Re: the Gumps
AntiUtopia (AntiUtopia@aol.com)
Thu, 22 Jan 1998 15:34:28 -0500 (EST)
In a message dated 1/22/98 2:30:00 PM EST, bowman@mail.indigo.ie writes:
<< And Jim suggests we should aim at the undemanding
cameraderie of `a bar table' where only the meanderings
not be tolerated are those of a drunken Englishman. >>
GAWD Scottie, don't respond to me until you've really read me :)
I didn't say we should **aim** for the undemanding cameraderie of a bar table.
I said we **already** had it, and thus should learn to live with it.
Come on, you as well as I have different diction level expectations for
different kinds of settings. You do. You know it :). You yourself probably
write on one level for mass media, another level for academic writing, and
speak on yet another level when you really are seated at a bar table. And the
later it is in the evening, the lower the level may be :) I'd say, in fact,
that the level of diction is in an inverse proportion to the attractiveness of
the women in the bar.
I'm saying we need to apply proper expectations for listserves. I think about
two hours into drinking is a reasonable expectation of a listserve used by the
general public. I do agree with you that we should aim for the most precise
langauge possible.
But even that won't always help, judging from your response to me :)
Jim
P.S. "Look...it's k-k-k-ken c-c-c-coming to k-k-k-kill me!"