noncents

[David Bergdahl]

I think the single price menu telegraphs "upscale dining"--y'know, the kind
of place with tablecloths not covered by a sheet of glass with a paper table
mat.
-db

On 10/31/07, Arnold M. Zwicky <zwicky at csli.stanford.edu> wrote:
>
> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
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> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       "Arnold M. Zwicky" <zwicky at CSLI.STANFORD.EDU>
> Subject:      Re: noncents
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> On Oct 31, 2007, at 11:41 AM, Charlie Doyle wrote:
>
> > The implication of the centless-dollar prices listed on the menu is
> > that anybody who has to worry about a few cents here and there
> > shouldn't be eating at such a restaurant? Or that anyone who could
> > be deceived into thinking that $24.95 for an entree is
> > significantly cheaper than $25 is too stupid or too penurious to
> > deserve eating there?
>
> why are we trying to read such motivations into the practice?
> especially contemptuously?  maybe the restaurateurs just think it's
> simpler for everybody.
>
> i could ask some of them; i know several of them.
>
> arnold
>
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