1. Terrie000

    Terrie000 Member

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    Oxymoron

    Discussion in 'Word Mechanics' started by Terrie000, Jan 23, 2017.

    Is "Below/Above Average" an oxymoron? I guess they aren't exactly opposite of each other, but then how can you be "above or below" when you're average?
     
  2. ChickenFreak

    ChickenFreak Contributor Contributor

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    I'm confused by the question.

    "Below" or "above" are modifying "average". You're not average, you're above average. Or below average.
     
  3. AgentBen

    AgentBen Member

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    What @ChickenFreak said. If 50% is average, 60% is above average. 40% is below.
     
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  4. big soft moose

    big soft moose An Admoostrator Admin Staff Supporter Contributor Community Volunteer

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    it only becomes an oxymoron when idiot politicians say things like "we expect all students to be above average"
     
    Last edited: Jan 23, 2017
  5. Tenderiser

    Tenderiser Not a man or BayView

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    Oh god, yes. What a fucking moron that man is, and he was in charge of our education system?!

    (Sorry for off-topicness: ChickenFreak answered the question succinctly).
     
  6. Iain Aschendale

    Iain Aschendale Lying, dog-faced pony Marine Supporter Contributor

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    "Well, that's the news from Lake Wobegon, where all the women are strong, all the men are good looking, and all the children are above average."
    -Garrison Keillor
     
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  7. Wreybies

    Wreybies Thrice Retired Supporter Contributor

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    As @ChickenFreak already stated, the term is not describing different kinds of average, but whether one is above or below the middle mark, so no, not an oxymoron.

    Now that I've addressed the actual question....

    Because my country refuses to be beaten at anything, I offer the following from our new Education Secretary :

    Screen Shot 2017-01-23 at 8.18.24 AM.png
     
  8. Iain Aschendale

    Iain Aschendale Lying, dog-faced pony Marine Supporter Contributor

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  9. Wreybies

    Wreybies Thrice Retired Supporter Contributor

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    The silence after he screams BOOKS! :wtf: :-D
     
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  10. Tenderiser

    Tenderiser Not a man or BayView

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    Okay you guys are strong contenders. I proffer this:

     
  11. Wreybies

    Wreybies Thrice Retired Supporter Contributor

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    Okay. Yes, yes. That's daunting. But do you folks have "alternative facts"? :whistle: :-D

    And to again acknowledge the original question in this thread, "alternative facts" IS an oxymoron.
     
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  12. Iain Aschendale

    Iain Aschendale Lying, dog-faced pony Marine Supporter Contributor

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    I was gonna...

    Nope, wrong administration.
     
  13. Mumble Bee

    Mumble Bee Keep writing. Contributor

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    Guys, I just figured it all out!

    Make America 'Great' again.
    'Great' Britain
    It's why they left the EU!
    The U.S. is rejoining the UK!

    As for the actual question, I don't really see any oxymoron indicators, maybe if you gave us an example?
     
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  14. Tenderiser

    Tenderiser Not a man or BayView

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    We do have "Brexit is Brexit" which, to at least pretend I'm still on topic, is a good example of tautology.
     
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  15. Wreybies

    Wreybies Thrice Retired Supporter Contributor

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    No surer sign that we are all in that metaphorical hand-basket headed to hell when we start playing the "my country sucks worse than yours" game. :whistle: :-D
     
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  16. Spencer1990

    Spencer1990 Contributor Contributor

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    I was sad when he announced his retirement. A Prarie Home Companion was one of the things I listened to when I wanted to think about my dad. All I have left is Car Talk and one of the brothers died!
     
  17. Shadowfax

    Shadowfax Contributor Contributor

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    What I heard was "Brexit means Brexit" which isn't really a tautology, although it is a woefully unhelpful definition...
     
  18. Tenderiser

    Tenderiser Not a man or BayView

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    That might be it. Either way, it's tautological.
     
  19. big soft moose

    big soft moose An Admoostrator Admin Staff Supporter Contributor Community Volunteer

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    It puts me in mind of what an american i used to know said about his military service

    Army Intelligence = Nearly oxymoronic
    Airforce Intelligence = the same as army without the 'nearly'
    Marine Intelligence = the same as airforce but without the 'oxy'
     
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  20. SethLoki

    SethLoki Retired Autodidact Contributor

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    Excuse my encyclopaedic ignorance...but could we have 'uncommonly average' as a rectifying right for the wrong that was at the top of this thread?
     
  21. Wreybies

    Wreybies Thrice Retired Supporter Contributor

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    I am sure the order of that little ditty will depend on the branch in which one served. ;)
     
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  22. big soft moose

    big soft moose An Admoostrator Admin Staff Supporter Contributor Community Volunteer

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    doubtless I fully expect @Iain Aschendale to be along shortly to defend the honour of the USMC :D

    in the Uk forces we were simpler, we just declared 'millitary intelligence' to be an oxymoron and had done with it
     
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  23. Iain Aschendale

    Iain Aschendale Lying, dog-faced pony Marine Supporter Contributor

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    Fight you for the bottom slot, zoomie :)
     
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  24. Iain Aschendale

    Iain Aschendale Lying, dog-faced pony Marine Supporter Contributor

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    Yup, we're dumber and more vicious than anybody else:

    Muscles Are Required, Intelligence Not Essential
     
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  25. big soft moose

    big soft moose An Admoostrator Admin Staff Supporter Contributor Community Volunteer

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    Mind you ive also seen the millitary definition of Oxymoron as "an airforce pilot after all the pure oxygen has rotted his brain"
     
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