Modern Vespa

I've been riding for about five months now (GT 200), and and went out with the local Dallas scooterfolk for the first time today. Things were going just fine until OH HELLO CURB DROP NICE TO SEE YOU and I crashed out...fortunately, my scooter only took a couple of scratches and the front wheel had to be straightened out, but still. suck ass.

Next time I'll keep my eyes open.

The thing at the side of the road is a 'kerb'. I'm trying to curb you from using the incorrect word...

Are you sure it's not just a regional difference? in Boston, they're called Coybs

I don't care how they're pronounced - but the spelling (break, brake anyone?) may make a big difference to the meaning.

Anyway, sorry you met an obstacle that you hadn't spotted in time.

What is it today???? It seems like every thread has some sort of English lesson being taught. Kerb, curb ... who gives a rats ass? I wish someone would curb the professors. It's the weekend FFS.

If ewe want to make yourself understood, it mite bee wise to ewes the rite words - knot synonyms that mite mean sum thing compleatly different.

Plus it jars the eyes.

curb |kərb|
noun
1 a stone or concrete edging to a street or path.
2 a check or restraint on something : curbs on the powers of labor unions.
3 (also curb bit) a type of bit that is widely used in western riding. In English riding it is usually only used with a snaffle as part of a double bridle.
4 a swelling on the back of a horse's hock, caused by spraining a ligament.
verb [ trans. ]
1 restrain or keep in check : she promised she would curb her temper.
restrain (a horse) by means of a curb.
2 lead (a dog being walked) near the curb to urinate or defecate.
ORIGIN late 15th cent.(denoting a strap fastened to the bit): from Old French courber 'bend, bow,' from Latin curvare (see curve ).
kerb |kərb|
noun British spelling of curb .

Ah, the challenges of globalization.

Around here it is called a curb. Even in the dictionary. I hope the lessons are over for the day. Is it time for recess yet?

oh, is THAT what jimc was getting on my ass about? I legitimately though he was being sarcastic and misspelling "curb" for the lulz. Oh, Great Britain...simultaneously the birthplace and deathbed of the English language.

Agree with all the others - but can you cite when this was first used? I suggest only recently (I could be digging the wrong hole here I fear...). I've never seen it used before for that use except on here within the last year or two.

A bit of googling suggests 1805 beats 1836, and it was objected to even then...

Can anyone remember what this thread was about? Oh, yeah ... mybloodyzombie ran over the curb and crashed. Big deal! That's nothing compared to tripping over the English language.

(Glad you are okay, mbz!)

Giving glowing new meaning to the 'old' in 'grumpy old git'.....



R

8)

I went for months thinking people here couldn't spell when talking about their scooter "tyres". Now I realize that's how the UKers do it. Who knew?

We did!

"Yesterday, upon the stair,
I met a man who wasn't there
He wasn't there again today
I wish, I wish he'd go away..."

mybloodyzombie good to see another Texan. I'm glad your okay and your scooter didn't get too banged up. Got to watch out for all the road hazards here in Dallas. Are you a member of dfwscooterists.com? If not, they are always haveing rides that will make you a more experienced rider.
Again, glad your ok.
David

yeah, I'm mybloodyzombie on there as well, actually! It was kind of a weird situation...you know how there's a lot of open areas in Fair Park? well, that wasn't that case in one particular turn.

All the other riders were really cool, though...definitely beats splashing out with no one around

Had I known writing about crashing out like a dick would have opened up wounds from great Curb/Kerb War of 1836...hahaha

Of course you realize that the curb wasn't moving and you were, so YOU hit It. You're not the first, and you won't be the last.

Lesson learned, I hope.

P.

Well, it wasn't so much a "hit the curb" situation so much as it was "ride off the curb and wipe out." I probably could have just made it over the curb, but i freaked out a little. Lesson definitely learned.

MBZ glad your all right. We have a bad drop near where i live and a couple of kids a few years ago got banged up pretty bad. They had rat 50cc scooters so i don't think they were too worried about the scooters. Called their parents for them. I guess JIMC is bothered about losing the Boston tea party

And to think it was all about high taxes, If they only knew

That, absolutely! It was the way you treated the tea that was so offensive. Fresh boiling water fer feck's sake, not cold sea water! Jeesh, bad as the French...

two countries separated by a common language.

Otherwise know as 'WTF are you talking about, it's 'curb''

sorry jim, gotta disagree this time having lived in the land of kerbs (here) and the land of curbs (over there) i can confirm that this is a regional difference and not a spelling error.

this presents all sort of possibilities for delightful puns, such as the 'curb your dog' campaign which urged people to make sure fido pooped in the gutter as opposed to the middle of the sidewalk ('pavement' for you jim )

I must admit though it's much funnier watching him make an 'arse' out of himself out of a sense of righteous indignation.

Keep it up, Jim. Kerb! Us 'Merkins will be a colony again!