[Talk-GB] Revert my changeset please

[Phil Endecott]

Pawel Stankiewicz wrote:
> Richard Fairhurst <richard at systemed.net> wrote:
>> Pawel Stankiewicz wrote:
>>>>  "If you don't know how to revert an import, chances are you 
>>>>  shouldn't be doing the import in the first place."
>>>  Chances are something very different from a ban.
>> 
>> No. You're misunderstanding English idiom.
>
> No. It's not ,,a group of words in a fixed order that have a particular 
> meaning that is 
> different from the meanings of each word understood on its own":
> http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/idiom?q=idiom
> ,,chances are you shouldn't" means ,,probably you shouldn't'" but you still 
> may it (are allowed). Deleting ,,chances" you made it only more 
> categorical but it still far far away from a rule in meaning used by you (do only).

Pawel,

There are at least two layers of subtle meaning in that statement.  
What you are perhaps missing is the element of sarcastic 
understatement.  For example, if I noticed that someone were about to 
put salt in their tea instead of sugar, I might say "err... are you 
sure you want to do that?".  What that means is of course "you idiot, stop!".

Of course it would be better to avoid language like this, but it is 
hard for someone who has developed a complex style to revert to a 
lowest common denominator.


Cheers,  Phil.