Posted by amazed on February 21, 2007 at 21:15:05 (EST):
In Reply to: Re: ASD part3 posted by stymied by amazed. on February 21, 2007 at 19:53:56 (EST):
: my definitions came straight from dictionary.com.....check it out...
Okay Teach, I checked it out.
What you wrote was "stymied by amazed", so you used it as a VERB.
The dictionary.com definition of stymie, when used as a verb is is, "to hinder, block, or thwart."
I (amazed)did not hinder, block or thwart you.
The definiton you gave is for stymie when used as a noun..."stymie", not "stymied" as you wrote.
You did not use it as a noun, you used it as a verb..."stymied by amazed". You not only used the wrong word, you backed up this incorrect usage with the wrong definition.
However, even using your incorrect definition, "a situation or problem presenting such difficulties as to discourage or defeat any attempt to deal with or resolve it", "stymie" wouldn't be an appropriate word.
For it to be appropriate, you would have to consider me (amazed) to BE a "situation" or a "problem". You would also have to consider me as "presenting difficulties" to you. These difficulties would also have to be enough so as to "discourage or defeat" your attempts to "deal with or resolve" some issue.
I've presented no difficulties to you.
I realize this is really going overboard, but AS A TEACHER, you should really know how to use words appropriately.
As for "conundrum", the situation you proposed whould not be a "conundrum".
It would not be "paradoxical", "insoluble", or "difficult".
I stand by what I said about the board caving to the wills of the teachers. This is certainly no secret.