Seinfeld-ian dating question...

[tcfrogs]

OK, I went out for drinks with a girl and she didn't know what the word "surly" meant. I introduced the word into a conversation, and she asked me "what does that mean?"

Do I continue seeing her, or brand her for a dunce & move on?

[jpgray]

1. No one at my work knew the word "lithe"

I said "You have to fucking be kidding me", but sadly, they were not. :(

I dunno. Is it important to you that she know a certain word or not?

[tcfrogs]

3. No, it's not

I just thought it was "lounge-worthy" to bring up here. And I don't want to turn this into a sex-thread, but I think it's worth my time to see her again.

[RevolutionaryActs]

At least it wasn't the word "surely" she didn't know.......

:silly:

[tjdee]

2. How old is she? Was she drunk? Did she seem dumb otherwise?

She might be very bright. Can't tell just from that.

But if I was with a guy and he didn't know what surly meant, that would raise a small "He's stupid!" flag.

[tcfrogs]

4. She wasn't drunk

But you nailed it - it raised a small "she's stupid" flag.

[huellewig]

5. I am impressed she asked you what it means.

Wanting to learn is better then having knowledge in my book. It would have bothered me if she just nodded and pretended to know what you are talking about.

[Skittles]

6. nah, it's not that common a word

she, however, should break up with you because you are a freaking word nazi. :D

[tcfrogs]

8. I am a word nazi, damn-it!!!

And we haven't really been on a date yet either, although we're going to see "Meet the Fockers" this week.

[qnr]

7. On the positive side, she she did admit that she wasn't familiar

with the word. In addition, she was interested enough to ask you what it meant.

[WMliberal]

9. call her. they like that anyway...

and somehow start tlaking about books. That'll help raise more stupid flags, or maybe help redeem her.

[tcfrogs]

11. Don't worry, I should be seeing her again

Looking forward to it, just thought that was a strange thing, and HAD to post it.

[Schema Thing]

10. I don't know man... my 13 year old daughter would surely know surly

But then again, she's kind of a born wordsmith (though you'd never guess it from reading me). There are different kinds of intelligence though, and sometimes the next Maya Angelou is raised by wolves or the Sanford family, so :shrug: I'd say get to know her better, if you liked her.

[kerstin]

12. Ask her whom she prefers -- Leno or Letterman.

That should provide the answer you seek.

[tjdee]

13. Good one! Good one!

Indeed, it should be much clearer when you find the answer to that.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

14. i wouldnt date anyone who didnt know what hoipolloi meant

except that i do and have....and said person is much smarter than i am...

its just a word

[redqueen]

21. I thought it was two words, actually.

Hoi Polloi.

:dunce:

[St. Jarvitude]

15. Surly you jest!

Er, wait, that's not right...

[PittPoliSci]

16. i think it was brave of her to ask.

so maybe she's bold, assertive. which can be a good thing. this one could go either way, it's your call.

[jerryster]

17. Take the George Costanza approach

If you think there's a chance for sex, see her again. If not, don't.

[underpants]

18. NO definitely not she already has proven not to be perfect

no sense wasting your time with her. Move on immediately.

[MonkeyFunk]

19. Try out some other words on her first.

Describe someone as being "taciturn". If she tilts her head to the side like a canine, run out the door when she excuses herself to the restroom.

[redqueen]

20. Hmmmm

Well, she did ask, which says something good. I'd be more worried if they didn't know and just let it go. Her curiosity is a plus in my book.

I say her not knowing the meaning of the word isn't so much an indicator that she's a dunce. She asked so she's good on that IMO. If you want to find out if someone's a dunce have a convo about supply side economics or something. That'll let you know in no time at all if they're date worthy.

[Beware the Beast Man]

22. Does she have "man-hands"?

:D

[underpants]

23. Some context? was the meal over spiced and sultry?

:shrug:

[Schema Thing]

27. Hah! I guess we should be sure that he used the word correctly

before passing judgement.

[tcfrogs]

33. Context

We were watching a guy sing at a small club, and he was, well, acting rather "surly" with the crowd. I said so, and there you go.

[kerstin]

24. More info please.

I mean just how old is this person -- 18, 19, 32? Also what attracted you to her in the first place? Is facility with the language and a sophisticated vocabulary hugely important qualities to you? There's nothing at all wrong with that if they are, but if they're not, maybe you're just afraid that she would embarrass you in front of others? Is she stimulating in terms of her conceptual thinking and in her formulation of ideas? I mean all we have to go on is this person's unfamiliarity with this one very common word.

Still it is a red flag.

[kerstin]

26. But it is a good sign that she asked.

Intellectual curiosity to me is more important than a fixed body of knowledge. At least the latter can be easily attained.

[kerstin]

28. And naturally, I'm such a gen-ass

I just replied to my own freakin' post!

Damn, I did it again!

[cestpaspossible]

25. Was she surly about it?

Either way, I'd dump her.

[Nitrogenica]

29. Buy a dictionary and angrily give it to her.

um....ok dumb idea.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

30. Move on.

However, I'm single. Maybe it's because I break things off on the basis of the breadth of one's vocabulary.

[noshenanigans]

31. Surly only looks out for one guy- Surly.

See, she wouldn't get the Simpsons joke, and in my book, that's a dealbreaker.

[Hans Delbrook]

32. I'm a word Nazi too

I'd dump her.

I gave a guy a pass once for bring unfamiliar w/ the word welter but I lost interest when he didn't understand the difference between "fazes" and "phases." I never regretted that decision. (This was a person w/ a MS!)

Oh, and I give her no brownie points for asking what it meant. It only shows a lack of shame or that she's too lazy to go home and look the word up.