Cocktail party
September 29, 2013 10:01 PM Subscribe
So I was at a cocktail party and was kind of insulted.
I used the term "rock oil" for petroleum. The person I was talking to said very loudly, "rock oil? you know oil does not come from rocks! You do know this, don't you?" I said, I was referring to petroleum. I felt kind of odd having to explain myself. This was a group of repetitively educated people. Should I have further explained the term? I just laughed it off.
I used the term "rock oil" for petroleum. The person I was talking to said very loudly, "rock oil? you know oil does not come from rocks! You do know this, don't you?" I said, I was referring to petroleum. I felt kind of odd having to explain myself. This was a group of repetitively educated people. Should I have further explained the term? I just laughed it off.
This post was deleted for the following reason: Needs to be more concrete and specific, not just "here's a thing that happened". -- goodnewsfortheinsane
Smart, educated people don't know everything. In your place, I would have just said, 'actually, 'rock oil' is petroleum - it's the literal translation'. It doesn't have to be a big deal to tell someone something that they don't know - that's how conversation works.
Having said that, the person you were talking to sounds like quite the douchebag. Why even bother explaining further? Who cares what they think?
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 10:07 PM on September 29, 2013
Having said that, the person you were talking to sounds like quite the douchebag. Why even bother explaining further? Who cares what they think?
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 10:07 PM on September 29, 2013
It's an archaic term (ie. nineteenth century to distinguish it from vegetable oil and animal fat) but I'd recognise it.
Oil or not oil, explicitly trying to make someone else look ignorant is a pretty classless move and it's particularly funny when it's based on a mistake of fact.
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 10:08 PM on September 29, 2013
Oil or not oil, explicitly trying to make someone else look ignorant is a pretty classless move and it's particularly funny when it's based on a mistake of fact.
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 10:08 PM on September 29, 2013
What's the question here? I've never heard the term "rock oil" but I immediately knew what you meant. Sounds like the guy was drunk and was just being a jerk, forget about it.
posted by turbid dahlia at 10:15 PM on September 29, 2013
posted by turbid dahlia at 10:15 PM on September 29, 2013
Response by poster: rock oil
n (Chemistry / Elements & Compounds) another name for petroleum
It is a term I have used since college.
posted by wandering_not_lost at 10:17 PM on September 29, 2013
n (Chemistry / Elements & Compounds) another name for petroleum
It is a term I have used since college.
posted by wandering_not_lost at 10:17 PM on September 29, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
That said, the person was kind of a dick, even if they had been right. Your reaction was correct, don't worry.
posted by brainmouse at 10:04 PM on September 29, 2013 [1 favorite]