John Detre Mar 14, 2010:

OK but it seems to me that there are three clear cues that they are talking about "calling" the station (i.e. establishing the right to choose the station by being the first to state a preference) rather than calling the game:
1. The stated opposition between "calling it" and "just pushing buttons" (i.e. you have to say "I called it," not just do it);
2. The rejoinder "What are we, 12?" Saying "We're watching the Simpson's, I called it!" or "I'm sitting in that chair, I called it!" is something little kids do, not adults. Anyone, young or old, can call a game.
3. The response "When we're in your car, we can listen to your station," which confirms that the issue is how to choose the station (on the basis of "called it" rights versus car ownership rights) not the probable outcome of the game.

Jonathan MacKerron Mar 14, 2010:

@John Michael's interpretation (which is certainly as valid as mine) infers a more personal jab along the lines of "why are you always doing things without asking me first", whereas mine is less personal and more sports-related "why did you change the channel, I wanted to listen to the end of the game". I see it as more harmless air-head banter between buddies.

Sheila Wilson Mar 14, 2010:

Only one possible pitfall The fact that there is more than one possible interpretation! To "call a game" can indeed be to decide on the outcome before it's over

John Detre Mar 14, 2010:

I'm sorry to be dense but I just don't see any ambiguity. What are the pitfalls to Michael's reading?

Sheila Wilson Mar 14, 2010:

I'd certainly agree that it's far from clear what these people are trying to say

Jonathan MacKerron Mar 14, 2010:

@Sylvia wouldn't make any difference if the station was changed or the radio turned off. The point is that guy1 questions why guy2 simply decided to change the station, presumably without first asking for guy1's consent. Again, neither interpretation is without its pitfalls.

Sylvia Rochonnat (asker) Mar 14, 2010:

he didn't turn off the radio but just changed the station

Jonathan MacKerron Mar 14, 2010:

he was asked why he turned off the radio he responds by saying that he did it because he had already "called the game", to which his buddy riposts "but you didn't CALL the game, you simply changed the station".
Obviously a guess on my part, but the original is anything but clear.

John Detre Mar 14, 2010:

Agree with Sheila. "You're just touching buttons, that's not calling it" suggests that the opposition is between choosing the station by pressing the button and choosing the station by calling it.

Sheila Wilson Mar 14, 2010:

@ Jonathan Certainly a valid alternative, but I don't know that the "you're just touching buttons" makes any sense then, does it?

Jonathan MacKerron Mar 14, 2010:

there is an alternative interpretation here "to call" could also mean that the person saying it thinks that a certain team is going to win the match, even if the game is not over yet, i.e. he doesn't want to listen until the end, because he thinks the outcome is a forgone conclusion

John Detre Mar 14, 2010:

Yes, 12 means 12 years old. The idea here is that the car owner/sport fan is being juvenile not so much because he is arguing about the station as because of his faith in the magical authority of "calling it" (i.e. stating his choice and establishing his priority by being the first to say "I call it") as opposed to simply doing it by pushing the button.

Sheila Wilson Mar 14, 2010:

Thanks Sylvia For some reason, I hadn't thought of the possibility that 12 meant 12 years old.

Sylvia Rochonnat (asker) Mar 14, 2010:

infos the two people are FBI agents sitting in a car, waiting for someone to get out of a buidling, they are talking and one of them is listening to the game on the radio. Whent the guy says "what are we, 12", he means, "we're not kids anymore" -> arguing about which radio station to listen to. The sport's fan means that it's his car so he gets to choose which station they can listen to.

Sheila Wilson Mar 14, 2010:

12? I'm having trouble visualising what's going on here, Sylvia. Do you know what the 12 refers to? Who are the people talking? Where are they?