Word For The Day: DIFFIDENT

Merriam-Webster ^

[Louis Foxwell]

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In order that we might all raise the level of discourse and expand our language abilities, here is the daily post of "Word for the Day".

(DIFFIDENT) ˈdi-fə-dən

hear it pronounced

adjective

1: hesitant in acting or speaking through lack of self-confidence

2 archaic : distrustful

3: reserved, unassertive

— dif·fi·dent·ly adverb

Origin of DIFFIDENT Middle English, from Latin diffident-, diffidens, present participle of diffidere to distrust, from dis- + fidere to trust —

First Known Use: 15th century

shy, bashful, diffident, modest, coy mean not inclined to be forward. shy implies a timid reserve and a shrinking from familiarity or contact with others . bashful implies a frightened or hesitant shyness characteristic of childhood and adolescence . diffident stresses a distrust of one's own ability or opinion that causes hesitation in acting or speaking . modest suggests absence of undue confidence or conceit . coy implies a pretended shyness .

Rules: Everyone must leave a post using the Word for the Day in a sentence.
The sentence must, in some way, relate to the news of the day.

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[SoothingDave]

State license giver outer. Do you believe they should follow the law or just whatever principles they believe in?

What about my questions? Do you support the clerk who won’t give a license to a mixed race couple?

[Louis Foxwell]

Of course I do. You have not answered my question. Should an employee leave their principles at the door?

[SoothingDave]

Of course you do what? Support the clerk who won’t give a license to a mixed race couple?

I have answered your question above, in my discussions with xs. If the core function of the job requires something that you can not in principle do, and no reasonable accommodation can be made, you need to find another job.

It’s really very simple.

If there are multiple clerks on duty at all times, then one can be allowed to not perform this function. That’s a reasonable accommodation.

If she’s the only clerk, then she needs to do her job.

The entire thing is ridiculous. She’s a paper filer, she’s not involved sacramentally in anyone’s marriage.

[secret garden]

Me too.

[secret garden]

I think you're right. I think the office should make some kind of accommodation perhaps, for people in the position who feel it violates their belief system, to maybe go to another counter where someone else can provide that service. And in government, there is ALWAYS another employee around because they are notoriously overstaffed(and overpaid), compared to the real world.
In my own profession, I have withdrawn from participating in various procedures that violate my principles and another person has always stepped in to do it. But I won't be complicit in something I believe to be morally wrong.

[SoothingDave]

I am not clear if she is a low-level functionary in the office or if she is the head of the office.

In PA, this is an elected position, Register of Wills, who handles marriage licenses.

Nice to see you. Did you hear that your favorite, River Song, is coming back for the Doctor’s Christmas special?

[secret garden]

Do. Not. Like. Her. Hello Sweetie is soooo annoying. Met a cool guy in my dept. who wears a dalek scrub cap. 99% of the people have no clue what it is.

[SoothingDave]

Oh, I know you don’t. Teasing. ;-)

[SoothingDave]

And apparently this woman is an elected official. So she should do the job she was elected to do, or resign if she can’t.

[xsmommy]

xsbaby was a HUGE fan of littlest pet shop, this is absolutely BIZARRE of them to name a toy Harris Faulkner. I like Harris, I do not blame her for filing suit, it's weird for a toy to have a first and last name anyway.

[jocon307]

It’s good to know it’s not just me!

[Texan5]

Done with work for the day...

Hillary could be like Obama
Go to Alaska-take a vacation
Not return from the Hamptons
To restart the conversation-

Even the driveby media see
She isn’t diffident at all-
Instead she avoids questions
And finds new ways to stall

She and Bill probably think
They can shut down the show
By just using some blackmail-
They are the Clintons you know...

[Texan5]

That is weird-I don’t see why they would give a rodent a newsperson’s first and last name anyhow-it seems vaguely insulting...

[Texan5]

Just my .02 centavos-if I were the clerk, I would quit on principle, go to a lawyer and file a discrimination suit against the county/state-and get openly involved with a group working/lobbying for a halt to the employer discriminating on the basis of religious belief-hey, it seems to work for muslims with their hijabs/burkas/beards, etc-also, by leaving and dragging the employer into a lawsuit, the clerk makes herself heard, and lives to fight another day.

[Louis Foxwell]

Worthy of accolades.

Plumed Pen Award

[SoothingDave]

My sister and I talked to an attorney today about my Mom’s estate. Should be pretty simple, we just had a couple things that forced us to go into probate.

Anyway, he was such a yinzer. He even made mention of it, saying that he was obviously born-n-bred Pittsburgher. Said his parents were both English teachers and appalled! LOL

[Texan5]

Thank you!

[xsmommy]

I know a yinzer bankruptcy judge but he can turn it off and on. We call him Pittsburgh dad too LOL!

[xsmommy]

That sounds like a position I could respect!

[MoochPooch]

I applaud that lady in Kentucky. Shows how none of us can be “diffident.” Look at what’s happening here:

http://gawker.com/150-high-schoolers-walk-out-over-trans-classmate-using-1727969010?utm_campaign=socialflow_gawker_facebook&utm_source=gawker_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

I get the sense that things are coming to a blow. You’re going to see a lot of social unraveling.