Weird Conversations with My Boss Edition
[Context: I called into work yesterday morning, informing them I'd be late due to illness.]
Boss: So what was your affliction yesterday?
Me: I had a sinus headache when I woke up, so I took some ibuprofen and lay down for an extra hour.
Boss: You could just have your sinuses removed.
Me: Yeah… But it's a cavity. How can you remove it?
Boss: …
Me:I guess they could fill it in. But with what?
Boss: Heh. They could fill it with cocaine.
Me: …
posted by Stanley at 13:22
13 Comments:
OMG--please quit your job. Your place of employment is a blackhole for intelligence. Actually, I've noticed you've done and gotten stupider.
lc, that had nothing to do with his job.
I can attest, the idiot patrol is in full affect at Stanley's place of employment.
Though his suggestion is somewhat intriguing...
you're right, mb. and i hear things are a lot worse since a certain strapping sales guy quit.
If you quit your job, we could sleep all day long! mmmm, sleep.
I don't totally understand the convention, when transcribing dialogue, of having a pause between two things one character says indicated by showing the other character as saying "ellipsis". Does it mean he sighs? What is the difference between
Me: Yeah… But it's a cavity. How can you remove it?
Boss: …
Me:I guess they could fill it in. But with what?
and
Me: Yeah… But it's a cavity. How can you remove it?...I guess they could fill it in. But with what?
or even,
Me: Yeah… But it's a cavity. How can you remove it? [awkward pause] I guess they could fill it in. But with what?
Funny you should ask that, TMK. I first wrote out that dialogue with [pause] indicators taking the place of the ellipses, but I thought it seemed kind of forced. I like the ellipses, because it's like a camera cutting to the other person who's expressionless, then cutting back to the speaker who continues. Or something.
stanley is the ellipsis king.
Ellipses are an established convention, people.
Also, filling your sinus with cocaine would not help you have fewer sinus headaches.
The three options TMK describes all communicate different things. I'll explain more in exchange for valuables.
Ben: I betroth you all my hoarded jewels and doubloons -- 'splain away!
sinus problem solution: salt water irrigation!
ellipses problem: i like stanley's explanation, "it's like a camera cutting to the other person" and they just look dumb with a blank expression on their face.
Stanley got it right already, but you can see here if you're so inclined.
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