Re: Mental masturbation: a correction

JOEL MATTHEW PEARSON wrote:
>
> On Wed, 2 Jun 1999, Sally Caves wrote:
>
> > As for how to say "mental masturbation" in one's conlang... the term
> > (as we have seen!) is just RIDDEN with negative connotations.  It
> > means to indulge oneself in a worthless mental pursuit, which is how
> > Matt's psychiatrist meant it, however un-ironically.
>
> Just to set the record straight, the "mental masturbation" comment
> was not made by my psychiatrist.  I do not have, and never have had,
> a psychiatrist or a therapist.  The comment was made by an acquaintance
> of mine (the host-father in the family I stayed with while I was
> an exchange student in Sweden) who happens to be a child psychologist.
I *knew* I would get in trouble with that!  When I read it I almost
posted a correction.  I meant your psychiatrist *friend,* which is how
I've cast this phrase before.  Sorry for the missing word.

Matt... re your apolgy and two bits; people have been apologizing
right and left, publically and privately.  My response that you
quote above was to another thread entirely, started by Kristian,
and on the subject of self-reflexive words, and we should keep
it that way.

> Given the unfortunate direction this thread has taken, I suppose
> I should apologise for bringing up the incident in the first place.
Why?  It was a perfectly interesting and timely remark.  We were
talking about how non-conlangers sometimes put what we do down.
I guess we know how to do that to each other, don't we?

Thanks for all the information about "wh-in situ"; I found that
immensely helpful, and will respond to that once I've got my
head clear of all of this.

Sally