Thursday, August 7, 2008

Co-Worker: [Looking at an image of a rattlesnake] Gross!

We: Gross? Don't you mean Scary?

Co-Worker: Well it is scary. I guess if I saw his insides, that'd be more gross.

We: A lot of people do that--say Gross when they're scared, or at least when they see something scary.

Co-Worker: Well, Gross is a pretty encompassing word.

We: Yeah, but why not just say Repulsive?

Co-Worker: Gross is easier to say. It takes too long to say Repulsive. And if I saw a rattlesnake, I'd be more worried about getting away than anything else.

We: Even clarity?

Co-Worker: I'm afraid so.