tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5160223.post2076523794649571439..comments2024-01-02T12:25:23.102+09:00Comments on Kyklops: Orwell or a Sociologist: Who Would You Rather Have a Beer With?Rickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02630742048605089548noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5160223.post-767397326785296032011-08-08T12:17:25.808+09:002011-08-08T12:17:25.808+09:00Are these preachy, prescriptive individuals sociol...Are these preachy, prescriptive individuals sociologists or are they ideologues? I refuse to even dip my spoon into the vile pudding which they brew up and show themselves determined to put into my mouth. I am, and I never shall be, any finger-wagging Puritopians' speech dhimmi.<br /><br /><br />"Seminal" I'll stick with in all instances, because the Latin "semen" means primarily horticultural seed planted in earth: once planted and germinated - germinated not fertilized, it is the seed which grows, not the soil that surrounds it.Auntie Analoguenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5160223.post-42628048706505418952008-09-27T21:43:00.000+09:002008-09-27T21:43:00.000+09:00I thought the Pantload was the only one who worrie...I thought <A HREF="http://bjkeefe.blogspot.com/2007/04/is-he-kidding.html" REL="nofollow">the Pantload</A> was the only one who worried about <EM>ovular</EM> as a replacement for <EM>seminal</EM>. Well, actually, <EM>seminar</EM> in his case.<BR/><BR/>I'm with you on this one, in general. I can understand a few complaints of built-in sexism and racism. I'm happy to say <EM>firefighter</EM>, <EM>police officer</EM>, and <EM>letter carrier</EM> instead of <EM>fireman</EM>, <EM>policeman</EM>, and <EM>mailman</EM>. I'm willing to limit utterances of <EM>Dutch treat</EM> and <EM>gypped</EM>. I'll even bow to the ignorance of the masses and use only with great discretion <EM>niggardly</EM>.<BR/><BR/>But really. <EM>Brainstorming</EM>?<BR/><BR/>That's a great word! (If you don't have to hang around suits, admittedly.)<BR/><BR/>You know what we need to do with these language dictators? Kill them with their own medicine. Let's send <A HREF="http://bjkeefe.blogspot.com/2008/07/pc-speak-update.html" REL="nofollow">Bill</A>.bjkeefehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10967912817595826059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5160223.post-73518718924002899802008-09-22T23:07:00.000+09:002008-09-22T23:07:00.000+09:00Ah yes, good point...Ah yes, good point...Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04871239587214383387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5160223.post-83635332310799604312008-09-22T22:32:00.000+09:002008-09-22T22:32:00.000+09:00AV,That would involve opening a book...AV,<BR/>That would involve opening a book...Rickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02630742048605089548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5160223.post-69936796558629941332008-09-22T19:22:00.000+09:002008-09-22T19:22:00.000+09:00Coming back to this - it would do them well to res...Coming back to this - it would do them well to research the actual root meanings of all those words - and then they'd find out how horribly wrong they are.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04871239587214383387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5160223.post-90789563398954757852008-09-22T13:43:00.000+09:002008-09-22T13:43:00.000+09:00AV,I think sociology might become useful for descr...AV,<BR/>I think sociology might become useful for describing. I don't think they should be allowed to prescribe anything.<BR/><BR/>Artsparker,<BR/>That sums up my argument quite nicely!Rickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02630742048605089548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5160223.post-35797914622427084592008-09-22T11:38:00.000+09:002008-09-22T11:38:00.000+09:00"Political Correctness is a way of seizing the mor..."Political Correctness is a way of seizing the moral high ground without having to do any of the work"<BR/><BR/> - Robert HughesArtSparkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04875996639432864367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5160223.post-19764452878549682122008-09-21T02:22:00.000+09:002008-09-21T02:22:00.000+09:00Yep, I'm all for banning sociologists, oxygen thie...Yep, I'm all for banning sociologists, oxygen thieves the lot of them.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04871239587214383387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5160223.post-59737539788142732682008-09-20T23:05:00.000+09:002008-09-20T23:05:00.000+09:00Merkin,Thanks for the comment. I might argue, thou...Merkin,<BR/>Thanks for the comment. I might argue, though, that the verb "to man" is, in fact, a bit dated. (I hasten to say, however, that I impute no evil intent on the part of anyone employing said verb). <BR/><BR/>The point I was trying to make is this (using your example): if the operators are all men, the the telephones are manned 24 hours a day; if they're not, then "our phone lines are open 24 hours a day"; "our operators are here 24 hours a day"; etc. <BR/><BR/>The English language is simply too rich to be reduced to a handful of potentially offensive phrases. The alternatives offered by the language police are usually more offensive than the "originals." The whole point of a university education (contrary to many) is to learn how to express yourself clearly and concisely, in any context. <BR/><BR/>I've studied French, German, Greek, Latin, and now Japanese (and failed miserably). I'm still learning English, my mother tongue (oops!).Rickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02630742048605089548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5160223.post-66587445776786609132008-09-20T22:42:00.000+09:002008-09-20T22:42:00.000+09:00One English Council has banned the use of the verb...One English Council has banned the use of the verb 'to man' as in 'the telephones are manned 24 hours' etc.<BR/>Worse and worse.Merkinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02499327449561248731noreply@blogger.com