Question?

[Jase]

When listening to a Christian radio station program,

I heard the phrase..."Delete it better than you found it!"

I have been " mulling this over".....but can't seem "to get it".

Opinions, please! Anything? Enlighten me!

 

[Runningman]

When listening to a Christian radio station program,

I heard the phrase..."Delete it better than you found it!"

I have been " mulling this over".....but can't seem "to get it".

Opinions, please! Anything? Enlighten me!

To me, without knowing any context, it sounds like they are trying to make a catchphrase. It worked because you didn't forget it.

Catchphrases are almost almost short and easy to remember. Did they repeat it a lot? If so they they wanted it to catch on. Without knowing the context it's difficult to understand.

Also, it sounds grammatically incorrect. I'm tempted to think they misspoke. Maybe in their mind it made perfect sense, but that doesn't mean listeners know what they are thinking about when they said it.

It would offer these possible corrections:

1. Deleting it is better than it being found.
2. Delete it before someone finds it.
3. It's better to delete it before it's found.
4. They better delete it before you find it.

 

[Lynx]

You might have misheard the old adage about leaving the world better than you found it.

Or it might be talking about porn, which you should delete if you happen to find adware sneaking onto your computer. Who knows?

 

[1ofthem]

When listening to a Christian radio station program,

I heard the phrase..."Delete it better than you found it!"

I have been " mulling this over".....but can't seem "to get it".

Opinions, please! Anything? Enlighten me!

Are you sure it wasn't..."Leave it better than you found it?"

 

[tourist]

Are you sure it wasn't..."Leave it better than you found it?"

I think that's what Smokey the Bear used to say. Oh, yeah, he said something about playing with matches because only you can prevent a forest fire. My bad. Don't know about 'leave it better' but am familiar with "Leave it to Beaver" if that's any help.

 

[Jase]

To me, without knowing any context, it sounds like they are trying to make a catchphrase. It worked because you didn't forget it.

Catchphrases are almost almost short and easy to remember. Did they repeat it a lot? If so they they wanted it to catch on. Without knowing the context it's difficult to understand.

Also, it sounds grammatically incorrect. I'm tempted to think they misspoke. Maybe in their mind it made perfect sense, but that doesn't mean listeners know what they are thinking about when they said it.

It would offer these possible corrections:

1. Deleting it is better than it being found.
2. Delete it before someone finds it.
3. It's better to delete it before it's found.
4. They better delete it before you find it.

I do believe what you've stated.is what it was meant to be.

 

[1ofthem]

I think that's what Smokey the Bear used to say. Oh, yeah, he said something about playing with matches because only you can prevent a forest fire. My bad. Don't know about 'leave it better' but am familiar with "Leave it to Beaver" if that's any help.

lol... As a kid, I always felt like Smokey the bear was putting too much pressure on me.. Didn't realize he was talking to everyone when he said only you can prevent forest fires... not just me specifically..lol

I've always heard to leave it better than you found it pertaining to when you borrow or use something of someone else's. Like if I have to borrow someone's car while mine is being worked on then I would fill up the tank and clean the inside and out before taking it back to them.

I guess, you could also say treat other people's stuff better than what you treat your own.

 

[tourist]

lol... As a kid, I always felt like Smokey the bear was putting too much pressure on me.. Didn't realize he was talking to everyone when he said only you can prevent forest fires... not just me specifically..lol

I've always heard to leave it better than you found it pertaining to when you borrow or use something of someone else's. Like if I have to borrow someone's car while mine is being worked on then I would fill up the tank and clean the inside and out before taking it back to them.

I guess, you could also say treat other people's stuff better than what you treat your own.

I guess it's a matter of one's character. I do believe that originally, the leave it better than you found it came from a Boy Scout manual about maintaining your camp in the woods. Your personal philosophy is right on target in regards to Christian values and practices. Smokey the Bear was a cool icon though.

 

[GaryA]

When listening to a Christian radio station program,

I heard the phrase..."Delete it better than you found it!"

I have been " mulling this over".....but can't seem "to get it".

Opinions, please! Anything? Enlighten me!

If you consider the wording of '[?] it better than you found it!' --- with certainty, you are looking for a word that both opposes and compliments the word 'found' - both words being 'operative' on 'it' - and, having 'better' as a comparative illustrator...

The word 'leave' fits perfectly.

In fact, at the moment, I cannot think of any other such word that sounds even remotely like the word 'delete'.

Perhaps, you just misheard the word 'leave'?

 

[Jase]

If you consider the wording of '[?] it better than you found it!' --- with certainty, you are looking for a word that both opposes and compliments the word 'found' - both words being 'operative' on 'it' - and, having 'better' as a comparative illustrator...

The word 'leave' fits perfectly.

In fact, at the moment, I cannot think of any other such word that sounds even remotely like the word 'delete'.

Perhaps, you just misheard the word 'leave'?

Thank you ,Gary, your respons makes more sense..

And maybe I did " mishear(if there is such a word).. and

maybe it was meant.to do 'just this"...."stir the pot"..and start the conversation.


Thanks all for your posts.