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To: winstonwolf33
Despite the Detroit mayor's apparent disinterest in erecting a "RoboCop" statue

We know a journalist wrote this --as opposed to some bro in his pajamas-- cuz "disinterested" means, OBJECTIVE. It does not mean UNinterested.

The other one journoz screw-up is ARTFUL, which means dishonest (nothing to do with paintings and stuff).

They also blow-it on TORTUOUS, which in fact means CURVY (has nothing to do with torture).

15 posted on 02/17/2011 12:12:45 PM PST by gaijin
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To: gaijin

Well, “artful” can refer to one having skill at artwork. It also doesn’t have to mean dishonest—the key part is cleverness (though it does typically imply craftiness or cunning).

And yes, TORTUROUS is the word they want when referring to torture.

And it would be less ambiguous if they stuck to a meaning of unbiased when using disinterested...the other meaning confuses things.

As much as I try to just accept the improper use of words (e.g., “tidal wave” when they mean “tsunami”), it bugs me, and I’m glad I’m not the only one!


19 posted on 02/17/2011 1:24:21 PM PST by Gondring (Paul Revere would have been flamed as a naysayer troll and told to go back to Boston.)
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