Poser

[StuDapples]

If a man left �999 in his will to be shared between his sons, how much did each son get? (This is a 'wordy' question)

[big yankee]

�499.50p The word "between" indicates there were only 2???

[wildwood]

50p each.
The other 998 pounds went to the solicitor.

[froggequene]

Is the will the object that is actually shared out or have I just made a complete plonker of myself?

[rja211077]

i go with big yankee - if there were more than two sons the word should be 'amongst'. but on the other hand, the word share does not automatically imply 'equally', does it? Quizmonster...you there?

[StuDapples]

Yep. big yankee and rja211077 got it spot on, although wildwood must have the funniest answer and froggequene? (a) no and (b) well err . . . umm . . . Anyway it was only a bit of fun.

[StuDapples]

There's always one ain't there. No-one likes a know-all Einstein. We're not talking precise, exact, grammatically correct here, just normal conventional use of the English language. Now we all know how clever you are, maybe you'll go away and stay there.

[Gef]

Oh dear Stu, you said "We're not talking precise, exact, grammatically correct here, just normal conventional use of the English language." That is exactly the point that Einstein made .In exact terms between means shared by two but in normal usage can mean more than two. I know you were only joking ;-)

[StuDapples]

Speak for yourself

[Worker]

I think most people realise this was merely a light-hearted poser and I think it does no credit at all to the egg-heads amonst us to be so pedantic. The Internet being what it is, I can only assume these sad individuals are the subject of hen-pecking at home with rather tiresome jobs that their only form of release is one of anonymity.

[Tadd]

Thanks, Worker, for hitting the nail on the head and for putting into words sentiments that have been in my mind. No-one likes a big head and this site appears to have more than its fair share. Einstein et al take notice.

[Cactus]

There's not a very nice atmosphere in here. Is it worth having a dig at someone over something so trivial? If mistakes aren't pointed out, they go un-noticed by those unable to see them for themselves. Best just let it drop, eh?

[Tadd]

I agree totally with Cactus. What appears to have started out with a bit of a laugh has resulted in a real dog-fight. I think Stu summed it up perfectly with his last sentence when he said "Anyway it was only a bit of fun". Perhaps those reading the question to Messrs. Einstein and Gef didn't get that far.

[OnlyMe]

Surely StuDapples was the 'smart-aleck' showing off by asking the question in the first place, and he didn't like being wrong. Worker makes sweeping statements he can't substantiate and slags off people for hiding behind anonimity, when he does exactly that himself, and using Cactus's logic, if someone asked, say, when was the Norman Invasion and gave the answer as 1215, then no-one shoudl correct them because anyone who didn't know would be none the wiser! At least Einstein was clearly trying to be polite and friendly, unlike some of you who have just been unneccasarily abusive and rude. Sure, it was a light-hearted question, but what is so wrong about having mistakes corrected in a friendly, well-meaning way? And you could have wasted other people time by asking a question that was wrong, so stop having a go at others.

[Gef]

I'm sure it was only a bit of "fun" but it was Stu who stirred it up by insisting that "between" has the precise meaning of "shared by two" despite Einstein explaining that the word is no longer used in that way. Stu then made it worse by claiming that he was not talking in precise terms and awarding his own "answers" 3 stars.

[Cactus]

I think the comment that i made yesterday may have been misconstrued by a number of people. I'm wishing i hadn't got involved in this now. To spell it out, is it worth having a dig at Einstein over something so trivial? My remark about mistakes going un-noticed was intended to reinforce the case for pointing out errors, not the other way around as it has been construed. How else will people learn if you let them go on believing that they are right? My final remark was in connection with this whole matter, to drop the insults and the sniping. It's all trivial, a storm in a teacup. Perhaps it was the 3 star award that made it look like i had taken StuDapples side in this bickering session, but that is not the case i can assure you. There was no need whatsoever for the attack on Einstein, but i didn't want to have to put it that bluntly. Now can we move on please?

[Worker]

Methinks there are several pseudonyms representing the same person. What d'yer think Einstein?