Dept. of Minor Observations
A repository of bulletins, field reports, working papers, and notices concerning small thoughts, odd details, internet archaeology, abandoned drafts, and gentle critiques of modern digital culture. Items are classified, stamped, and filed accordingly.
Revised Notice: On "Unlimited"
Revised following the acquisition of new evidence.
The Department's original draft held that "unlimited," as used in
subscription services, telecommunications contracts and buffet
restaurants was plainly false. This position has been
moderated.
The revised position sees that "unlimited" in commercial contexts typically means
"limited in ways that will not affect most people most of the time."
It is a statistical claim masquerading as an absolute one. The limit
exists. It is there. It has been set above the threshold of "normal" use and therefore,
practically speaking, not encountered.
The Department's concern was with the word. The Department now
acknowledges that the word is doing some real work. It is simply not
doing the work that the word usually does. This distinction is small
enough that most people will never notice it, which is exactly the point.