7 Reasons

Tag: Ask

  • 7 Reasons That The Interrobang Is Amazing

    7 Reasons That The Interrobang Is Amazing

    Hello!  How are you?!  Excellent, glad to hear it.  Well here at 7 Reasons, we’re uncommonly excited because yesterday, @davidofyork tweeted a link to an obscure piece of punctuation called the interrobang, which has apparently been around since 1962.  It’s used to convey excitement or disbelief in the form of a question.  Here are seven reasons that it’s amazing.

    1.  It Looks Amazing!  Look at it!  Look at it!  It’s up there!  It’s a question!  It’s an exclamation!  It’s a quesclamation!  It’s an exclamastion!  It’s two different things fused together in a perfect visual synergy.  You may never have seen an interrobang before but if you’ve ever seen a question mark and an exclamation mark a casual glance at it will instantly convey its meaning.  It’s bloody perfect.

    2.  It’s Called An Interrobang!  An interrobang!  Have you ever heard a better portmanteau word?  No, I thought not.  It’s amazing.  It takes the interro from interrogate and the bang from bang!   There is surely only one better word in the world, and that word is hereisabowloftiramisuthesizeofscotlandhelpyourself which isn’t even a real word.  Interrobang is real.  Interrobang!

    3.  You Can Make One Yourself!  The interrobang is the most amazing thing that I have ever seen, you’re doubtless thinking, I want to use one as soon as possible, the very moment that I have finished reading this piece, shared it on Facebook and Twitter and pressed the Google +1 button at the bottom of the page.  But wait!  Where’s the interrobang on my keyboard?  The evil bastards at Microsoft/Apple haven’t provided one!  Where’s my interrobang?!  Well, it’s there, just before this sentence, because you don’t need a dedicated interrobang key to have an interrobang, the mere act of using the symbols one after the other is, in itself, an interrobang.  Allow me to demonstrate:

    4.  It’s Easy To Use!  How do I use an interrobang?!  Like that!  Can I use it this way round as well!?  Yes!  It’s that simple.

    5.  It’s Fun To Use!  I’ll let you into a secret.  I bloody love writing.  I find the act of forming thoughts into words and sentences then punctuating them and playing with them until they convey what I wanted to say in a pleasing way an absolute joy.  But then I discovered the interrobang, and do you know what?!  Writing became a hundred times more fun.  Because now I get to write words and when the time comes to punctuate them I get to use the interrobang!  And better than that, I am now able to use the word interrobang!  A lot!  Interrobang!  It’s amazing!  I’m literally bouncing around with excitement because of the interrobang!  Every time I use an interrobang or use the word interrobang it’s a thrill, though I do promise never to drink this much coffee before writing a 7 Reasons post again.  But only if I can say interrobang again.  Interrobang!

    6.  It Makes You Cool!  Some things are intrinsically cool.  Knowing what an umlaut is, is cool.  Steve McQueen in Bullitt, is cool.  But now you’re cooler than that, because knowing what an umlaut is, is nowhere near as cool as knowing what an interrobang is, because the interrobang is just about the most awesome thing in the world!  And it’s still quite obscure.  And now, when you watch Bullitt, there’ll be a nagging thought in the back of your mind:  Well, you’re pretty cool, Steve McQueen, but you don’t know what an interrobang is and I do!  You’re now cooler than Steve McQueen because of the interrobang!  How cool is the interrobang?!

    7.  Interrobang?!  Interrobang!  Interrobang?!  Interrobang!  Look at the interrobang!  Look at the word interrobang!  It’s there at the start of this paragraph having a conversation with itself!  It’s that awesome!  It’s the interrobang!  It talks to itself!  There it is!  IT’S THE INTERROBANG!  I’m going to go for a lie down now but not before I say interrobang!  Interrobang!

     

  • Guest Post: 7 Reasons You Should Always Ask Who Is On The Other Side Of The Door Before Opening

    Guest Post: 7 Reasons You Should Always Ask Who Is On The Other Side Of The Door Before Opening

    Another Saturday, another guest post. It’s almost as if it was what Saturdays were made for. Almost. Of course, they’re not. Saturdays were made for sport. But we can’t provide you with that here. So you’re getting a guest post. And today it comes from Sam Murray who, as well as making his debut on the 7 Reasons sofa, also sets a new ‘longest post title’ record. Well done Sam. Right, I’m off. There’s someone at the door. Which is quite a coincidence really considering Sam’s post is written in association with Door Stop, composite door manufacturers who are leading the way in providing U Value doors to the trade and construction industry.

    7 Reasons You Should Always ask Who is on the Other Side of the Door before Opening

    A door in its purest sense is a moveable barrier used to cover an opening. Pretty handy and an invention I am sure we are not surprised to learn has been about since the dawn of time. The door was invented before the coming of any advanced civilization and was used by the earliest primitive people, maybe for some of the reasons below:

    1.  To Protect Yourself Against Vampires. According to Vampire folklore and mythology before a Vampire can enter your home you have to invite them in. Now I have not come across many vampires in my time but I am pretty sure that this is not because they are polite individuals who like to wait. Take a quick look out of your peep hole and if they look like they haven’t had a holiday for a while be on your guard.

    2.  To Stop Debt Collectors Erm… Collecting. Debt collectors can’t enter your home unless you invite them in or you leave a door or window open. So unless they also have super powers (or a ladder) you can probably afford to leave top floor windows open to for a frosty reception.

    3.  For The Sake Of Your Interior Design. It is rumoured that Lawrence Llewelyn Bowen from changing rooms and other Home Improvement shows preys on innocent and naive victims who let him into their home before he rearranges their furniture. Be warned and check before you let people in to your home, especially if they have silly hair and a colourful outfit.

    4.  To Discourage Squatting. Squatting has suddenly become hot property after news that Harry Hallowes, 71, was given a plot of land that could be worth up to £4 million. Harry has camped on the 60ft x 120ft patch of garden for around 21 years and has been dubbed Britain’s wealthiest vagabond after being given squatters’ rights to the plot in Highgate, North London. Always make sure you check who is on the other side of the door before vacating your property for a week or two or even when popping to the shops for milk.

    5.  So Your Friend Can Finish His Knock-Knock Joke. Knock-knock jokes are well entrenched in the UK and most of mainland Europe, even South Africa, Philippines and India. So it would be a shame if you didn’t ask who is on the other side of the door when your friend tries to impress you with their latest witty joke. Nobody likes a spoil sport, go on, ask.

    6.  To Avoid Trick And Treaters. The only form of begging that is acceptable – outsmarting a bunch of children by asking who it is before answering the door will although you to avoid any monetary loss or from cleaning up egg from your windows or doors.

    7.  Because You Can. Doors were invented and built for the exact purpose of privacy. No one can see you behind it so go ahead and ask, maybe even put on a voice and pretend you’re not in.