City of IF

[SchoolMarm!]

Key wrote: ethereal_fauna wrote: More members means more authors (more members mean more authors)
I'm not sure about this one. It seems to me that the subject of "means" is not "members," but the unstated gerund, "having," which would take a singular verb.

On this occasion, *ahem* Dr. Keavney, you are quite correct.

Key wrote: ...is it "More members means" or "More members mean?" (and should that question mark go inside or outside the quotes? I think you were about to teach us that in your last lesson :wink:)

And on this occasion, you are wrong (although I acknowledge that you realized that you had reached your intellectual limit).

Ah, punctuation and quotation marks. Many writers, much much better writers than you, my children, have run their ships of prose aground on this issue's shoals. If you must know the answer in all its gory detail, simply read this.

I long for the day when gerund phrase confusion and improper comma placement are the worst offenses you children perpetrate on your long-suffering yet infinitely patient old SchoolMarm! Until then, I beat on, my boat of knowledge against the current of ignorance, borne ceaselessly back to the literary cesspool that is the City of IF.

[ethereal_fauna]

SchoolMarm! wrote: Key wrote: ethereal_fauna wrote: More members means more authors (more members mean more authors)
I'm not sure about this one. It seems to me that the subject of "means" is not "members," but the unstated gerund, "having," which would take a singular verb.

On this occasion, *ahem* Dr. Keavney, you are quite correct.

*mutters damn under breath*

[Smee]

Thanks School Marm. I will be sure to stick to my logical British method, rather than your sloppy American conventions. :wink:

~Loves playing with fire dept. :D

[ethereal_fauna]

Smee wrote: Thanks School Marm. I will be sure to stick to my logical British method, rather than your sloppy American conventions. :wink:

~Loves playing with fire dept. :D
Don't you wacky non-English speaking English people (ergo non-English writing English people) always place the punctuation outside the quotations?

~Loves playing with the loves playing with fire dept [/colour] (oops, it's catching like some dreaded disease) :wink:

[jnmrcs]

I never though that this can happen...
Fauna... wrong???
This is... just... mmm... well, you know...

"She isn't right always? But she told me... mmm, ok"

Sorry fauna :lol:

[Idea master]

Oh this is wonderful. The grumpy old english teacher has returned to plauge us once more.
*Messes with the sign on the door.*
There! Read it now!
*The sign now reads 'Bouncy bouncy playroom'*

[D-Lotus]

So who was schoolmarm again? I never found out. But who cares, this is probably the most interesting thread in the IF technical institute...(which is not saying much in favor of the thread...)

[Smee]

*Loves that he got away this long playing with fire* :D

*looks around*

I'm glad you've got your place now School Marm. :)

[D-Lotus]

but who is schoolmarm, Smee? I´m too lazy to go checking around threads...don´t you have one of those handy links?

[Smee]

That would be telling, and it wasn't disclosed in a thread I don't think.

I'm sure you have the powers to work out who it is and all will be right with the world ;-)

[ethereal_fauna]

It wasn't disclosed on any thread, although discussed via PM and in chat, I think. I'm not sure who all knows the alter-ego of SchoolMarm!

And such a subtle set of clues. :cool:

[SchoolMarm!]

Smee wrote: I'm glad you've got your place now School Marm. :)

It was no doing of my own, I'll have you know. Ms. Fauna, unbeknownst to me, plucked me out of my comfortable spot in *ahem* Dr. Keavney's thread and rather rudely marched me over to this tiny closet. This is not how I expect one of my students, particularly one who now heads a minor (very minor) institute of higher learning, to treat her kindly old SchoolMarm!

Ah well, I shall simply have to make the best of it (I am nothing if not pertinacious). A spot of paint, a bit of dusting...I've dealt with worse.

D-Lotus wrote: So who was schoolmarm again? I never found out.

I'm sorry, my dear boy, but I really don't like to talk about it. I prefer not to associate with that...that...unpleasant character (I would use stronger language, but I do not wish to scald your young ears before they are fully formed).

[Key]

Actually, I was the one who moved you, Ms. Marm!

Just trying to keep things tidy - the last time English class was mixed with the City of IF story the schoolhouse was burned down, and I know you don't want that. ;)

[Idea master]

Just don't pull out the tank and I shall not burn it down AGAIN.
Do we have an understanding, Mrs. SchoolMarm?

[ethereal_fauna]

Humph! This isn't a tiny closet at all- the broom in the corner must be the one that somebody rode in on. :cool:

I didn't move the thread, but I did rename it. :D

[Idea master]

Although if you aren't six feet tall then it probably seems quite spacious.
*Is cramped at his desk in the bouncy bouncy playroom*

[D-Lotus]

ummm, let me guess...Reiso, or Emperor....

[Smee]

Incorrect (and it definately isn't myself or Ethereal either :-) )

[ethereal_fauna]

Nope, isn't me, Smee, Reiso, or Emperor. Isn't Key either.

Why do all these people who aint got no dog in this fight want to know the identity of SchoolMarm! anyways? Should have learned by now if they don't start nuthin' then there won't be nuthin' and leave well enough alone. All of IF's unofficial grammar police provide enough fodder for SchoolMarm! as it is.

*Looks for something to correct incorrectly just to rile the marm*

[Mother Goose]

Thanks for the hint, Smee. Now I know, I think. Someone I've met.

[Smee]

And there I was thinking it was too subtle :clap:

[SchoolMarm!]

Mother Goose wrote: Thanks for the hint, Smee. Now I know, I think. Someone I've met.

In person, no less! :-)

I think the answer is becoming obvious, so I just want to reiterate: I disavow responsibility for anything my cretinous alter-ego may write on this site (or, for that matter, anywhere).

[Araex]

I'd have to guess it is D-Lotus. Or mebbe that killer person who was on a while back. Come to think of it, what happened to them? I know they killed me and RW and a bunch of other people, but then I lost track. Who is SchoolMarm anyhow?

[Guest]

Smee wrote: I'm sure you have the powers to work out who it is and all will be right with the world ;-)

Clever man.

[Reiso]

Oops - that last one was me.

[D-Lotus]

Is it Powers that Be?

wait, he wasn´t on yet when schoolmarm was, was he?

[The Powers That Be]

D-Lotus wrote: Is it Powers that Be?

Hey hey, leave me out of this! Here I am, just minding my own business, and suddenly all sorts of nasty accusations are flying around!

[ethereal_fauna]

Nasty accusations? Nah, it's merely conjecture. I'm thinking that the 'Marm might be more concerned that the author of Unt It Led might find her attractive.

And here I thought you were a happily married man. I'm sure that SchoolMarm! is a dedicated spinster, actually wedded to her work of educating the masses. All this time you've been eyeing her pleasingly plump bustle, stalking her like It from your story, seeking to satisfy the need.

[The Powers That Be]

ethereal_fauna wrote: Nasty accusations? Nah, it's merely conjecture. I'm thinking that the 'Marm might be more concerned that the author of Unt It Led might find her attractive.

Ouch. It's true: everything you say will be used against you, eventually.

[Smee]

Don't worry Powers, it's beyond most people's powers to remember such details. Our Fauna is special :poke:

[ethereal_fauna]

Yeah, I'm special...

[Idea master]

*mutters so that fauna can't hear him*
In my house, 'special' means that you do something incredibly stupid without worrying about the aftereffects. Also known as thick-headedness and stupidity.

[ethereal_fauna]

*keen ears pick up on IM's muttering*

My point exactly...I'm special. :P

[Reiso]

You know... they have schools for that - I've been, they're quite nice places to ignore ineffectual, condescending patronization and focus on the real important things in life; like shiny things and doodling. I lament not discovering how far I could have evolved such pursuits if I hadn't dropped out. Oh look... a wall <bonk!>

Mr. T says: Drink lots of school, stay in drugs, and don't do milk!*

Or was it the other way around?



*Mr. T, you are a fine upstanding man who always made me laugh, and I know you never said those words in that order, though you did say them in a different order that does not endorse the use of drugs. Please don't sue me. Thank you.

[ethereal_fauna]

Yayy! :clap: Reiso is special too.

[D-Lotus]

fine, I give up, who is it...Araex? Saxon? Me? Mr. Hairyballs?

[ethereal_fauna]

D-Lotus wrote: fine, I give up, who is it...Araex? Saxon? Me? Mr. Hairyballs?
I don't think I've met Mr. Hairyballs, and he sounds like such an interesting character. :-o

[D-Lotus]

I think you have...*snicker*

[ethereal_fauna]

Ewwwww! *feels defiled*

[D-Lotus]

lol, sorry Ms. Oh, he seems like a interesting character I'd like to meet.