I think NYT is being too harsh: this is just a clever way of enlisting a prop in your lie. Besides, what could you say to a date-- without any outside help, mind you-- that gets you out of the situation & comes off better than "I hate you"?
Chivalry not dead: I just stay 'til the end of dinner.
Yes, because who knows better how to get rid of a date than a professional linguist? "Then I started reading about the lambda calculus...What? You have to go? But I haven't even told my favorite Paul Postal anecdote yet!"
I think NYT is being too harsh: this is just a clever way of enlisting a prop in your lie. Besides, what could you say to a date-- without any outside help, mind you-- that gets you out of the situation & comes off better than "I hate you"?
Chivalry not dead: I just stay 'til the end of dinner.
Posted by FL | Link to this comment | 08- 9-04 12:20 PM
I agree -- too harsh. Also, what keeps the duped date from saying, "Oh, let me drive you."
Posted by Bob | Link to this comment | 08- 9-04 12:34 PM
I can't wait until Ogged's date's cell phone rings.
Posted by FL | Link to this comment | 08- 9-04 2:29 PM
Hello?
Bill Laimbeer?
Right now!?
Sorry Ogged, you understand...
[Ogged found next morning, hanging from a Bad Boys penant by the neck...]
Posted by ogged | Link to this comment | 08- 9-04 2:34 PM
Phenomenal. If only I knew a woman who could set you up, as it were.
Posted by FL | Link to this comment | 08- 9-04 4:05 PM
It's seriously a lot cheaper just to actually have a friend call you.
Posted by sam | Link to this comment | 08- 9-04 5:04 PM
Don't miss the bigger point - a PhD in Language will get you one fifth of a gig writing excuses for bailing out on a bad date.
Now who says that the economy isn't creating new jobs?!
Posted by Tripp | Link to this comment | 08-10-04 8:11 AM
Yes, because who knows better how to get rid of a date than a professional linguist? "Then I started reading about the lambda calculus...What? You have to go? But I haven't even told my favorite Paul Postal anecdote yet!"
Posted by FL | Link to this comment | 08-10-04 9:22 AM
I dunno. "Professional linguist" sounds really sexy. Better than "professional phallicist."
Posted by Bob | Link to this comment | 08-10-04 9:37 AM
There's a response having to do with the phrase "Y combinator" waiting to be made to FL's comment, but I'm not sure quite how to make it....
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 08-10-04 11:23 AM
I'll x-bar you, punk!
Ok, I'm out.
Posted by FL | Link to this comment | 08-10-04 1:15 PM
Oh, and do linguists really use the lambda calculus? Is Noam Chomsky a mad good unlambda programmer?
Posted by ben wolfson | Link to this comment | 08-10-04 1:32 PM