Bonus is not a bonus

[howyoudoin]

I think people need to be less pedantic with dictionary definitions and be pragmatic. Advertisements on television are technically a bonus, but no one considers them so. The preview of the next episode at the end of the current episode might technically be a bonus, but no one considers them so.

If people still want to keep thumping their dictionaries, feel free to do so. I refuse to consider excerpts from the next book a bonus feature.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by howyoudoin

If people still want to keep thumping their dictionaries, feel free to do so. I refuse to consider excerpts from the next book a bonus feature.

I'm not thumping a dictionary. I'm thumping personal opinion--and calling B.S. on anyone claiming that calling an excerpt a bonus is "lying."

You don't consider excerpts a bonus?... Cool beans. No problem in the world with that. You think calling an excerpt "bonus material" is "lying?"... Bullspit. Gonna call ya (rhet.) on it.

[Catlady]

This has to be one of the all-time silliest threads.

[exaltedwombat]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I always strip the bonus excerpt out because for one, it gives an incorrect word count as it's not part of the book I am going to be reading.

Are you on a quota, then?

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by Apache

And the only time I ever defaced books was to rip out those advertisements.
Apache

Wouldn't that be dedefaced or maybe refaced?

Originally Posted by exaltedwombat

Are you on a quota, then?

Some of us like to know how much is left to read. For example: is it possible to finish the book tonight, or should I finish the chapter and finish the book tomorrow?

[theducks]

Originally Posted by j.p.s

Wouldn't that be dedefaced or maybe refaced?

Disinfected

[Apache]

Originally Posted by theducks

Disinfected

This.
Apache

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by Catlady

This has to be one of the all-time silliest threads.

Sadly, you are wrong. This one here takes the cake: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=245813
Especially as it was proven factually incorrect in a purely objective sense (see post #11).

Hmm, it too was started by JSWolf...

[eschwartz]

As far as I am concerned, a "bonus" is:

Originally Posted by meeera

Dictionary.com says "something extra or additional given freely"
Oxford online (free) says "an extra and unexpected advantage".

I guess Oxford really is the best!

eta: Hang on, I just did a Merriam-Webster lookup online - and it says "something good that is more than what was expected or required". Different editions?

and as long as enough people consider any particular thing to be an additional good thing, that when someone refers to it as a "bonus", one can comprehend why it was referred to as one.

Being as the word "bonus" is Yet Another One of these "subjective" concepts... subjectivity is really the only way you can ever meaningfully define it.

And as long as it can subjectively fit the definition (and it does fit that definition enough times that we can become aware of that selection) then it is a bonus in a general sense. Whether it is a bonus in a personal sense, remains entirely within the control of the individual person (because I am not going to tell you what you are and aren't allowed to like) but is also completely irrelevant in any matter stretching beyond that one individual.


Verdict: If you are going to rant objectively about it online (by definition this is any time you aren't specifically referring to your opinion about the matter), it had better be a universally accepted opinion, and my first question will be "where is your data that this is true in an objective sense".

Speaking of which, back to this:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

An excerpt is not a bonus. It's an excerpt. So call it what it is and then the lying will stop. A bonus is an author interview or book club questions and other things like that. But a space wasting excerpt is not a bonus at all.

So calling an excerpt a bonus is a lie. There is no two ways about it.

If I am reading a book in a series, I don't need an excerpt from the next book as I'll either buy it or not based on what I've read so far of the series. The excerpt won't change my mind. The book(s) I've read will help me decide to continue the series or not.

You do realize that if calling an excerpt a "bonus" is a lie (because there are people who disagree with that assessment) then calling an excerpt NOT a "bonus" is ALSO a lie... because there are people who disagree with that assessment as well. I guess we can't really say anything without it being a lie...

Now, please stop lying.

[thewitt]

I can't believe how pedantic some of you get...

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by thewitt

I can believe how pedantic some of you get...

can or can't?

I guess saying you can believe it is technically correct, I just don't usually see people pointing that out...

[thewitt]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

can or can't?



I guess saying you can believe it is technically correct, I just don't usually see people pointing that out...

Ha ha ha. Autocorrect seemed to think I should have written can....

[howyoudoin]

You just know that salaried people would stop thumping the dictionary when they get boiled confectionary as their annual "bonus" at work. You would see the pedantry wooshing out the window in real time.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by howyoudoin

You just know that salaried people would stop thumping the dictionary when they get boiled confectionary as their annual "bonus" at work. You would see the pedantry wooshing out the window in real time.

I fail to see the comparison.

Assuming it is indeed a "bonus" according to Pedant Law, the employers have the right to call it that... and the employees have the right to consider it as a valueless "bonus", on a personal level.

I think my explanation does a lot to clarify things though. There is an obvious reason why excerpts fit the definition of "bonus", and it also serves to explain why boiled confectionery "bonuses" are not.