What do you call people who use overly complex words to try and sound intelligent?

I'm not really trying to one up you in some kind of e-battle. I honestly think (and I think most people would agree) you have no room to be accusing anybody of psuedo-intellectualism. If it makes you feel better, go ahead and think you're hitting some soft spot, but there's no reason for me to let you talk shit about me lying down.

I can't tell you how many times I've read something as I was criticizing it for being way too verbose. It comes off as a pissing contest. Like "I know all these big words and I'm better because of it." Like you said, some discussions call for complex language, but there's no point if the reader can't understand what you're saying. I had one professor who spoke like that even, and I can't even tell you what the point of that class was. I got an A in it by brown nosing and appealing to his thought process instead of earning one because I demonstrated my English abilities. It was one of the most frustrating experiences I've ever had.

I'm kind of puzzled about what's going on in this thread. He just decided to call me out and I responded in kind and now he's getting all nasty. I wonder if I unintentionally made him mad in some thread.

I don't know what you're trying to do but you seem to be very upset, smearing me because I called you out. I honestly think not even you believe that, certainly neither you or anyone else have any reason to believe I am a "pseudo-intellectual", what would those reasons even be? You have the opportunity to explain yourself.

I think greyseal likes to use big words to seem smart. That made him very upset apparently.

I'm the same way - when I encounter people I don't understand, I assume the best, listen in, and absorb what I can.

But I guess that could be my naivety showing.

Insecure?

Nolan elitists.

Politicians.

While making an effort to communicate is important, I do not think that requires utilizing words that hold little meaning in comparison to other words. Complexity of singular words decreases the amount of speech necessary for the conveying of a message if the speaker or writer and the audience understand the words spoken.

@sonicare, given the flexibility of the English language, there are multiple words that fit the description in the topic title.

Artsy, ostentatious, pretentious, showy, grandiloquent, etc. There are many.

@Master_Live: why do people hate on Gaza Ali all of a sudden? He was a pretty respected/liked guy a year or two ago when I left the forums.

Lopadotemachoselachogaleokranioleipsanodrimhypotrimmatosilphioparaomelitokatakechymenokichlepikossyphophattoperisteralektryonoptekephalliokigklopeleiolagoiosiraiobaphetraganopterygon.

@sonicare: I think you are looking for the term pseudo intellectual.

@mrbojangles25: people have become more bitter and angry here. Causing many people to just give up and leave the board

Sad state of affairs

He wasn't as vocal about his insane views back then. Now most of his posts seem to be about how he hates gays and the west. I'm not sure what happened to him, but he's ridiculously aggressive now and incapable of making a rational argument.

Wow, this escalated pretty quickly.

You say that like it's wrong..........

Oh no, I enjoy the obvious sexual tension.

My high school English teacher once said, "The ultimate proficiency in English is to be able to send a message in a simple and clear words."

Yeah I just discovered that in a thread where alcohol/drugs came up; so sad :( Wonder what happened to him.

Nothing. Those were his views in every thread I've seen. He just wasn't as vocal.

You guys too proud to own a dictionary? Google that shit. It takes seconds.

You don't have to not know what words mean y'know.