Vote for the best verboticism.
DEFINITION: n. A technological innovation that doesn't work as expected because "normal people" can't figure out how to use it. v. To improve something in a way that makes it much harder to use.
Verboticisms
Click on each verboticism to read the sentences created by the Verbotomy writers, and to see your voting options...
You have two votes. Click on the words to read the details, then vote your favorite.
Trekkienology
Created by: Jabberwocky
Pronunciation: trekee/nawl/ogee
Sentence: I think you have to understand Vulcan to figure out modern trekkienology
Etymology: trekkie + technology
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COMMENTS:
live long and prosper - porsche, 2007-03-21: 11:29:00
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Digitknowitall
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: dij it no it all
Sentence: Reggie had bought a fancy new digital radio/alarm clock/coffeemaker/toaster. It was designed to be efficient in the morning by waking him up on time and getting his breakfast ready. His new appliance was a digitknowitall. Great in theory, but he could never get the radio station he liked programmed into it, so he had to listen to newscasts in a foreign language. He could also never program in the correct time...it was always an hour behind or so. The coffee tasted like something you would expect would come out of a new computer and the toast was always burned black. His only consolation was that the smoke detector awoke him if the alarm failed, the coffee was a handy extinguisher for the burnt breakfast offerings and his clock was right twice a day.
Etymology: Digital (of a circuit or device that represents magnitudes in digits) & Know-It-All (a person who thinks/behaves as if they know everything, but usually knows less than you would think on a subject).
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COMMENTS:
LOL! I'm still laughing, ha ha! Thanks! - splendiction, 2009-10-07: 21:44:00
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Regenerrorate
Created by: CharlieB
Pronunciation: re-jen-er-ate
Sentence: Phil Gates's latest update looked ever so flash but also had a tendency to crash the whole system. It was a classic example of some very keen, but slightly over-enthusiastic, egg heads regenerrorating the software.
Etymology: regenerate (to reconstitute in a better form or condition) + error (a mistake, to deviate from accuracy)
Whatchamadowithit
Created by: ekath
Pronunciation: whachama-do-with-it
Sentence: Its kind of sad when my mom tries to figure out how to operate her whatchamadowithits. Usually I sigh and show her, for example, how to turn her cell phone on.
Etymology: from whatchamacallit and not-knowing-what-to-do-with-it
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COMMENTS:
Man, I spent almost an hour trying to think of something like this, but the best I could think of was "howjamauseit". I'm glad somebody was able to find a better solution than that. - ErWenn, 2007-03-22: 00:45:00
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Complacate
Created by: Nosila
Pronunciation: com plak kayt
Sentence: Initially when you had an IT problem, you just phoned Fred and he'd either tell you how to fix it or come and do it for you. When they installed a new system, they added a voice mail system to log complaints. It was intended to complacate the user. Your complaint was registered, but you had to go through an e-labourate series of "Press this, press that" options. You got nowhere but they figured all that button pushing kept you busy and entertained until they could figure out how you had screwed up their expensive system.
Etymology: Complicate (make more complex, intricate;confusing) & Placate (cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of;lull;mollify)
Cyberk
Created by: galwaywegian
Pronunciation: s eye burk
Sentence: If she counted up the hours she spent speaking to cyberks, it would far outweigh time spent speaking to friends family and pets.
Etymology: cyber, berk.
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COMMENTS:
a person could go positively cyberzerk! - Alchemist, 2007-03-21: 06:04:00
or sigh berzerk - galwaywegian, 2007-03-21: 08:00:00
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Vistappointment
Created by: Alchemist
Pronunciation: vis-tah-POYNY-ment
Sentence: That new self-walking dog leash I bought online turned out to be a big Vistappointment. I couldn't even get it configured to my breed, it kept defaulting to "shih tsu". What a rip!
Etymology: Vista (you know) + disappointment
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COMMENTS:
very topical! - galwaywegian, 2007-03-21: 06:43:00
I don't normally appreciate topical verboticisms, but this one actually rolls off the tongue nicely. - Discoveria, 2007-03-21: 08:44:00
for relief of normal verboticism, apply topically...:-) - Alchemist, 2007-03-21: 09:19:00
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Technogression
Created by: sisica
Pronunciation: tek-no-GREH-shun
Sentence: The
Etymology: Technical Regression (with the added bonus of having the feel of "agression") in the word....and I'd think that could be a subsequent feeling to being unable to benefit for the intended technological benefit that is not being met.
Ditzmo
Created by: jedijawa
Pronunciation: ditz-mo
Sentence: The ditzmo was such a complicated bit of electronics that Bobbie didn't even try to figure it out.
Etymology: ditz (a scatterbrain) + gizmo (a mechanical device)
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COMMENTS:
Perfect! - wordmeister, 2007-03-21: 00:42:00
Simple and cute! Love it! - purpleartichokes, 2007-03-21: 04:39:00
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Comments:
Today's definition was suggested by erasmus.
Thank you erasmus! ~ James
Today's definition was suggested by erasmus. Thank you erasmus. ~ James