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March 30, 2007

apple

Dictionary political commentary

Posted Mar. 30, ’07, 6:22 AM PT by Derik DeLong
Category | Apple

Democracy definition We’ve already seen Apple’s famous Macintosh commercial used for political purposes. We’ve even seen a former vice president of the United States become an Apple board member. Of course, he is still heavy in politics.

Would you believe though that you can find Apple’s political affiliation in one of OS X’s apps? Look up “Democracy” in the Dictionary application. Go ahead. I’ll wait. You’re not going to do it, are you? Ok, fine. Under the Thesaurus section, you’ll find the following.

a democracy in Iraq is quite unlikely for now or any time soon

Before anyone points it out, Apple buys these databases from other companies. Still, I’d rather not get political commentary when looking up a definition.

Bonus tip: Double click words in the Dictionary application to get those words defined.


7 Comments

Peter Nordstrand said:

Yeah, well, except that there is no political commentary. It is an example of how to use the word in a sentence. All in all pretty standard for a Thesaurus. Only an American would mistake a sentence in a wordbook for an actual statement by someone. If you look up, say, "idiot" the Thesaurus says

that idiot was driving way to fast

Do you think they are referring to a real actual idiot? Gee call the cops, someone is speeding.
March 30, 2007 6:43 AM
Matt House said:

The "Apple and its users are peacenik liberals" is a funny old saw that people still love to trot out...

There is this guy, right. And he's worth about 20 billion. He expects you to do a great job and if you don't he'll cuss you out in front of your mama. He hates teachers unions and has an ongoing feud with Greenpeace.

Does that *sound* like a liberal democrat?

March 30, 2007 7:28 AM
Lawrence said:

Because it was used as an example in a quotation, I didn't think it was particularly political. BTW: great bonus tip, didn't know that one.....

March 30, 2007 8:17 AM
Meg Q said:

"A democracy in Abyssinia is quite unlikely for now or any time soon" would be an example of an apolitical use of this word. Or perhaps "Zimbabwe" (unless you think Mr. Mugabe's running a spectacular democracy down there). To use "Iraq" when we (Americans, which is the country where Apples are designed and where this blog is located - I assume) are involved there militarily, and are divided about it at home, is . . . disingenuous at best. There are so many other countries that could be used and one would get the point. That's all.

March 30, 2007 9:07 AM
peter said:

It's really ironic that people are more willing to get upset about something like this rather than get upset about the way in which this war was waged. Those are some real priorities!

And the American people are hardly "divided" about the issue. Read some polls, for cryin' out loud. Methinks the lady doth protest too much...

March 30, 2007 11:17 AM
Dan Lurie said:

Dictionary.app uses an abridged version of the Oxford English Dictionary, the first edition of which appeared over 200 years ago. If political commentary IS present, (which I assure you was not the intention), it's likely not pertinent to the current situation.

March 30, 2007 12:41 PM
exnihilo said:

It could have easily been written during Hussien's reign. Perhaps when the first Bush was hoping the Kurds would overthrow Saddam, or during Clinton's.

March 31, 2007 9:49 AM

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