Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryT
I think most of us would agree that if someone says "you're getting a bonus", there is a reasonable expectation of the part of the listener that it will be something beneficial to them. If we go with the "unexpected extra material" definition we could say that things like advertising in TV programmes are a "bonus", which would, I suspect, be an unpopular viewpoint  . |
By your definition, the word "bonus" should never be used, then, since it's so subjective. There is no way to guarantee that what you think of as a bonus is the same as what I think of as a bonus. For instance, I was watching a local weather forecast this morning, and the forecaster said that we would be getting a few "bonus inches of snow today". Now, for people who ski, or participate in other snow sports, it is indeed a bonus. For me, it's just a major pain to deal with.
Along the same lines, if a car dealer offers a "bonus" of heated seats it will indeed be seen as a bonus in cold climates, but as an un-needed add-on in hot climates.
So who decides whether or not something is a "bonus"? Is it the giver or the recipient?
Shari