Re: USAGE: 'born'

In a message dated 5/9/01 10:00:58 PM, dnsulani@INTER.NET.IL writes:

<< "Phonix is a boomtown where nearly a quarter

of the children live in poverty.

    If there's any one thing that distinguishes Phoenix,

it's that the city is still becoming. There may be arguments

as to what it's becoming..." >>

    This only proves my argument, that "becoming" is supposed to mean
"attractive", and that they're using that word to form a pun.  How could
anyone possibly think that "becoming" is being used seriously as a verb?!
There's absolutely no way!  I myself have been to Phoenix, and would describe
it as quite becoming.  Though what it's becoming is a whole different
story--especially as you get further away from the center of the city.  But,
yes, now that I see the whole sentence, there is no way that the first
"becoming" can mean anything else but "attractive".  And I don't think any
comments about what words heterosexual men use to describe other heterosexual
men factor into the argument at all, since the article may very well have
been written by a woman, and it's describing a city, not a person--and it was
used specifically for a pun!

-David

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