(sp?): The Phantom Menace - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Mad Baggins · 06-30-2004, 11:48 PM

For heaven's sake, I have people in my tenth-grade class that have the spelling/grammar abilities of sixth-graders. Literally. It frightens me and it makes me wonder if everyone but me has been taken over by brain-sucking extra-terrestrials with poor literary skills.

Getting back on topic now...

I don't like it when people use chatspeak on here. It bothers me. Greatly. Yes, I'll admit that I used to say "lol!" or whatever, but the people that bother me are the ones who say, "Ya i wuz liek noo frodo'z liek sooooo hott." Although I do remember this one time...

Saraphim · 07-01-2004, 01:42 AM

Quote:

For heaven's sake, I have people in my tenth-grade class that have the spelling/grammar abilities of sixth-graders. Literally. It frightens me and it makes me wonder if everyone but me has been taken over by brain-sucking extra-terrestrials with poor literary skills.

I've been there, Mad Baggins. Many, many times. Too many times.

What has happened to the intellegence of humanity? Are there so few people in the world who can put a sentence together without butchering and shortening every word? I have become convinced that the only sane people are either on here, incapable of coming on here, or are not (although this is a stretch) interested in coming on here for very, very good reasons.

And the people on here who do participate in the heinous crime of word-butchery will either catch on or plague us with thier...*shudder*...antics.

Niluial · 07-01-2004, 04:58 AM

Another depressing thing is people no longer have an understanding of words. It worries me when I use simple words (such as optimistic, surreal, nobility etc) when talking to my fellow students and they then ask me to speak English. Surely even nine year olds should have an understanding of those simple words?

My step mom and I like to experiment a lot so we came up with this idea to read to my brothers and cousins this year and only let them watch half an hour of television a day. We have read great classics such as The Hobbit, Alice in Wonderland and Black Beauty to them and intend on reading more. Their English has improved immensely and they do not use as much slang as they used to. I can ask them the meanings of optimistic, surreal & nobility and they can tell me the meanings of these words in an instant. Please note that these are young four, five, seven and eight year olds I am talking about. This shows what television is doing to our knowledge of literature and spelling. Instead of increasing our knowledge of literature and spelling television is increasing our knowledge on slang. But should we be surprised?

Then Imladris pointed out another factor in her Xanga Blog the other day. For example people use the wonderful word ‘hate’ excessively when we really do not mean it. We use hate instead of dislike constantly. Is this human race too lazy to say dislike when it is only two more letters than hate? Of course I can not judge for I am a victim of using ‘hate’ excessively too (though I am trying to kick the habit).

HerenIstarion · 07-01-2004, 05:15 AM

Quote:

This shows what television is doing to our knowledge of literature and spelling

Well, that is an ambiguous issue you are dealing with there, Niluial. In my own case, TV improved my knowledge of English. On the other hand, that may be because the only English channel I have is BBC World, and fellows down there are beaming optimism with their nobly surrealistic pronounciation and vocabulary! Even if they display a tendency to wear red ties with blue shirts, that is. But, seriously, what with my mainly reading practice of English, watching BBC does me good, for sure.

Imladris · 07-01-2004, 09:45 AM

Our society is becoming lazy, plain and simple. Instead of raising our standards, we have lowered them. Thus we have the problem of chat speech and the laziness of not checking our spelling problems.

As Rimbaud hinted in the first post, the BDs should raise the standard and

Quote:

The next person to scribe (sp?) shall be destroyed by a barrage of flaming trout. This I vow.

Saraphim · 07-01-2004, 11:48 PM

Er... Perhaps I need a flaming trout of my own. My friend admonishes me for not using chat-speak while on instant messenger and thus slowing our conversation. He says I take the 'instant' out of it.

I say that if I allow myself a single 'lol' or shortened word, it will become habit, and this I cannot allow. He then goes away grumbling about my vocabulary.

Flaming trout are hard to come by in the desert. Perhaps a flaming lizard or pidgeon?

Mad Baggins · 07-02-2004, 04:40 PM

*gives Saraphim a flaming cactus*

Ah, I do that too. I abhor chat-speak, even in instant messenger conversations.

06-30-2004, 11:48 PM	#1
Mad Baggins Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: A place where after thunder golden showers come falling like a rain of flowers. Posts: 371	For heaven's sake, I have people in my tenth-grade class that have the spelling/grammar abilities of sixth-graders. Literally. It frightens me and it makes me wonder if everyone but me has been taken over by brain-sucking extra-terrestrials with poor literary skills. Getting back on topic now... I don't like it when people use chatspeak on here. It bothers me. Greatly. Yes, I'll admit that I used to say "lol!" or whatever, but the people that bother me are the ones who say, "Ya i wuz liek noo frodo'z liek sooooo hott." Although I do remember this one time... __________________ I like buying snacks from a vending machine because food is better when it falls. Sometimes at the grocery, I'll drop a candy bar so that it will achieve its maximum flavor potential. Last edited by Mad Baggins; 06-30-2004 at 11:54 PM.

07-01-2004, 04:58 AM	#3
Niluial Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: In the darkness of white Posts: 601	Another depressing thing is people no longer have an understanding of words. It worries me when I use simple words (such as optimistic, surreal, nobility etc) when talking to my fellow students and they then ask me to speak English. Surely even nine year olds should have an understanding of those simple words? My step mom and I like to experiment a lot so we came up with this idea to read to my brothers and cousins this year and only let them watch half an hour of television a day. We have read great classics such as The Hobbit, Alice in Wonderland and Black Beauty to them and intend on reading more. Their English has improved immensely and they do not use as much slang as they used to. I can ask them the meanings of optimistic, surreal & nobility and they can tell me the meanings of these words in an instant. Please note that these are young four, five, seven and eight year olds I am talking about. This shows what television is doing to our knowledge of literature and spelling. Instead of increasing our knowledge of literature and spelling television is increasing our knowledge on slang. But should we be surprised? Then Imladris pointed out another factor in her Xanga Blog the other day. For example people use the wonderful word ‘hate’ excessively when we really do not mean it. We use hate instead of dislike constantly. Is this human race too lazy to say dislike when it is only two more letters than hate? Of course I can not judge for I am a victim of using ‘hate’ excessively too (though I am trying to kick the habit). __________________ Life is not about how many breaths you take but about how many times it leaves you breathless. My rants, moans and groans in other words my Blog My Magical Site Last edited by Niluial; 07-01-2004 at 05:01 AM.

07-01-2004, 11:48 PM	#6
Saraphim Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The other side of freezing. Posts: 404	Er... Perhaps I need a flaming trout of my own. My friend admonishes me for not using chat-speak while on instant messenger and thus slowing our conversation. He says I take the 'instant' out of it. I say that if I allow myself a single 'lol' or shortened word, it will become habit, and this I cannot allow. He then goes away grumbling about my vocabulary. Flaming trout are hard to come by in the desert. Perhaps a flaming lizard or pidgeon? __________________ I drink Pan Galactic Gargle Blasters! ~ Always remember: pillage BEFORE you burn.

07-02-2004, 04:40 PM	#7
Mad Baggins Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: A place where after thunder golden showers come falling like a rain of flowers. Posts: 371	gives Saraphim a flaming cactus Ah, I do that too. I abhor chat-speak, even in instant messenger conversations. __________________ I like buying snacks from a vending machine because food is better when it falls. Sometimes at the grocery, I'll drop a candy bar so that it will achieve its maximum flavor potential.