Latin Terms and When To Commit

 Key Terms and Etymology

• De Minimis: This Latin phrase, from "de minimis non curat lex" meaning "the law does not concern itself with trifles," refers to a threshold value in tariff law. Goods imported into the US below a certain dollar amount (e.g., $800) are considered trivial and not subject to tariffs, while those above are.
• Ad Valorem: Also Latin, meaning "according to the value," this term describes a tariff or tax that is a percentage of the value of goods, similar to a sales tax. An item can be subject to both de minimis rules and ad valorem tariffs.

Language Usage: "App" vs. "Application"

• In the UK and Europe, "application" is the formal term, but younger generations increasingly use "app" as slang. Even older generations understand "app," though it is seen as trendier or more informal compared to the US, where "app" is widely accepted.

Discussion on Commitment and Decision-Making

• The hosts discuss factors influencing when to join or commit to a new activity, club, or responsibility:
  • Personal Availability: Assessing current workload and responsibilities before taking on more.
  • Value: Considering whether the new commitment is valuable or meaningful.
  • Social Pressure: Recognizing the influence of societal expectations or peer pressure.
  • Personality: Some people are naturally more inclined to join or commit, especially those who derive value from helping others. Motivation can also be situational, such as volunteering versus career advancement.

Personal Reflections on Commitment

• One host tends to jump into new commitments enthusiastically but may lose interest mid-way, requiring a reassessment of the commitment's importance.
• The other host is more deliberative, taking time to analyze before committing, but once decided, is highly committed.
• The conversation touches on how decision-making varies by context (e.g., marriage vs. planning a trip) and how considerations like impact on others and personal guilt can affect willingness to commit.

Generational Language and Trends

• The hosts reflect on generational slang (e.g., "sigma," "riz") and how language evolves, noting the differences in how parents and children relate to new terms.

Conclusion

The episode blends explanations of tariff-related legal terms with a broader discussion on language evolution and personal approaches to commitment, highlighting how both external rules and internal motivations shape decisions and communication styles.

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Any views expressed on this podcast are those solely of the hosts and is for entertainment purposes only. None of the content is medical advice or financial advice.

Special thanks to Tim Wright aka CoLD SToRAGE for his permission to use the song Operatique.

Transcript

I Hate Talking: 0:29

Welcome to episode 59 of I Hate Talking. Hi everyone. Now we've used these two phrases in a couple of previous episodes de minimis and ad volorum, and we will just give a brief definition for those that may have missed those episodes or you can go back and listen to them. But we did not spend any time getting into the etymology of those phrases since they were not the official word or phrase of the episode. So that will be our plan for this episode. OK, cool. So de minimis is a type of rule as it relates to tariff for a certain threshold dollar amount. So when we were talking about it, it was $800 of goods that were being imported into the US from China and then add Velorum as a type of tariff as well, where that is a percentage of the goods that is charged as a tax upon the import of those goods. OK, wait, say the first one again? De minimis. Yeah, what's that mean again? So it's basically the threshold value. So in the real world example, if there was goods that were more than $800 they were subject to tariffs, and if it was less than $800 they were not -- subject to -- tariffs because their value wasn't high enough. Correct. All right. And then the second one, say it again. Adorum. OK, and what's that? And that's instead of a flat tariff, it's basically a percentage fee charged based on the price of the goods. And can an item be both tariffs based on its value and its percentage? Yes, you could have some import that would be subject to the de minimis rule or the suspension thereof as well as a advorum tariff. OK. And the adorum tariff, that's kind of like a sliding scale idea. Correct. So similar to a sales tax where you might pay 10% or something as sales tax, basically advum. Similarly, if there is a tariff of 30%, then that percentage would be applied to the price of the goods being imported. OK. So, starting out with de minimis, it does come from the Latin and it comes from actually a longer phrase, de minimis non lex, which is the law does not concern itself with trifles or the law does not take note of trivial matters. So basically, I think we can see in the deminimis rule that if there's a certain Threshold and goods are below that threshold, they are considered trivial. OK. So literally minimus means smallest or least. So again, sort of that aspect of being so small or nonconsequential that it would not even need to be subject to a tariff. Right. Yeah, when I think I thought something similar when you use the word initially because it sounds like like deminimizing. Like if someone deminimizes something, they're saying it's not as important or kind of shrinking it and Importance. Yep, so I think that's the right thought there, the concept in terms of there being an import that is so small and it is unimportant that this rule would apply. So as I'm thinking about it, in my, even in my example was like, I feel like you're minimizing me in a conversation. Right, but initially I thought, I think you're deminimizing me in a conversation, but it's not, right? And I'd be saying minimize me. Or is it minimize? Well, there's probably the same root words in minimize or minimization as the Latin minimus, where it is saying basically you're making something of regular importance or regular size and you're minimizing it and making it smaller and less important. But when we're talking about de minimis as it applies to tax law, it's actually probably more of the aspect of just being trivial because it is so small. So it's more of the literal Latin phrase, it's small, it's trivial, and therefore is so small that it does not need to be concerned with tariffs. Yeah, that makes sense. And then add valorum, probably not a surprise that that is also a Latin term and it literally means according to the value, and then that basically is a Latin phrase that we use within a variety of tax law, especially tariffs and things of that nature, but it, as we said, it basically means A percentage of whatever goods are being imported, but it can also mean really anything in terms of any goods or sales that have an imposed tax at a certain rate or percent of value. OK. So those are our two phrases of the episode and like we said, I already talked a little bit about the definition in some previous episodes, but Either you didn't remember or you haven't listened to the episodes, or you simply forgot because. I think we went into a bit of the definition again in this episode, but hopefully it's helpful to our listeners. Are you saying that I didn't listen or I forgot? Are you speaking to a listener? I'm pretty sure both. Yeah, I had forgotten. Well, did you forget that we were also trying to find out about if the Europeans or really the British specifically. would use the word app. No, I didn't forget. Well I guess I sort of forgot, but I remembered when you told me. I remembered it after you said it. So yeah, I guess I forgot. Yep, so that was in our app, app, app, and reporter episode. And I did have the opportunity to question a gentleman that currently resides in France, but he is originally from the UK on this very question, if the word app would be used in a more European English speaking lexicon, or if they would always use the full word application. When referring to a phone program or a computer program and. Would you care to guess on what his response was? I think they're gonna call it an app. So he says that in formal conversation, they would always call it an application. However, there is in the more modern discussion and modern usage of the word that perhaps the younger generation would be inclined to use the word app as a shortened form of application and that even Quote unquote mothers would know what they meant if they were to use that word app and that they were referring to application. So they'd view it as slain, cause I don't think we view it that as like a slain word here, but that would be more trendy word for them. Precisely, so. Yep, I think that if they wanted to ensure people understood what they were talking about, need to use the word application, but I guess the younger generation app would be. Perfectly fine, but yes, as you said, perhaps more of a slang term in the more European English speaking nations. That's cool that you got to talk to him about that. There's a lot of slain, there probably has always been, right? But nowadays, it cracks me up and I get the biggest eye rolls from our children if I use the phrase, and I never use it intentionally. I always use it to be goofy, but like, calling them like a sigma and riz and stuff like that. And it's so funny cause they're just like pop. You're, can't say that word, you're a mom. That's what made me think of your friend who was like, even mothers would know that word. Yeah, precisely. So, I don't think I use some of those, I don't even know what generation, what generation is that Alpha? Yeah, I think the teenagers and then I think Alpha is like the younger, so they're kind of tagging along. -- Is it X Generation -- X? No, Generation X is much older. Yes, I don't think I even could hazard a guess on some of those particular words that the alpha generation and perhaps whatever generation is directly adjacent to the alpha generation. Would even begin to mean? Well then, the question isn't, does a mother know that word, it should be, does the father know the word. That is a good question. OK, so, As a topic to talk about, I want to hear what your opinions are about. When to join something. We've talked a lot in the past about when is the time to step back or when it's time to quit something. So, when do you think is an appropriate time, if there's a rubric or anything like that, for knowing when to jump into an activity or club or commitment. So I don't think I have a predefined rubric per se, but some of the things that we touched on in the last few episodes that you were alluding to in terms of when to quit something or when to step back from something, or perhaps in our discussion on volunteering. The derived sense of value or even the real value that you might be able to impart to a particular organization as a volunteer, that at least those two things immediately come to mind. Now, maybe that's just because we've been talking about them in the past couple episodes or maybe those are the top things to keep in mind when you are considering. Adding to or joining to some additional organization or adding responsibility. So one would be just your. Or mine, current availability and workload and what is already existing as roles and responsibilities. So those things must certainly be considered before you add additional roles and responsibilities through a commitment to some additional work or organization or whatever the case may be. And then also the value piece of it, so what you are engaging your time in. To some degree must be valuable or impart value to whatever you're doing. So those are the two things that come to my mind again, maybe just because we've been talking about it or because those are truly the top two things that one must consider when you are deciding whether you commit to something new or let it pass on by. How much social pressure do you think plays a role? Yeah, I'd say there's definitely some aspect of social pressure. Some of that could be just in general, the cultural norms that we were talking about in our last episode in terms of what is expected of you as just part of society, or that could actually be much more specific in terms of the social influence that maybe your friends and relatives have upon you in terms of what your expected behavior is and things like that, so. I do think there is an aspect of that as well, but I think if there is something that is worthwhile, and you have the time and ability to do something that that could be decided upon without any social pressure at all, if it is, like I said, the right thing to do and you have the time and capacity to do such things. Do you think it's the type of person or personality that'd be more inclined to join something or commit to something versus another individual? Yeah, I certainly think so that perhaps those that have more of an affinity towards people and derive some of their value as a person from helping others will be more inclined to commit to something. There's also, you know, again, I think we're talking about this in more of the volunteer sense where you're doing something that perhaps you're not going to get paid for or is going to be something that is above and beyond sort of your normal career, but you can even have the same aspect in a job where maybe you're asked to take on additional responsibilities and perhaps would do that with the intended outcome that you would Be promoted or get additional wages. So there can also be that aspect of it as well that maybe would not depend as much on the personality type, that that may be more universally a motivator for certain people to do certain things and commit to them. Like it could be situational, you're thinking. Yeah, situational or again, sort of what it is that you're committing to? Is it a volunteer organization, something within a current job in which you receive wages. So, some of those things to be considered, not just the situation itself with the people that are involved or the specifics of the situation, but even just those general categories as well. So what about yourself? How do you personally consider how you engage in commitments or starting something new? So I will start something new very readily. I get very excited. And we'll commit to something. And then halfway through the project, I tend to be like, oh, my, um, energy and my commitment level, uh, start to wane and I start to get frustrated. So then that's when I have to look at what kind of commitment it is. Is it just like, I wanted to learn to crochet and now it's not as fun as I thought, OK, give that up, or is that I committed to this group to do this activity? It's not. Fun anymore or it's a lot more work. But I gotta follow through. Yes, and that's probably even touching on some of the things that we discussed in our starter, sustainer and finisher episode with how we might do things differently when it comes to starting things or perhaps something's already started and you take it over. So probably also something to consider as well if you are making a new commitment. Yeah, you know, I was talking to someone recently and I shared our relationship story of how we met and All that, and how we decided to get married in less than 2 months of knowing each other. And like knowing each other existed, period. And they were like, how could you know and be ready to commit? I was like, I don't know. I just didn't ask that question. It was just yes. It was like the easiest yes ever. So, I feel like that's very easy for me cause I tend to be just a jump in, yes, kind of person, but you're not. So how would that kind of situation, like getting engaged in two months or anything like that play a different role? Yeah, so I think I will have some of the similar things as you. And some of the same outcomes where if I do make the decision to commit to something, it is a relatively easy yes when I come to that conclusion, or it may be a relatively easy no, if that's what I come to the conclusion on, but I will probably do that. Decision making over the course of time. Where I will reflect and consider and analyze all the different aspects of a particular commitment, but then once I do reach that decision that I'm relatively committed to it and will Continue on that path with a lot of commitment or energy or whatever better word could be used there to describe that. Well, good thing we're worried about etymology. So then you think that it wouldn't be hard for you to say yes to getting married in 2 months. Yes, I don't think it was hard, but I think there's a lot of activity and conversation and personal thought during those two months. So it wasn't like day one arrived and then day 60 arrived and nothing happened in between, but there was quite a bit of things in between with considerations being made and thinking of different decisions and outcomes and Things of that that happened in order to perhaps arrive at the decision and to an outsider would look like a fast decision, but. Like I said, there was a lot of considerations over that two months that drove that decision. OK. Because I compare it to, you have a big birthday coming up, not immediately, but in the future. And a life goal you've always had is going to Germany. And for this big birthday, I said, we need to go. Like, I really want to prioritize that. And I feel like you're having a hard time committing cause I'm like, we have to put money aside, we have to prioritize this. We need to take you there to celebrate your birthday. If this is something you've always wanted to do in your life, and you've also always wanted to get married and have kids. How is it harder for you to say, yes, I'll put this money aside, and we're going to go on this trip to Germany. Versus saying, yes, I will marry this person. Well, perhaps it goes back to what we were discussing at the start of the episode is the impact on others and how decisions have an outcome not only for yourself but also for others and that that decision for this particular trip feels a little bit personal and selfish, but as you said, it's something that I have wanted to do for a long time and I guess I still have not reached the conclusion that it will happen. So, because you feel guilty that this is something that you've wanted to do, and we're doing it for you, or because you're afraid there's gonna be like another pandemic and we won't get to go to Europe. No, more that it would detract from something else where the funds could be used for the kids or just general life costs and things like that. So, on this podcast with all our listeners, can you commit to saving the money so we can go? No, I cannot because I don't make decisions on the spot. So maybe that would be something that you would be able to do, but I'm not comfortable. -- So -- in, in 2 months you're ready to commit to that? Perhaps or just commit to not doing it because that will be one of the other potential outcomes. I can understand saying like, I can't commit 100% because you just don't know what's gonna happen. Right? Like, we have the real IDs, but that's the whole thing right now, right? People can't fly in the states. I've been hearing a ton of people talk about it. We got them a couple of years ago, but a lot of people didn't get them. So I understand things like that come up. I don't have a passport anymore. It expired. We found that out like a month after it expired, and that's frustrating. So I understand those sort of things, I have to do that. And there could be a pandemic, another one, there could be a war or anything like that, knock on wood. But that knock on wood, that doesn't happen. But I think that this is a valuable thing that you've always wanted to do, and that we should make it a priority and commit to the best of our ability doing it. Yup, so something that I personally can consider and I don't know if I would really worry or add much thought to some of the actual things that would need to happen. So if we need to renew passports or get additional IDs or things like that, that, that would be more of a outcome of the decision itself, not necessarily. Impacting the decision itself, I guess maybe those are dependent on the category that they are in, if they are trivial or minimus and would not really impact the outcome. They would just be things that need to get done versus things that would be non-trivial, where the cost of the trip and things of that nature would drive. Parts of the decision making process. So, if we have any Germany listening friends out there, and y'all wanna help us out and give us some tips or anything like that, we would love it. Well, there you go. So, perhaps a little bit of some rehashing of some previous concepts that we've talked about and referred back to in a number of episodes. So if you haven't had a chance to listen to any of those episodes, uh, a lot of insight perhaps that could be related to this episode. As we've discussed some of the tariff related terminology used in some previous episodes as well as some of the things that one must consider when either quitting something or starting something or diving into a little bit more detail this episode in terms of when to commit to something. Mhm. Like committing to a big vacation for your big birthday. I'm not gonna say what birthday it is, but it's a big one, y'all. So from your friends at I hate talking until next time, remember, it is only through talking that we begin the journey to understanding.