After almost a year of driving, I found out that my car’s seats have the heating function. And there is a defogger for the rear window.
N keeps telling me that people usually read the instruction manual after purchasing something, and I’m discovering he might be right. I now feel like a total idjit after spending the entire winter moaning about the cold car seat.
Is “idjit” the american (or regional) way of spelling “idiot” said in an idiotish voice, or a Clarissa-ism? I’ve always spelt that “eejit” so the implied difference in pronounciation is interesting to me… (and you aren’t the only one who finds out things they should have known years ago – sometimes I’ve even READ the manual as well).
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“Is “idjit” the american (or regional) way of spelling “idiot” said in an idiotish voice, or a Clarissa-ism?”
By the way, I loved your yesterday’s post on the helpfulness of blogging. I often don’t manage to comment but that was a really great post.
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The American version is definitely idjit (rhymes with midget). I just realized I have no idea of the origin (I think eejit is Irish in origin though I’m not sure).
One thing I saw suggested Bugs Bunny cartoons but I’m skeptical.
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\ I thought I saw it in an American classic years ago
My 1st thought was Huckleberry Finn, but then I searched the text and haven’t found neither idjit nor eejit. “Idiot” appears 9 times though.
I don’t read manuals either.
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I also seem to remember this was from Mark Twain.
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Human nature being what it is, very few people bother to read the instruction manual (or only read very little of it) when they buy something that they believe they’re already familiar with (like a new car, coffee maker, or DVD player). As a result, useful features on many of these devices never get used for the entire life of the product.
There’s an old American (probably universal) saying: “When all else fails, try reading the instructions.” 🙂
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I’m sure that N reads owner’s manuals and instructions (and probably takes notes and makes power point presentations for general reference).
The great majority of people don’t. This time you’re normal!
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“I’m sure that N reads owner’s manuals and instructions (and probably takes notes and makes power point presentations for general reference).”
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No, you’ve become American. American’s don’t read manuals. Ever. PC manufacturers stopped issuing paper manuals in this country when they found that the manuals never left the shrink wrap.
However, stereotype #2 is that American males don’t read manuals and females do. However, in role reversal households, like both mine and yours, apparently, the opposite is true.
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“However, stereotype #2 is that American males don’t read manuals and females do. However, in role reversal households, like both mine and yours, apparently, the opposite is true.”
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