Talk:Bad Thing
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Is this really an idiom? I mean it just does not match the definition of one. The component words do not add up to the meaning. In this situation, the component words DO add up to the meaning. -- Raymer
- I think there may be a distinction between a Bad Thing and a mere bad thing. The article currently states:-
- A "Bad Thing" is something that can't possibly result in improvement of the subject.
- This sounds a bit unclear to me - for one thing, it could apply to something that has no effect. But it's clear that it is talking in terms of consequences. I think in the book the term was applied to historical events with bad consequences, and the people responsible for them; that is, to things which changed history for the worse. I've never heard the hacker usage, but judging from the example provided, it also seems to refer to things that would have bad consequences. Things that are just bad in themselves wouldn't be covered. So, a rotten apple would be a bad thing, but not a Bad Thing. Does that sound right? Or am I talking rubbish? :) -- Oliver P. 19:26 May 2, 2003 (UTC)
- I still cannot see how this is an idiom. Even if we draw this as a distinct kind of "bad thing," Bad Thing still is just a sub-set of all "bad things" and has the same basic meaning. We are just amplifying it to have some really specific meaning. Ironically, you use a perfect example of an idiom in your discussion above: "bad apple." Now, THAT'S an idiom! -- Raymer
- What else would you call it? I think the current version of the article makes it clear that it's a distinct phrase that has different conotactions than the mere words used together. JesseW 05:27, 21 Oct 2004 (UTC)
- I still cannot see how this is an idiom. Even if we draw this as a distinct kind of "bad thing," Bad Thing still is just a sub-set of all "bad things" and has the same basic meaning. We are just amplifying it to have some really specific meaning. Ironically, you use a perfect example of an idiom in your discussion above: "bad apple." Now, THAT'S an idiom! -- Raymer