Comments on: Advertisements: We’re Number O– … Er, We’re Adequate!

By: Robin

Robin — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 01:26:01 +0000

I saw that and immediately thought of both connotations. I have been blessed with the opportunity and ability to read many books new and old. In some the positive connotation is used as in “He was supplied with adequate food and water for his 3 weeks’ journey.” meaning that he had enough even if something went wrong and he was delayed a couple of days.
When thinking about this, I also realized that the negative has a “newer” feel to it than the positive. Of course, that could be just subliminal indoctrination from having just read all of your comments…

By: Clark

Clark — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:23:31 +0000

My favorite descriptor is still St. Peter’s “peculiar.”

Still, if reading the entire 7 volume DHC by Joseph Smit, the 6 volume CHC by B.H. Roberts, and half a dozen other works only gives me an “adequate concept of church history” I’m way off base. I think today, missionaries read “Our Heritage” and call themselves the best and brightest. As #13 noted, at least the modern approach doesn’t damage my self-esteem.

By: Hunter

Hunter — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:28:49 +0000

Good point, Left Field. I can remember Howard W. Hunter telling members of the church to be “normal.” So, too, I can imagine some talk out there by, say, J. Reuben Clark telling folks that they don’t need to know everything, but they do need to obtain an “adequate” knowledge of the history and doctrines of the Church. Hmm . . .

Calling all Justins . . .

By: Left Field

Left Field — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:16:10 +0000

I know there’s a tendency for ad writers to put random words in quotes, but I wonder if the quoted material at the beginning of the first ad refers to some then well-known quotation by a church leader.

By: JonW

JonW — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 04:16:06 +0000

#8 Steve very ouch man…;)

I am not adequate I guess because I am missing some of these valuably moderate additions to my collection.

By: Ziff

Ziff — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:51:13 +0000

The word "adequate" always reminds me of the Simpsons episode in which Lisa is trying to teach Groudskeeper Willie to be a gentleman (I think) where they sing a song "Wouldn't that be adequate?" Also, I looked at the OED, and the one possibly useful bit of information I got from it was that the first usage of the word they have is from 1628, but the first usage of the negative sense "In slightly derogatory sense: hardly sufficient or acceptable; barely reaching a minimum standard." is from 1900. So perhaps 50-60 years ago, the transition from the more positive definitions to the more negative definition being dominant was still going on. (Just to clarify, my impression is that the more negative definition is what we typically think of now, which is why these ads sound so weird.)

By: Steve C.

Steve C. — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 22:03:00 +0000

That could be the intent of the copywriters–i.e. to meet a need. But I still like the idea of being “adaquate Mormons” instead. Just mediocre. Don’t put more effort into it than is necessary.

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:56:59 +0000

I think Hunter’s explanation in #3 explains what makes this ad so odd to our eyes: We’re selectively using the most familiar (to us) meaning of adequate, whereas he found an alternate meaning that was probably in the minds of the copywriters. (I *wish* I had access to the OED! That would be wonderful.)

By: Michelle Glauser

Michelle Glauser — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:44:24 +0000

Makes you wonder if the word “adequate” had a different connotation then. Anyone have an OED subscription?

By: kevinf

kevinf — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:15:54 +0000

Hey Mark,

Good one on Covey’s Adequate Barbering. I didn’t catch that until the second reading, further exhibiting the mediocre nature of my critical thinking. However, I doubt that there are seven habits involved in that. One, maybe two is all.