[kj] dilemma

[fluke fluke]

A dilemma is :
 
·It is from a Greek prefix meaning "two," the word should be used only when exactly two choices are involved. 
 
 
   But he has three choices . Either go to see the Wailers, go to see P.J. or to enroll in English classes . A dilemma is two choices...he has three choices  . It isn't a dilemma
 
 
 
 


From: dpeace at bigfoot.com
To: gathering at misera.net
Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2009 11:39:29 +0000
Subject: Re: [kj] dilemma







Actually, a dilemma is precisely what he has.
dilemma

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One entry found. 


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Main Entry: 
di·lem·ma 
Pronunciation: 
\də-ˈle-mə also dī-\ 
Function: 
noun 
Etymology: 
Late Latin, from Late Greek dilēmmat-, dilēmma, probably back-formation from Greek dilēmmatos involving two assumptions, from di- + lēmmat-, lēmma assumption — more at lemma 
Date: 
1523 
1: an argument presenting two or more equally conclusive alternatives against an opponent2 a: a usually undesirable or unpleasant choice <faces this dilemma: raise interest rates and slow the economy or lower them and risk serious inflation> b: a situation involving such a choice <here am I brought to a very pretty dilemma; I must commit murder or commit matrimony — George Farquhar> ; broadly : predicament <lords and bailiffs were in a terrible dilemma — G. M. Trevelyan>3 a: a problem involving a difficult choice <the dilemma of “liberty versus order” — J. M. Burns> b: a difficult or persistent problem <unemployment…the great central dilemma of our advancing technology — August Heckscher>
— dil·em·mat·ic \ˌdi-lə-ˈma-tik also -ˌdī-\ adjective 
usage Although some commentators insist that dilemma be restricted to instances in which the alternatives to be chosen are equally unsatisfactory, their concern is misplaced; the unsatisfactoriness of the options is usually a matter of how the author presents them. What is distressing or painful about a dilemma is having to make a choice one does not want to make. The use of such adjectives as terrible, painful, and irreconcilable suggests that dilemma is losing some of its unpleasant force. There also seems to be a tendency especially in sense 3b toward applying the word to less weighty problems <solved their goaltending dilemma — Pat Calabria>.
 
(http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dilemma)
 
I refer you to sense 3b and the usage reference.
 
I’m not aware of any precise antonym for “dilemma”, since there can be no decision if two alternatives can be managed neatly; the closest would be something like “solution”, I suppose.
 
In any case, etymological pedantry is reductive and vexatious; as the purpose of language is to communicate, so long as its usage communicates to a reasonable person the intended meaning, its purpose has been served.
 
And egregious used to mean distinguished; language and word meaning is a constantly shifting entity.
 
I’m not entirely innocent of such things myself, however: I still bristle when I hear conTROVersy, as it’s clearly CONTroversy. And mischEVIous, as opposed to misCHIVus, makes me froth slightly.
 
Darren
Hungerford, UK
 


From: gathering-bounces at misera.net [mailto:gathering-bounces at misera.net] On Behalf Of fluke fluke
Sent: 20 March 2009 01:48
To: gathering at misera.net
Subject: Re: [kj] dilemma
 
 
 
He doesn't have a dilemma though does he . I don't know what he has, but it certainly isn't a dilemma . He has the opposite of a dilemma, what ever that is .
     What is the opposite of a dilemma ?
 
 
 
 
 



From: dpeace at bigfoot.com
To: gathering at misera.net
Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2009 01:32:50 +0000
Subject: Re: [kj] dilemma

Oh Petey.
 
Please stop being a cunt.
 
Darren
Hungerford, UK
 


From: gathering-bounces at misera.net [mailto:gathering-bounces at misera.net] On Behalf Of fluke fluke
Sent: 20 March 2009 01:28
To: gathering at misera.net
Subject: [kj] dilemma
 
 
 
Well Dear boy.
    I suggest that you don't go to either concert and enroll yourself in an English language class instead and there you can learn the meaning of the word "dilemma".
   A dilemma is: A situation that requires a choice between options that are or seem equally unfavorable . As both of your options are favorable, then Dilemma is the incorrect word to use in this instance
 
 
    P.S. Don't waste your time trying to find any spelling errors in my post, because there aren't any .(And I ve deliberately avoided the use of any difficult apostrophe's)
 
 
 
 
Mike Cooper mike at coopersurf.fsnet.co.uk 
Sun Mar 8 18:30:53 EDT 2009 
 
 
Alright fellow jokers toss the coin time. Just realised that two gigs I 
would otherwise go to are happening on the same night! I hate that!!! 



PJ Harvey and John Parish play Brum Town Hall on the same night that the 
Wailers play the Exodus album in its entirety at Brum Academy Loads of 
friends are going to the latter but I am really into the idea of seeing the 
PJ. 







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