Posted by Justin on 11/16/58 11:36

Stephen Adams wrote on [4 Jan 2006 20:32:55 GMT]:
> Justin <nospam@insightbb.com> writes:
>
>>Michelle Steiner wrote on [Wed, 04 Jan 2006 11:57:23 -0700]:
>>> In article <slrndro5hi.96a.nospam@debian.dns2go.com>,
>>> Justin <nospam@insightbb.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> > And that, sir, is essentially "living without it," unless one is a
>>>> > literalist.
>>>>
>>>> So, in fact, you have not lived without it.
>>>
>>> If you want to take it literally, uptight, and anal retentively, yes.
>>> If you want to take it metaphorically, as most people would, no.
>>>
>>
>>Saying you have lived without something all your life most certainly
>>implies you have never used it. Whether that's what you meant that is
>>what you have said.
>
> The *common* understanding of her phrase (as pointed out by several
> people here) is that it would mean she doesn't have one. If that
> phrase were used by anyone I know (and it has been), I would assumed
> (rightly) it meant they didn't own/lease/rent a car, not that they
> NEVER used one.
>
> Stop taking the language so damned literally. It's NOT meant to be
> taken that way.

> >> > I've lived without Microsoft Windows my entire life.

OK. Here is the direct quote, as typed by Michelle.

Now, she claims to have lived without windows for 100% of her life, does
she not?

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