Editing 725: Literally
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
| − | The adverb "literally" implies that the action it describes actually happened, while its opposite, "figuratively", is used when the action it describes is being used as a figure of speech, and is not a representation of what actually happened. However, "literally" is often used colloquially as an intensifier, to mean "really" or "very", and even though many dictionaries such as [http://www.merriam-webster.com/video/0038-literally.htm Merriam-Webster] | + | The adverb "literally" implies that the action it describes actually happened, while its opposite, "figuratively", is used when the action it describes is being used as a figure of speech, and is not a representation of what actually happened. However, "literally" is often used colloquially as an intensifier, to mean "really" or "very", and even though many dictionaries (such as [http://www.merriam-webster.com/video/0038-literally.htm Merriam-Webster] or [http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/literally Oxford Learner's Dictionaries]) state that this is a valid use of the word, many people object to this usage. |
| − | In this comic, [[Cueball]] mentions he was ''literally'' glued to his seat, at which point a crazy man off-panel loudly corrects him. The crazy man declares that he has been stalking Cueball for eighteen years since an incident in seventh grade, | + | In this comic, [[Cueball]] mentions he was ''literally'' glued to his seat (one could easily assume that they had just left a theater), at which point a crazy man off-panel loudly corrects him. The crazy man declares that he has been stalking Cueball for eighteen years since an incident in seventh grade, where the crazy man (as a kid) incorrectly uses "literally" and young Cueball corrects him. He felt humiliated, overreacting to young Cueball's simple correction, and began to follow Cueball everywhere, vowing to be present when he makes the same mistake the crazy man had made in seventh grade. |
| − | When Cueball tells him that he is "literally the craziest person" he's ever met, the crazy man thinks that he | + | When Cueball tells him that he is "literally the craziest person" he's ever met, the crazy man thinks that he incorrectly used the word "literally" again; however, Cueball reassures him that he did not misuse it, meaning that the crazy man actually is ''the'' craziest person he has ever met. |
The title text points out that a chemistry experiment gone wrong is one of the few things that could cause someone to ''literally'' be glued to their seat, having previously been figuratively glued to their seat in fascination. | The title text points out that a chemistry experiment gone wrong is one of the few things that could cause someone to ''literally'' be glued to their seat, having previously been figuratively glued to their seat in fascination. | ||
| − | + | The title text could thus also be understood as an explanation of how the sentence which was interrupted would have ended: ''I was literally glued to my seat through the entire chemistry experiment''. | |
| − | + | In this case the crazy person did not even catch Cueball in making the error - and because he interrupted too soon and gave himself away, he has lost the chance to do so, ever. | |
| + | Even though he stalks Cueball, he may not have been able to join his chemistry class to witness the glue accident - and may thus, as described above, wrongly believe that Cueball was talking about a theater experience. | ||
| − | + | The title text of [[1652: Conditionals]] (and partly the subject of that comic) is ''literally'' a reference to this comic, '''''if''' you are not too '''pedantic''' about the details.'' See also the title text of [[1576: I Could Care Less]]. | |
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
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