Have you ever seen kids joking with each other, laughing, and calling each other stupid names (not mean or foul names)? It's like saying "You turd!" or "You Bonehead!" (which I used to say to my brother all the time). It's not mean at all.


>>>>To me, to feel insult from the word "twit" is more a problem of language. I can see tht the majority of non-native English speakers might easily get the wrong impression. That's why I took some time to write this.
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>>>Jim, thanks for this explanation. Two general comments. First, Naomi too is not a native speaker. Second, the explanation in the dictionaries surely suggests otherwise.
>>
>>Well I've given you a real-life example. I've called many friends twit or twittish, most directly to their faces.
>>But there's nothing I can do if you choose to "trust" the dictionary over common usage. I tried.
>>I just hope it isn't mainly because the dictinary is suiting your purpose better at this time.
>>
>>I'll bow out now.
>
>Ho wait, I was not critizing your explaination. Instead, I try to make people aware how esp. non-native speakers can interpret the word and FEEL offended and insulted, after they have looked up the word in the dictionary.
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>There are comparable words in Dutch, like 'sufferd'. That word is used either to derogate or to criticize a friend mildly, in the latter case it should for sure be said with a smile. If I'd use it in a forum or in a weblog towards someone and if I'd not use a smiley, it would for sure be seen as offensive and insulting. It is my hunch that this is also the case with 'twit' in your language.
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>Let's face it, it is not a token of affection. Right?