a telegram, Bob. To Mr. Charlie Chaplin, Sennet Studios, Hollywood, California. Congrats stop. Have found only person in world less funny than you stop. Name Baldrick stop. Signed E. Blackadder stop. Oh, and put a P.S.: please, please, please stop.

Comment author: SilasBarta 12 February 2010 06:25:45PM 0 points [-]

ROFL! I love that guy...

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