Mutable

I use 'obfuscate' as part of my everyday, non-technical vocab. I don't think that it's particularly pretentious. There are times when it's appropriate to use it, and times when it would be appropriate to use a more colloquial phrase like 'muddy the waters'. Can't say I've ever used 'mutable' though.
 
VIRII said:
Pretentious pap imho.
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Not at all. If you used different words you'd (i) make the sentence more complicated, and (ii) detract from the flow. The form is as important as the content.

Rich L said:
To me it simply shows that perhaps the poster has a background in the subject, where such terms are probably more common than in 'normal' discussion.
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Precisement.
 
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I do and I think the use of the word, "obfuscate" can be in preference to "confuse" because the former tends to imply a more deliberate action and it's less "clumsy" sounding in some cases. For example, if someone "obfuscates the accounts", it implies a deliberate attempt to confuse others. If someone "confuses" the accounts, the implication isn't necessarily that the action was deliberate and I don't like the sound of "confuses" anyway in that context.

Mutable and immutable are just, as some have said, words that have become more commonly used by programmers. I tend to leave the word, "mutable" to design specifications where I may wish to obfuscate how something is intended to work ;)
 
I've been known to use 'obfuscate' in a technical context. The phrase which instantly springs to mind is "Security through obfuscation".

I've never in my life even considered using 'mutable'.
 
Not sure I've ever said obfuscate out loud, but I've probably said it on MSN or on a forum post.
 
platypus said:
Yeah I use them from time to time. Why?
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Indeed,
I used obfuscate just yesterday when describing someone's terrible C code- hardware people., they just can't program!
 
Adz said:
I've been known to use 'obfuscate' in a technical context. The phrase which instantly springs to mind is "Security through obfuscation".

I've never in my life even considered using 'mutable'.
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I use but from a technical point of view mainly.
 
I actually use mutable a fair amount, but that's because I do a stupid amount of genetics.

I can't say I've even come across 'obfuscate' before.
 
Rich_L said:
That post makes perfect sense, concisely conveys a point, if it sent you scurrying for a dictionary that's not his fault ;)

To me it simply shows that perhaps the poster has a background in the subject, where such terms are probably more common than in 'normal' discussion.
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How strange you used the same terminology to defend it as the original poster did...... or not strange perhaps ;)

Option 1
If intelligence is mutable, it's ipso facto able to be changed: whether autodidactically or by teaching on the part of another, either way it's teaching.

Option 2
If intelligence is changeable it is able to be changed either by self education or by conventional teaching. Either way it is teaching.

I think my paraphrase is both more concise and easier to grasp all round, unless of course you get off on unnecessarily convoluted language designed specifically to obfuscate and discompose the target whilst simultaneously bolstering the ego of the poster ...... :D

Although as for the actual argument itself it is a cobblers. I can change your intelligence by subjecting you to brain trauma. Therefore just because it can be changed to your detriment it does not mean it can be increased.
 
phykell said:
I do and I think the use of the word, "obfuscate" can be in preference to "confuse" because the former tends to imply a more deliberate action and it's less "clumsy" sounding in some cases. For example, if someone "obfuscates the accounts", it implies a deliberate attempt to confuse others. If someone "confuses" the accounts, the implication isn't necessarily that the action was deliberate and I don't like the sound of "confuses" anyway in that context.

Mutable and immutable are just, as some have said, words that have become more commonly used by programmers. I tend to leave the word, "mutable" to design specifications where I may wish to obfuscate how something is intended to work ;)
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A more common option for obfuscate is "cloud"........
I was not aware of mutable being a programming thing so perhaps I'll edit the first post to "outside of programming".
 
I've no idea what you're on about, I assume this is from a thread somewhere? :p (edit, ah found it..looks 'enjoyable'). FWIW your 2nd option, whilst similar, doesn't read as well as the 1st IMHO. :)

I suppose if you're going to start clarifying 'outside of programming', you'd also better specify other fields it might be commonly used in, like the studies of cognition and intelligence ;) :p
 
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Magister said:
Some people see "clever" words and assume he must know what he's talking about, in this case I think he doesn't. :p
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Hehehe, my point exactly. Although Rich L and arcadefire disagree, but then they always appear to back the poster who posted the phrase.....
 
Nah, I think it's just because we're better educated than most, so talk like that all the time..
 
Rich_L said:
I've no idea what you're on about, I assume this is from a thread somewhere? :p FWIW your 2nd option, whilst similar, doesn't read as well as the 1st IMHO. :)
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It reads better :)
Far better.
It highlights what pap the first one was.

"If something is changeable it can be changed" is the meaning of the first part of his post..... what was the point in that other than trying to clarify the meaning of mutable?
Looks like ego stroking masterbation to me rich, vomit inducing even as is the mutual nature of it all.
 
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VIRII said:
A more common option for obfuscate is "cloud"........
I was not aware of mutable being a programming thing so perhaps I'll edit the first post to "outside of programming".
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"Clouding" the accounts? No, I don't think so, "obfuscate" is a better word to use, and is an example of the English language's richness and inherent ability to convey subtle differences in meaning. I welcome such enthusiastic use of the language.
 
phykell said:
"Clouding" the accounts? No, I don't think so, "obfuscate" is a better word to use, and is an example of the English language's richness and inherent ability to convey subtle differences in meaning. I welcome such enthusiastic use of the language.
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I don't usually hear "accounts" being put in the same catagory as "interesting" :p
 
VIRII are you saying that we should all use the simplest, dumbest language we can in order so as to not appear pretentious to ill-educated plebs? That seems to be the inference of what you are saying; here and in the SC thread.
 
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