User:Captain starlight/Sandbox

Dorbel.

Someone who follows a train of thought blindly, with no original input. Someone who tries to pass off rigid adherence to a set of rules, no matter how ridiculous, as a demonstration of wisdom and knowledge. A dull-witted pedant.

Named after Nicholas Dorbel, a sixteenth century philosopher, who was a follower of Duns Scotus (from whom we have the term "Dunce"). Duns Scotus was a well-noted religious philospher who was reviled in later years. Referrences by William Shakespeare in a couple of places to "Dunce or Dorbel".

Used by me when corresponding with training and compliance departments who seem to be overly "jobsworth" and spend their time making sure that the relevant boxes have been ticked, rather than that the content or context of the material is appropriate.

"I may one day aspire to becoming a Dorbel too, but, in the meantime, my reply is......." The recipient is left wondering whether the term is laudatory or dergatory.