How Have We Become a Nation of Dumbies?

FreedomFriend | 10/21/01 | Freedom Friend

[Cogadh na Sith]

Let's scrap this. I have no time for bs.

No time for b's?

Oh, but you had time to put the b in 'dumbies'....

[Ward Smythe]

No, it should be, "a vanity", as in "a vanity post".

Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
- Ecclesiastes 1:2 (KJV)

[steveegg]

It is important to remember that not all on-line communication is equal. For instance, I don't expect the same level of grammar and spelling in a chat room as I do in an on-line newspaper reporting on a feature story that has been in the works for weeks on end. In the former, one types on the fly, with speed being the essence, and without the expectation that the words typed will last any longer than the chat session (logs notwithstanding). In the latter, each word is expected to be weighted carefully as the novel is essentially forever. There is no real pressure to type something "right this instant", and there is a staff of proofreaders whose sole job is to eliminate errors such as typographical and grammatical.

The Free Republic forum is a lot closer to the latter than the former. The words typed here do last forever (unless yanked by the moderators for violating the posting guidelines), and there is relatively little pressure to type something "right this instant". However, there is no staff who looks for typographical errors (unless you happen to have someone else at the desk while you preview your post), and there is no spell-check or grammar-check built into the posting system.

What is truly key on the forums is having a coherent and well-supported point. Proper grammar and spelling do help a lot in making the point coherent, but the occassional slip usually doesn't ruin the point beyond the point of readability. Conversely, you could post something that is grammatically and typographically perfect, yet if it doesn't have a coherent, well-supported and persuasive point, you'll almost certainly be ridiculed for it.

[Guenevere]

Well gee......look at it this way.....your post was not in vain.

This is the best, most genuine laugh I've had all day.

...sorry, not at your expense.....but gee louise, our FReepers can't be reigned in when they start with the sarcasm & humor.

Just chill & enjoy!........you'll be long remembered :))

[Flashlight]

...I felt like I articulated my thought rather well in "a couple of paragraphs". At least many others thought so...

The fact that "many others thought so" is irrelevant. They were wrong. This essay is not well-written.

Here's an example of what I mean from your first sentence:

I'm posting this topic in an effort to try to get a grip on the insanity that plagues this country.

Using four (4) prepositional phrases in a row is not usually the best way to say something clearly

And from the very next sentence:

..to spiral out of control towards oblivion in regards to political...

You did it again.

Your informal style is fine, and your writing really does show signs of your trying for clarity (like using questions and transitions to help the reader). But for me, it is virtually unreadable.

Your writing reminds me of a guy who has posted here many times. I can't recall his name, but he is a Star Trek fan and he writes editorials for a Star Trek web site. Are you the same guy?

[ruoflaw]

was that person pompous? I thought it was a female...but he/she appears to have a dictionary that says that dumbie is acceptable...LOL

[Richard Kimball]

You are not alone

If you think you're being watched, you're not alone.

[bannie]

Yes...we usually communicate in the vernacular of the chatroom! When friends "sit around the fire" to bat around some ideas, we don't usually feel the need to edit and do re-writes! That's just TOO DAMNED MUCH WORK!!!!

[Flashlight]

was that person pompous?...

I wouldn't say he was any more pompous than anyone else. His reactions are perfectly normal.

When I graduated from college I worked for weeks on a resume, and I was proud of how great it was. My friends were impressed with it. I proudly showed it to a career counselor. Her immediate reation was: "I wouldn't hire anybody who gave me a resume like this piece of junk."

Of course, I thought, "What does she know?".

In later years I realized she had done me a great favor in bluntly tearing my proud work to shreads. When I look at it now I realize it *was* a piece of junk, and she did me a great favor in bluntly telling me so.

So, I guess I wouldn't call that "pompous", only a "normal reaction."

[FreedomFriend]

Your informal style is fine, and your writing really does show signs of your trying for clarity (like using questions and transitions to help the reader). But for me, it is virtually unreadable.

If you can't read it, then there is something wrong with you. Perhaps Hooked On Phonics would be more up your alley. Or for an alternative, the "Little Engine that Could" might suit you better.

[FreedomFriend]

I don't why you had the idea that I was a female. I'm one hundred percent male.

[FreedomFriend]

When I graduated from college I worked for weeks on a resume, and I was proud of how great it was. My friends were impressed with it. I proudly showed it to a career counselor. Her immediate reation was: "I wouldn't hire anybody who gave me a resume like this piece of junk."

Of course, I thought, "What does she know?".

In later years I realized she had done me a great favor in bluntly tearing my proud work to shreads. When I look at it now I realize it *was* a piece of junk, and she did me a great favor in bluntly telling me so.

I'm sure that your resume was fine. I've seen examples of "superior resumes" that similar counselors say that we should model. In my opinion, there is very little difference. It's all a matter of perception. I could understand if there were major flaws. However, most of the time, the "flaws" are a few words structured differently. Neither way is correct, and most employers agree. The counselors are critical because it guarantees them a job. Look at it like this. A friend of mine, a grad student English instructor, took his resume to the career center. They verbally chewed it up. It goes with the territory. I'm convinced that they "rip" every resume.

[exmoor]

Come to think of it, didn't a pregnant Chad have twin Chaddies called DUMBO ansd DUMBIE

[Flashlight]

...if you can't read it, then there is something wrong with you....Perhaps Hooked On Phonics ...(or) the "Little Engine that Could" might suit you better....

Thanks for the reading suggestions. Though I have the reading disability you mentioned, I do read a lot, and I always love to get recomendations from others. If there are any other books that you've enjoyed and think that I would also, please let me know. To return the favor, I think you might enjoy any book by Louis Sachar (especially "There's A Boy In The Girl's Bathroom" and "Sixth Grade Secrets"). I've read these many times and they're still my favorites.

Also, interestingly enough, my reading disability makes it very easy for me to spot bad writing. It's like I have a built-in bad-writing radar. I seriously tried over and over to read your essay and understand it. But it was just so painful, I had to give up. I'll admit, though, that I read it again today, and I'm understanding more of what you're trying to say.

[Flashlight]

I'm sure that your resume was fine. I've seen examples of "superior resumes" that similar counselors say that we should model. In my opinion, there is very little difference. It's all a matter of perception. I could understand if there were major flaws. However, most of the time, the "flaws" are a few words structured differently. Neither way is correct, and most employers agree. The counselors are critical because it guarantees them a job. Look at it like this. A friend of mine, a grad student English instructor, took his resume to the career center. They verbally chewed it up. It goes with the territory. I'm convinced that they "rip" every resume.

(note: I am *not* kidding or trying to be funny or sarcastic in this post. If there's a smiley-face for "I'm being serious" then imagine it here.)

I had to copy an paste your entire reply here because it was written so well. *This* is what I call good writing. I'm now wondering why, if you have the ability to write this well, you wrote your essay in a way that, for me anyway, was so much harder to understand.

As to the substance of the post, I agree and disagree. While it's probably true that my resume would have worked fine for most employers, at the same time I can assure you it was nothing to be proud of.

But anyway, don't take offense at anything I say. In my humble (yeah, right) opinion, your reply-post above shows you've got the talent and ability to write very well.

[FreedomFriend]

Thank you. Furthermore, I apologize if I was a little hard on you.

[jonno]

I was wondering how long it would take...

(lol!)

[Gil4]

Fifteen yards for piling on, and replay the down.

Since this has officially become the "correct every mistake you see" thread, I want to point out that this penalty came after the play so you don't replay the down. (It might an automatic first down - he had better hope so because it's 3rd and about 50 after all of the false start penalties he took.)

[gcruse]

Good heavens! You are currently reading October of last year? Hurry and get caught up. The 2002 election turns
out great!

[Gil4]

How about that - that is a 2001 there, isn't it. Someone linked to it today and I thought it was just a couple of weeks old, so I figured I'd bring it back to life, especially since post #379 said "This thread will go on fourever.........."

The thread that sent me there was another classic - even the admin moderator got into the spirit of things..