...and so on, and so on, ad bloodyboringum.

What's with the outbreak of tedious pedantry and utterly-missing-the-point on this forum over the last few days?

Are we being infiltrated by humourless androids from another galaxy? Is there a convention of mathematicians in town?

Somebody please make it stop!

Pah. You could have at least had the decency to make a deliberate mistake for the pedants to pick on.

Well, the Latin's a bit dodgy...

Of course, androids being synthetic humans it is much more likely these would come from our own galaxy.

Hopefully you just did

I've already noted the presence of a new pedantry captain this morning. Thanks for rising to the challenge DB

Perhaps a new section of the forum is called for - "Pedants Corner"?

I'm sure there would be no trouble finding a moderator

I believe the is merely one of many emerging symptoms, proving that EF has gone beyond maturity, and is now possibly declining into senility and decay. Other symptoms include:

• Nearly every member and his/her dog have got 6 bright green blobs next to their name.
• Nearly every second post is titled with a question starting with "Where","What", "Who" or "Is".
• We are into September already and nobody has dared, or is likely dare try to organise a Xmas party, as they know they'll end up either banned or broke.
• The trolls are breeding

Direct attacks against trolls, newbies, etc has become passé and no longer PC, so pedantry is creeping in as a more evolved, diplomatic way of saying "what a load of "s**t".

I would not label mathematicians as pendantic, as I believe one could also argue pedantry is an art, and not a science.

See, I told you we'd get back to normal soon!

Pedantry is often a by-product of the recent obtaining of a university degree that one wishes to show was duly earned and not usurped. It will pass with time.

If you are not in the above case but still exhibit such behaviour, then this might indeed be a problem. Check if other OCPD symptoms apply and consult your doctor.

I'm still excited by this find from another thread:

David Hasselhoff

Oh god, you've started it now... Do you know how many issues of Private Eye have been wracked with argument about the correct punctuation of 'Pedants Corner'? Eh? EH?!
In the end, they relabelled it 'Pedantry Corner'...

Since I'm one of the targets, I just want to let you know that those who know me in person can confirm I am a fun guy, to say the least. I'm just a perfectionist. That perfectionism isn't a matter of intolerance.

Sorry if my way of trying to do things as right as possible annoyed some of you. I'll try to bridle myself, ok?

Doubt it is a convention of mathematicians.

I am one, well, a single one, not a convention, and due to the mathematical workings of my brain, the linguistic workings are somewhat lacking, personally I could learn everyday the difference between das and dass, and the next day it is gone.

I think you have a lot to bring and to share. Don't be put off by a little teasing
Forget the bridle stuff and the sorries

I go get my gloves

No worries - many of us have been guilty of it.
It's fine if you endeavour to do things as correctly as possible; just don't expect the rest of us lazies to do the same.

The world's your stage and the players merely oysters.

And you would be right. Dougal's Breakfast did in fact make a mistake. I do believe the collective noun for mathemagicians is not a convention, but a number of mathemagicians.

No, it's a metaphysical-quantum of mathemagicians
and
a calculus of mathematicians.

I'd prefer a fog of meth-inhalers though (barring dear Mathnut). Mathematics give me calluses.

what ever happened to literacy?