Incentive or Initiative?

Tobes · 24 Nov 2007 at 16:09

This is me picking holes in MSN grammar.

Was having a conversation with someone over MSN. Discussing music.

Me: The trailer made me listen to that tune again

Him: Its one of my favourite songs, but yeah

Him: gave me initiative

Me: incentive?

Him: both words work

While I can see what he means by both words work, what word would YOU personally use?

[TR]SweetSpotOz · 24 Nov 2007 at 16:10

Well, it's like saying

I am happy
I am sad

Both words work but mean different things.

Tobes · 24 Nov 2007 at 16:12

markyp23 said:
Well, it's like saying

I am happy
I am sad

Both words work but mean different things.

So by that you think one word is wrong I assume?

[TR]SweetSpotOz · 24 Nov 2007 at 16:16

Tobes said:
So by that you think one word is wrong I assume?

No.

I would say incentive if I meant incentive or initiative if I meant initiative. Although initiative is a bit clumsy.

loltim · 24 Nov 2007 at 16:18

Initiative doesn't work in that context?

semi-pro waster · 24 Nov 2007 at 16:19

I'd use incentive because it gave a reason to do something, initiative would be more like getting the idea to do something. Both do work but depending on how the other person meant it I'd think they meant incentive because initiative is a rather clumsy way of putting it.

[TR]SweetSpotOz · 24 Nov 2007 at 16:20

Tim said:
Initiative doesn't work in that context?

It does. It's a bit rubbish though.

PS. We can't say as we need to know what the incentive/initiative was to do.

Tobes · 24 Nov 2007 at 16:20

Tim said:
Initiative doesn't work in that context?

I didn't know if it did or not. That's what I was asking.

markyp yeah I understand what you mean now. So it really depends on what he was thinking.

loltim · 24 Nov 2007 at 16:21

Tobes said:
I didn't know if it did or not. That's what I was asking.

markyp yeah I understand what you mean now. So it really depends on what he was thinking.

I know, I was saying it doesn't work, for me anyway.

Tobes · 24 Nov 2007 at 16:22

What was with the question mark if you were not asking a question?

loltim · 24 Nov 2007 at 16:24

Tobes said:
What was with the question mark if you were not asking a question?

It was just instead of using the confused smiley I guess.

Tobes · 24 Nov 2007 at 16:26

markyp23 said:
It does. It's a bit rubbish though.

PS. We can't say as we need to know what the incentive/initiative was to do.

I guess it gave him a reason to listen to the song again. He was listening to Tear Drop by Massive Attack. I told him that the TV advert of Assassins Creed which features the song made me listen to the song.

Sorry Tim at being picky lol. Just I read what's typed.

[TR]SweetSpotOz · 24 Nov 2007 at 16:32

Tobes said:
I guess it gave him a reason to listen to the song again. He was listening to Tear Drop by Massive Attack. I told him that the TV advert of Assassins Creed which features the song made me listen to the song.

Sorry Tim at being picky lol. Just I read what's typed.

On second thoughts, it seems initiative may be more applicable.

PurpleDinosaur · 24 Nov 2007 at 16:33

Incentive would be better, although I don't think I would use either, neither fit the context particularly well.

loltim · 24 Nov 2007 at 16:36

markyp23 said:
On second thoughts, it seems initiative may be more applicable.

Initiative would mean his own ideas and thoughts made him listen to the song. It wasn't, it was an advert that gave him incentive to do so.

That's how I see it :confused:

Tobes · 24 Nov 2007 at 16:44

PurpleDinosaur said:
Incentive would be better, although I don't think I would use either, neither fit the context particularly well.

You have never got the incentive to do listen to a song? lol that's how I see it anyway. I saw the advert and it gave me the incentive to listen to the song again. I defiantly don't think it doesn't fit the context well.

touch · 24 Nov 2007 at 16:45

Inspiration tbh

Surfer · 24 Nov 2007 at 16:46

Tim said:
Initiative would mean his own ideas and thoughts made him listen to the song. It wasn't, it was an advert that gave him incentive to do so.

That's how I see it

you are correct.

Luke · 24 Nov 2007 at 16:48

I think 'desire' would work far better than either of the two words in question.

loltim · 24 Nov 2007 at 16:54

Tobes said:
I defiantly don't think it doesn't fit the context well.

Never pick on my grammar, ever again