“No, I’m pretty sure it’s not a mute point. If it were a mute point you wouldn’t be saying it aloud to me right now would you?” Is what I wanted to say. I also wanted to say, “And don’t you hate when all those mimes act like they’re moot when they can’t get out of their invisible box?”
Is it really that tough? C’mon people! They are two distinctly different words with different spellings, meanings, and pronunciations! And I’m not talking about people with limited education! On and on it goes. Everyday some person in a position of authority, or esteem, or which requires higher education uses one of those words incorrectly! Of course when I am interacting with these people in a professional capacity I cannot shout my frustration about their idiocy. In those situations I choose to pretend I have selective mootism. See?!!? See how stupid it looks when someone uses them oppositely? Reluctantly I have to admit that probably the only reason I know the difference is that in 1982 Rick Springfield told us all that “the point is probably moot.” And that, sadly, is information that maybe I should have kept mute about.
When I become President, or Sexiest Man Alive, whichever comes first, I am going to pass a law allowing everyone to make a Citizen’s Arrest of anyone who confuses these two words. Much like bad drivers who are ordered to attend a defensive driving class, the moot/mute people will have to go to a special class to learn the difference between these and other homonyms. I only hope that when these dolts are in class they remain moot so everyone can hear what the instructor is saying.
On a marginally related point, The band Mute Math is really very good. I enjoy them immensely and highly recommend them. I wonder how their career might have turned out differently if they were Moot Math? If you looked at my high school transcript you’d see that math was a pretty mute subject for me. In fact you could say that my grades would imply that the instructors might have been moot. Or is that mute? “And she’s watchin’ him with those eyes…” Now you’ll have that song stuck in your head all day won’t you? You’re welcome.
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