• chuckleslord@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    19
    arrow-down
    2
    ·
    30 days ago

    I generally think the rule on splitting infinitives was made up by English majors upset that English isn’t more compatible with Latin, but in this case I think the attempt to avoid the split made the sentence weaker and ruins the sentiment.

    “Trying to not kill yourself” implies effort. It sounds like you’re actively avoiding something. “Trying not to kill yourself” sounds like you’re doing something different, to change it up.

    • OutlierBlue@lemmy.ca
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      14
      ·
      29 days ago

      You’re right. There’s no actual rule in English that you can’t split infinitives. It was copied over from Latin in an attempt to try to come up with some rules for grammar.

      Source: Many nerdy discussions with Star Trek geeks about “to boldly go where no one has gone before”

    • keegomatic@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      28 days ago

      That’s interesting. I feel differently. “Trying not to kill myself” sounds a lot more natural than the split “trying to not kill myself.” “Trying to not kill myself” sounds like internet slang that makes the statement sound awkward on purpose so it’s taken less seriously. But the former format is way more natural to speak.

      • Cheesus@lemmy.ca
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        28 days ago

        This might be a regional difference, but when I say it out loud, ‘tryna not kill myself’ is by far the more natural construction. But I agree that in writing, ‘trying not to kill myself’ feels more natural, while ‘trying to not kill myself’ feels stilted and intentionally awkward. Man I love language.

        • keegomatic@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          26 days ago

          I think there might also be a subcultural difference, too, because there are different types of “tryna” that are used by different groups of people, and maybe being used to a more versatile “tryna” would make “tryna not x” more natural to speak.

          Tryna A: “I’m just tryna screw in this lightbulb,” “I’m not tryna hurt you”

          Tryna B (expanded tryna, not spoken by everyone, mostly skews younger and bro-ier I think): “You tryna go to Taco Bell right now?” “You tryna chill tomorrow?”

          • Cheesus@lemmy.ca
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            2
            ·
            26 days ago

            Totally. I forgot all about expanded tryna, as I almost never hear it outside of television. You may be on to something there.

  • shalafi@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    13
    ·
    30 days ago

    Had to quit the depression meds because I couldn’t cum, even if I did manage to care enough to try fucking.

    • RQG@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      6
      ·
      edit-2
      29 days ago

      This isn’t too uncommon for some meds.

      But interestingly the same meds can sometimes help people who suffer from premature ejaculation.

    • Gormadt@lemmy.blahaj.zone
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      29 days ago

      Different meds can have different effects on different people

      I tried half a dozen different meds before I got a different diagnosis and prescription

      Each one came with its own unique set of side effects (like 1 anti anxiety drug that gave me panic attacks). Sometimes you’ve got to try a bunch before you get the one that works for you

        • Gormadt@lemmy.blahaj.zone
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          28 days ago

          Straight up I took it once in the evening because my doctor told me to take one then to help me sleep and about 30 minutes later I started feeling not so great.

          I went and sat in my chair and my heart started pounding.

          When things finally “calmed down” it had been over an hour and I felt so damn shitty. I got up to grab my phone so I could call out of work (I knew I was going to be in no condition by morning) and then round 2 started.

          0/10 would not take that again

          My fitness tracker did congratulate me on the 6 hours of cardio I apparently got that night, so that was nice I guess.

  • Pika@sh.itjust.works
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    8
    ·
    28 days ago

    Getting any degree at University is the same way, bachelor’s is the first level that requires an actual internship in order to go anywhere, it is gone to the point where internship listings are starting to put in their job listing “prior internship experience preferred”

    So like the job that is meant to give you the skills to start out is wanting an additional internship prior to being hired. This country is going to hell lmao