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Web Nuggets: [Closed] J. Michael Straczynski invites you to a verbal conspiracy

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      CommentAuthormister hex
    • CommentTimeMar 23rd 2009
     (5380.21)
    @ Fauxhammer - Yes. I also like "Pipe down!" when telling someone to be quiet. I love talking like a '30's gangster.

    @ SteadyUP - Yes. Bully for you. I also like talking like Teddy Roosevelt.

    @ mybrainhurts - Motherfucker serves all purposes. I once did a sketch where a character complained about "his motherfucking mother." It was based on reality. Sad, really.

    @ epalicki - It really bugs me to hear the degradation of the word "random". Also, "awesome", which I admit to overusing. Also, "dude". I once heard a stoner kid say "I'm a cowboy, dude!" and wanted very much to slap some sense into his fool head.

    I also am in the attempt of correctly imitating the vernacular of the Nineteenth Century, where the masses, largely uneducated by our modern lofty standards, were possessed of an elegance unknown in the cocksucking pig-fuckers of today. I believe this is a project that will last me well into my crotchety-old-manhood.

    @ Paul & Rickiep00h - Might a traveller join your grammar club? I am intolerant of fools and I own a parang.

    "Disagreeable" would be my addition. No one describes people as 'disagreeable' anymore.
  2.  (5380.22)
    I always find it surprising to see people gripe about what they perceive to be "incorrect" usages. American English is not British English, get over it. Language evolves, get over it. If the words you're using are successfully communicating ideas, then you are correctly applying language. PERIOD. Variety and evolution are far more interesting to any true fan of language than would be a rigid adherence to a singular variety throughout time, which is so clearly impossible anyway, so clearly NOT HAPPENING NOW OR EVER, that it's silly to see people fight for it.

    Like, for instance, I am completely in love with the idea that a word that has all but died out in common usage might, through the wonders of modern communication and technology, potentially be resurrected simply for shits and giggles.

    See, language is weird and fun and alive. Stop trying to make it boring and dead.
  3.  (5380.23)
    @doclivingston:

    Evolution is great and I can appreciate David Milch turning "FUCK" into poetry as much as Oscar Wilde penning some biting phrase back at the dawn of the 20th century. Quality matters, content matters, character and ton matter. I know "guyz" from "da nort side" of "She-cah-go" who have an elegant short hand ("Over by dere" for any place distant) that's lively. Seeing it die out for yuppie talk in my life time has been sad.
    • CommentAuthorlooneynerd
    • CommentTimeMar 23rd 2009
     (5380.24)
    I've been trying to use more general old southern phrases, like "That dog won't hunt". As in:

    Boss: I need that report by 5
    Employee: Uh, I have a doctor's appointment...
    Boss: That dog won't hunt!
    •  
      CommentAuthorjohnjones
    • CommentTimeMar 23rd 2009
     (5380.25)
    Can we start with curse words? I want "frak" in our language for real.
    •  
      CommentAuthorAlan Tyson
    • CommentTimeMar 23rd 2009
     (5380.26)
    I'll be part of any conspiracy Mr. Straczynski starts.

    I've been trying to use more creative alternatives for curses. Spider Robinson's 'fershligginer" is the current flagship of this operation, because of it's great variety of usages.
  7.  (5380.27)
    @ johnjones - I'd prefer "frell" personally...
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      CommentAuthorjohnjones
    • CommentTimeMar 23rd 2009
     (5380.28)
    @RachelNoel

    Well... okay, can we do a reverse-BSG and transform a toothpaste into a curse word?

    "If you say one more frelling word, I will beat the crest out of you!"
    •  
      CommentAuthorFinagle
    • CommentTimeMar 23rd 2009
     (5380.29)
    @johnjones - Zounds!
    •  
      CommentAuthorLazarus99
    • CommentTimeMar 23rd 2009
     (5380.30)
    I also am in the attempt of correctly imitating the vernacular of the Nineteenth Century, where the masses, largely uneducated by our modern lofty standards, were possessed of an elegance unknown in the cocksucking pig-fuckers of today. I believe this is a project that will last me well into my crotchety-old-manhood.


    Hell, yes...just look at the dialogue in Deadwood. They might swear every other word, but damn, they do it elegantly...
    • CommentAuthorKosmopolit
    • CommentTimeMar 23rd 2009
     (5380.31)
    The Lincoln Douglas debates lasted 3-4 hours and consisted of each man making a prepared speech for 60 minutes followed by response by the other for 90 minutes and a closing rebuttal by the first speaker for a further 30 minutes.

    That's a hell of a way from five second soundbites and "town hall" meetings where one of the speakers refers to his opponent as "that one".
    •  
      CommentAuthorFauxhammer
    • CommentTimeMar 23rd 2009
     (5380.32)
    OOH OOH OOH--"Prithee"!
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      CommentAuthorMShades
    • CommentTimeMar 23rd 2009
     (5380.33)
    I want to bring back "yon" and "yonder" for things that are farther away than just "there." Pointless, I know, but it sounds good.

    And yes, language evolves, blah blah blah, but that doesn't make me feel less like braining someone when they call a car accident a "tragedy," a surprise escape from danger a "miracle," or a mass-produced handbag "unique."

    And "proactive?" "Proactive" can suck shit in hell....
    • CommentAuthorKosmopolit
    • CommentTimeMar 23rd 2009
     (5380.34)
    I used to use "anent" in written documents.

    For one thing it's shorter than "regarding" and I had an absolutely-not-be-exceeded one A4 page limit to adhere to.
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      CommentAuthorLazarus99
    • CommentTimeMar 23rd 2009
     (5380.35)
    @Fauxhammer

    Hows about "marry, nuncle"?
  16.  (5380.36)
    DEADWOOD's colourful language was an anachronsism. The curse words of the day were quaint or silly by our standards.

    Though, I do like yelling COCKSUCKAH!. Good for the humors.

    ~R
  17.  (5380.37)
    At first glance it sounds very silly, exactly like something I would expect from the chans, and I’m not surprised to see others point out that this happens on the chans. But I’d be quite happy for more words to entire the common English lexicon. I am tired of having to converse with people whose regularly stuff three or all of the following into every sentence they utter: “like”, “you know”, “know what I mean” “the thing is”, and “basically”. I’m turning into one of those cranky fuckers who stops people mid-sentence to say “is it BASICALLY a house, or is it a HOUSE?”. So increasing people’s vocabulary can’t hurt, at least not in my opinion.
    • CommentAuthorSteadyUP
    • CommentTimeMar 23rd 2009 edited
     (5380.38)
    A favorite from Sports Night - "momentarily" never actually meant "in a moment", but "for a moment".
    Hell, yes...just look at the dialogue in Deadwood.
    I once decided to make a concerted effort to stop using "gay" interchangeably with "lame", and after a while, I actually succeeded - just in time for Deadwood to add to my lexicon the term "cocksucker" as a pejorative.
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      CommentAuthorLazarus99
    • CommentTimeMar 23rd 2009
     (5380.39)
    TALLY HO!
    • CommentAuthorENGINE
    • CommentTimeMar 23rd 2009
     (5380.40)
    I've been trying to work myself into a mindset where I can use that, Lazarus, but sadly I have not been succeeding.

    James Puckett, it's a 20th Century thing, I think. I should know better, but I also commit these crimes in conversation. The brain endeavours in vain, but the mouth rattles off these placeholders unimpeded. Sorry.

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