Talk:Illegitimi non carborundum

This page is modeled loosely on the wikipedia entry of the same name.

Of course, this is pure nonsense. The psuedo latin translation "Don't let the bastards grind you down" was commonly used decades before Microsoft or Windows 95.

Funnyness

The introductory section is supposed to be dry, but it seems a bit too dry. It would be nice to replace "without a sense of humor" with something actually funny.

Derivation is important, but since I have not been able to make it funnier, I have settled for making it slightly shorter. This indeed seems to help. Tekhedd

This was used as a motto for a US submarine (USS TUNNY), as early as the 1940's. Clearly Microsoft didn't "invent" this phrase. Gerry

Gerry is right. There is a chemical compound silicon carbide. Also known as carborundum. That is where the carborundum was taken from for use in this phrase. Actually, what I remember as the phrase was "non illegitimus carborundum" . Jim

History

An anonymous user deleted the Derivations and Incorrect Definitions section, apparently because they are not historically accurate, or in fact true at all. Apparently the dry writing style of the article is a bit too perfect--did he think it was serious? Possibly this was one of those aforementioned people "without a sense of humor".

Comment

My parents said this back in the 1950's, 1960's.... Don't let the Bastards Grind you down......they were from Michigan State....not sure where they got it. So.....LONG before CDs. It is simply a statement of anti- whoever......the boss, authority, government, whoever. It seemed to be a cool saying....mock Latin, I guess. NOW, I read above about the Roman discus's... so, it has Been Around.—The preceding unsigned comment was added by Joetabler (talk • contribs)

THIS TRANSLATION STORY HAS A HINT OF SWAMP LAND FOR SALE, not even close to why it is on the disk or the origin of the meaning. Phrase was around when computer chips were still sand.

Actual history

The above may have started when computers came into existence but it was originally used by General "Vinegar Joe" Stilwell during WWII. I had the honor to have served in our Armed Forces in the early sixties and we had two sergeants who had plaques on their desk with this motto which they lived and breathed. The drove these words and what their meaning into the fiber of our very being. So, do not disgrace it by some one who comes along, does not know History and tries to change it and most importantly take credit for something they did not come up with...Illegitimi Non Carborundum — "Don't let the bastards grind you down" — This is "a pseudo-Latin phrase meaning 'don't let the bastards grind you down'. Small signs and plaques carrying this message have appeared in U.S. business offices and army posts for at least a generation, since General "Vinegar Joe" Stilwell used it as his motto in World War II. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 166.82.85.78 (talk • contribs)

Thank you for your contribution, which I erased from the article itself, where you typed enough + characters to attract attention — and detract from the article. This is a humor wiki. None of the nonsense typed here should negate the actual history. Disgracing it, by comparison, is what we are all here for. Spıke Ѧ 14:45 12-Oct-14