Switching languages can also switch personality: study

Desideria (Moderator) says on Jun 25, 2008, 06:25:

BMP

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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Peter (Moderator) says on Jun 25, 2008, 06:35:

Sounds logical enough, happens all the time to me.

Poor but snappy

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beisbollover says on Jun 25, 2008, 06:45:

Whenever I need my wife (Colombian) to calm down during an argument I talk to her in English and she "switches" to a calmer person.

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Jun 25, 2008, 06:51:

I used to work for a Nicaraguan doctor in USA who had two totally different personalities depending on the language he spoke. When he was speaking Spanish he was a warm, sweet, generous and lovable person. When he spoke English even his facial expression changed to that of a more businesslike, more professional, colder and more controlled person. When reading the article I came to think about him and then many others too...

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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jorgegdiaz says on Jun 25, 2008, 07:05:

good tip beisboll ;)

"To err is human - and to blame it on a computer is even more so."Robert Orben

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huskie says on Jun 25, 2008, 07:54:

Umm.. interesting, but not sure I agree with the study.
Cheers

"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds-"

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nine inch nails says on Jun 25, 2008, 07:59:

Agreed upon. When I speak Spanish I feel more confident, vocal and easier to chat up the chicas. It is afterall one of the "Romance" languages.

I like like it.

Davy Jones.

"They know nothing, they know nothing." J. Cramer

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mimimimimi says on Jun 25, 2008, 08:01:

haha well i dont use spanish at all anymore,im trying to switch from english to norwegian ,so is kinda weird ,wherever i dont think i change my personality once i speak a different language ,i learned some russian and norwegian is gonna be my 4 language....

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el flaco says on Jun 25, 2008, 08:27:

I too am just like nine inch nails, but then I am on holiday when we all have a personality change anyway.

Mimimimi... I've always understood that Norwegian is a very easy language to learn, how are you getting on with it?

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ColombianoGringo says on Jun 25, 2008, 08:29:

From personal experience, I would say that this can be very true. I am a perfect example of a bi-cultural individual.

As I grew up, I simultaneously experienced two substantially different cultures. At home, with relatives and in Colombia, I experienced a very traditional Colombian culture and only spoke in Spanish. At school (then college and work later) and outside my home in the US, I experienced a fairly typical suburban American life. I am completely "native" in both languages and cultures and switch back and forth without even thinking about it. I sound like a normal Colombian and Spanish and a suburban white boy in English.

There are definitely some noticeable differences in how I behave in a Spanish versus an English environment or circumstance. I doesn't rise to level of completely different personalities, but there are definitely changes in the way I interact with others beyond just the use of a different language.

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Lisa Zee says on Jun 25, 2008, 08:30:

This is good Desi, I think it is so true. I know I can be really angry only in Spanish, my son would know if I am really mad, it would come out in Spanish.
I am going to think this one all day....

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mimimimimi says on Jun 25, 2008, 08:39:

well norwegian get difficult when you really now whats all about see they have two kinds of norwegian bokmål. written/spoken formal one
nynorsk: only written differs from bokmål still you can understand if you have good command on bokmål.
theres dialects in every city different from each other some are so difficult to understand coz they change the sound and even the words,most norwegian admit not to understand each other if the dialect is too harsh ,so i go to school for learning bokmal ,also the regional dialect has its completely different class coz it varies a lot at times so i have to study both things and try to get it. you can see the difference for exapmple in this questions;

hvilken (bokmål) kåss (regional dialect for this region trøndersk)
dere (bokmål) dåkk ( trøndersk)
the very same way the pronounce "Im" so there you go in the west coast the say egg, bokmål i say yei, oslo says yai, trøndersk a , and some cities they say e ...

so not sir aint easy at all and is all coz of the dialects ...but still aint impossible if i only speak bokmål and understand the dialect on the zone i live for everyone else specially people from bergen and stavanger that are near impossible to understand i will use english

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Tinto (Moderator) says on Jun 25, 2008, 08:56:

Interesting but not very surprising. Where can I sign up for the study about the effects of alcohol on personality? Free Beer!

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Jun 25, 2008, 09:09:

Alcohol can change your personality too, tinto, You don' need to go to school for that, Tinto. I can introduce you to my brother, the sociopath.

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Jun 25, 2008, 09:51:

I have a friend who re-arranges all her facial muscles when switching between two languages (Swedish and Finnish). She even LOOKS different when she speaks Swedish!

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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tasco66 says on Jun 25, 2008, 10:50:

Shouldn’t that be off topic?

If I had posted this here it would have been moved long ago…oops I forgot PBH Moderators are “Fair and Balanced"….

Bravo, Presidente Uribe for the perfect operation!

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Peter (Moderator) says on Jun 25, 2008, 10:51:

That's crazy.

How about codeswitching (speaking English and Spanish together, for example)? We do it all the time.

Poor but snappy

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elmodefoque says on Jun 25, 2008, 10:57:

"my brother, the sociopath. "
desi


desi, i got a crazy brother too, i;m to only sane one in the family jijij

ASK NOT WHAT THE PUSSY CAN DO FOR YOU, BUT WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR THAT PUSSY!!!!!!!!!! CAT LOVER

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ColombianoGringo says on Jun 25, 2008, 11:21:

Codeswitching huh? That sure is a fancy name for Spanglish. Ha Ha.

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gamm2 says on Jun 25, 2008, 12:11:

Yeah I notice that my boyfriend only seems to talk babyish in English (babyish as in lovey dovey talk), but he always seem so confident and sure in Spanish. I know he is just translating the baby talk from what he knows from Spanish, but I think it just doesnt sound right in English. Like English is not the language for babytalk - only Spanish is. Haha

I just turn into a three year old when I speak Spanish. :)

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Mononoke28 says on Jun 25, 2008, 13:34:

I'm the same way as CG. Even my jokes and the way I hang out with my "american" friends is completely different from the way I behave around my Colombian parceros. I'm not saying one is better than the other, only that it's a different environment.

Diana

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CatGirl says on Jun 25, 2008, 16:01:

I am sure there is "some" truth to this theory, as I find the best way to speak another language is to understand the culture and "think" the culture. Italian vs Colombian - different mindset etc...
I also know many people that resort to their native tongue or even "accent" when angered, around "friends of a feather" (regional) or family.
My closest gf is African American and when we are around other African Americans she goes through a totally different personality change - we joke about it all the time - I call it "switching gears". So I could see some truth to this theory

Good post Desi

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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Chriscan says on Jun 25, 2008, 17:45:

Whenever I speak Spanish, I feel more like ripping people off and throwing a fit. Maybe it's just me.

************* WARNING ************* my words often come from my ass

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Plato says on Jun 26, 2008, 07:07:

Interesting study -thanks Desi.

Plato

The hottest places in hell are reserved for those [liberals] who, in time of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality.--Dante Alighieri, (1265-1321)

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Albatross says on Jun 26, 2008, 10:51:

Interesting theory, Desi... I think maybe it works on a physical level as well... I'm pretty sure I've become better hung after all the Snoop lyrics I've busted. And whenever I sing along with Rammstein, I'm overcome with a strange desire to kick the shit outta Poland... or just about any other country in Eastern Europe.

“Democracy - a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance." - H.L. Mencken

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Jun 26, 2008, 10:56:

Or perhaps the contact with Spanish speaking world has made you more delusional and gullible?

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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GregYohn says on Jun 26, 2008, 14:59:

Hola!

Let's face it! A slow talking Spanish accented woman sounds so seductive!

Of course, Penélope Cruz talks slow English as an example why English speaking guys think she affects them positively! Now I know that's because she is not so sure with her English!

12VOIP.com gives free calls to Colombia.Greg

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Mononoke28 says on Jun 27, 2008, 09:25:

Any time I see people like Antonio Banderas, Penélope Cruz, Sofía Vergara, or any other non native speaking English I change the channel. I CANNOT stand their accents, they're so freaking annoying. No, it's not cute, it's not sexy, it's worse that nails on a chalkboard.

Of course I don't say that in front of my foreign friends, my family and even my husband. But it's the truth, I freaking hate it.

Diana

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ColombianoGringo says on Jun 27, 2008, 09:53:

Interesting Diana. So you cringe every time your husband speaks in English? I actually think that Latin accents on women can be pretty sexy. I'd rather hear that than the barrio/vato/regaetonero accent that most US born Latin youths seem to have these days. I can't stand that ghetto shit, especially the NYC/Queens Latin accents.

I had a Mexican girlfriend a while back that was drop dead gorgeous, yet all my gringo friends could talk about was her sexy accent. Go figure.

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Mononoke28 says on Jun 27, 2008, 12:50:

I know, isn't that evil? Even when my mom speaks it I just want to drop on the floor in the fetal position until it's over. I don't know what it is. I need therapy for sure. I just hope I get over it soon... =\

Pero chito... you didn't hear that from me.

Diana

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Jun 27, 2008, 12:53:

We're slightly off-topic now, but talking about accents, I personally can't stand the Puerto Rican accent in Spanish, especially the NY Puerto Rican. It sounds fake, phony, ghetto and sold-out.

Another Spanish accent that I don't care for is the low-class Chilean.

I don't think Spanish accents sound especially "sexy", but that seems to be a predominantly male phenomenon.

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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Mononoke28 says on Jun 27, 2008, 13:04:

Oh I loooooooooove me some Chilean accent, I had a few friends from Chile in high school and loved the way they talked. But I do not care for the Venezuelan accent. That cónchale gets on my nerves.

Diana

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ColombianoGringo says on Jun 27, 2008, 13:08:

Desi,

Guys do seem to the ones that mainly like the Latin accent in women. However, I've heard quite a few women swoon over the Antonio Banderas' accent.

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CatGirl says on Jun 27, 2008, 18:42:

I think Spanish accents (male) are nice - sexy. But, again an accent does not make the person :)

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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Lisa Zee says on Jun 27, 2008, 18:57:

I just fake my accent to get attention, because I speak peerrrfect English.... like if I was born here....
Ahummm.
Mononoke28: how many languages do you speak?

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MaFe says on Jun 27, 2008, 19:17:

Interesting study Desi...In my personal experience, I believe it to be true..I have been told by people who have experience me changing languages that my body language changes, tone, etc.

"All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsions, habit, reason, passion, desire. "-Aristotle

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webmanco says on Jun 27, 2008, 19:19:

Conchale Vale catire chamo

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

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MaFe says on Jun 27, 2008, 19:20:

Ah,,,,I think Colombian men speaking Spanish is sexxxxy!
Chile...no thank you....Venezuela..uy peor...

"All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsions, habit, reason, passion, desire. "-Aristotle

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MaFe says on Jun 27, 2008, 19:30:

poorbuthappy...of course I like American accents...I was raised here...
I like Southern accents...it all depends,,,

"All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsions, habit, reason, passion, desire. "-Aristotle

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CatGirl says on Jun 27, 2008, 20:36:

American Regional accents? I would say I like all of the New York Accents, Brooklyn, Bronx etc..

Now I am from Northern CA so anyone native to here do not have an accent to me.

When I lived in Mass for a short time everyone said I sounded like I was from Virginia? Weird. But I only heard that from folks in Mass jeje

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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CatGirl says on Jun 27, 2008, 20:39:

Well PBH - Then we have the same I am sure ;) So I would like it but wont notice, jejjee

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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CatGirl says on Jun 27, 2008, 20:43:

That's Valley Talk...you hear that a lot in CA - more so in South, but not in all SoCA

BTW - I do not like that talk - it sounds very fake and unauthentic. People with those accents typically don;t think for themselves and go with the pack anyways - booooring

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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CatGirl says on Jun 27, 2008, 20:45:

Tehn there's always the surfer dude Beavis and Butthead accent jeje

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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CatGirl says on Jun 27, 2008, 20:46:

PBH - how long ago did you leave SD?

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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CatGirl says on Jun 27, 2008, 20:49:

PBH - you getting out a calculator? jeje

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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CatGirl says on Jun 27, 2008, 20:50:

OK - there you are!

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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CatGirl says on Jun 27, 2008, 20:51:

It's changed a lot since then, huh?

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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CatGirl says on Jun 27, 2008, 20:58:

I am not too familiar but my brother lives there - he's the one in my Avatar BTW

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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MaFe says on Jun 27, 2008, 21:05:

I see my great cat Girl is here! Besito!

"All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsions, habit, reason, passion, desire. "-Aristotle

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CatGirl says on Jun 27, 2008, 21:12:

Ok - nite..

Hola Mafasita ;)

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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MaFe says on Jun 27, 2008, 21:14:

Hola CG!! How are you?

"All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsions, habit, reason, passion, desire. "-Aristotle

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CatGirl says on Jun 27, 2008, 21:18:

bueno

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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CatGirl says on Jun 27, 2008, 21:18:

or bien gracias

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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CatGirl says on Jun 27, 2008, 21:19:

and you ...Y tu?

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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CatGirl says on Jun 27, 2008, 21:20:

I bet you are cracking up about my attempts, huh! jaja

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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MaFe says on Jun 27, 2008, 21:23:

No...I was waiting on u

"All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsions, habit, reason, passion, desire. "-Aristotle

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MaFe says on Jun 27, 2008, 21:24:

I wish I was out having a drink...I am bored beyond ...ya ya

"All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsions, habit, reason, passion, desire. "-Aristotle

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MaFe says on Jun 27, 2008, 21:24:

I ran, worked out, ate, cleaned, and worked a 14 hour day...and I am wide awake...AH

"All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsions, habit, reason, passion, desire. "-Aristotle

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CatGirl says on Jun 27, 2008, 21:25:

I have so much to do - I am recharging my batteries tonight, jeje....

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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MaFe says on Jun 27, 2008, 21:26:

ja ja....I have nada to do...I need to dedicate more time to my social life and not work...hmmm

"All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsions, habit, reason, passion, desire. "-Aristotle

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MaFe says on Jun 27, 2008, 21:27:

OK CG I am going to read...have a good night sweetie!

"All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsions, habit, reason, passion, desire. "-Aristotle

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CatGirl says on Jun 27, 2008, 21:29:

Si - I understand that. I have been working on an intensive project that has taken my free time for awhile, but luckily it is temporary.

I learned a long time ago...when you are old and grey and can't get around...the people from work will be nowhere to be found, jeje.

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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CatGirl says on Jun 27, 2008, 21:29:

Nite!

Love and Time: the only two things that cannot be bought, but only spent

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webmanco says on Jun 27, 2008, 21:42:

Buenas noches

The OP is a moderator so I won´t be misbehaving on this thread :-)

I am glad you did fine today CatGirl

...A yo, déjenme queto y no me jodan má! ...

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billyb says on Jun 27, 2008, 21:55:

MaFe says on Jun 27, 2008, 21:24: flag

I wish I was out having a drink...I am bored beyond ...ya ya


Mafe, me also, can you catch a flight west?

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christobeldawg says on Jun 27, 2008, 21:56:

or east, as in me too

admittedly, arriving can feel great too

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billyb says on Jun 27, 2008, 21:58:

jejje, wassuuup dawg?

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christobeldawg says on Jun 27, 2008, 21:58:

I totally buy the argument of personalities changing when language changes. My personality changes according to who I am talking with in English.

admittedly, arriving can feel great too

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billyb says on Jun 27, 2008, 22:11:

I hear ya, my personality changes according to their bra size ?????

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christobeldawg says on Jun 27, 2008, 22:24:

hola billyb, nothing's up, that's the problem. y tu, or y usted?

admittedly, arriving can feel great too

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billyb says on Jun 27, 2008, 22:35:

jajaja, I almost never use "tu", unless i am talking to a child or......I always use "usted" or "vos", jejej, a cali thing. To me "tu' sounds so faggy.

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christobeldawg says on Jun 27, 2008, 22:40:

so Rubito says usted sounds gay, and you say tu sounds faggy. wtf?

admittedly, arriving can feel great too

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billyb says on Jun 27, 2008, 22:44:

judge for yourself dawg, what sounds faggier, usted, or tu?

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christobeldawg says on Jun 27, 2008, 22:48:

I haven't a clue, but I think we are on the wrong thread, again. jaja

admittedly, arriving can feel great too

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billyb says on Jun 27, 2008, 23:00:

jaja, i think you are right. Don't worry, desi will straighten it out in the morning.

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travelingirl says on Jun 27, 2008, 23:03:

Really... so billy always uses usted? Interesting. People looked at me like I was nuts when I used usted. lol

Around her hair she wore a yellow ribbon...

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billyb says on Jun 27, 2008, 23:07:

TG, i might be out of line here, but do you think they might have looked at you if you were nuts anyways???

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travelingirl says on Jun 27, 2008, 23:08:

Now that I think about it... it was probably just because I was wearing a neon yellow Victorias Secret bra on the outside of my clothing.

Around her hair she wore a yellow ribbon...

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christobeldawg says on Jun 27, 2008, 23:08:

they do me

admittedly, arriving can feel great too

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billyb says on Jun 27, 2008, 23:11:

see, i knew you bought the neon yellow ones, jejeje.

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billyb says on Jun 27, 2008, 23:12:

and no, i am not obssesing on them, ok, maybe a little ;)

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travelingirl says on Jun 27, 2008, 23:15:

Maybe I should have taken your advice and worn it to class today. However, I was impressed that everyone showed back up (except for one chick), plus 2 more dudes... so maybe I'm not as boring as their blank expressions led me to believe. ;)

Around her hair she wore a yellow ribbon...

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billyb says on Jun 27, 2008, 23:17:

"Maybe I should have taken your advice and worn it to class today."

it couldn't have hurt.


"plus 2 more dudes'

Maybe the word got around?????

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travelingirl says on Jun 27, 2008, 23:18:

Haha, you flatter me.

I didn't mean to hijack the personality thread. oops

Around her hair she wore a yellow ribbon...

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christobeldawg says on Jun 27, 2008, 23:39:

no worries on hijacking. I already did, not that there is anything wrong with that.

admittedly, arriving can feel great too

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goin_south says on Jun 27, 2008, 23:43:

does that make you a terrorist of sorts, though?

Where do we go from here?

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billyb says on Jun 27, 2008, 23:45:

my opinion is that if you highjack a thread, it probably dsrved it.

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christobeldawg says on Jun 27, 2008, 23:48:

duck, late to the party tonight, whazzup?

admittedly, arriving can feel great too

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goin_south says on Jun 27, 2008, 23:48:

time..... jejjje

Where do we go from here?

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Jun 28, 2008, 02:22:

....and I thought a lot of people had a lot to say about frame-shifting......

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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MaFe says on Jun 28, 2008, 15:38:

billyb says on Jun 27, 2008, 21:55: flag

MaFe says on Jun 27, 2008, 21:24: flag

I wish I was out having a drink...I am bored beyond ...ya ya


Mafe, me also, can you catch a flight west?

Of course...I should take one next week!

"All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsions, habit, reason, passion, desire. "-Aristotle

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