Grammar, punctuation and syntax irritations

[Brendan]

I like the way there seem to be about 3 different conversations going on, on this thread at the same time.

[mockney piers]

"Don't think it can't happen to us"

That said, I've doubts it'll happen in our life times...at least I bloody well hope not. Right I'm off to cull the entire bird population of the world, I've done pretty well with London's sparrows so far at any rate ;)

[Tony.London Suburbs]

mockney piers Wrote:

Right I'm off to cull the entire bird population of the world, I've done pretty well with London's sparrows so far at any rate ;)

Please tell me that you are joking.

I've been bemoaning the loss of Cockney Sparrers for a long time. I didn't realise there was a cull in progress!(6)

[mockney piers]

They make damn good pie, much better than 4 and twenty blackbirds, I can tell ya.

[Tony.London Suburbs]

mockney piers Wrote:

-They make damn good pie, much better than 4 and twenty blackbirds, I can tell ya.

Over the years I have had both and I'm not complaining...

[Jeremy]

Surely the effects of climate change are gradual, so surely no need to start teaching survival skills and self-sufficiency instead of maths/science/languages quite yet. It's not going to be like that movie, where one day everything is fine and normal, and the next day we're struggling for shelter.

If climate change really is the reason behind Chav's views, then surely educated scientists and engineers are going to be essential in monitoring the situation, trying to find solutions, working on clean/renewable energy, etc.

Erm... maybe this doesn't belong on this thread... sorry...

[mockney piers]

"Surely the effects of climate change are gradual"

Tell that to the Mayans, it happened within a lifetime.

Likewise the loss of the North European land mass to rising sea levels was in the order of many metres a day which would have been pretty alarming to those around then.

Pandemics are ridiculously quick. Decades in the 1300s, months for the Spanish flu, with air travel it will be days/weeks.

[Jeremy]

All the more reason why we need scientists, doctors, leaders, etc. So we know when these things are coming, and we can reduce the impact of them.

Suggesting that we stop conventional education and replace it with the aforementioned survival skills seems naive and alarmist. And seriously, how difficult is it to build a house or grow a few potatoes? You could probably learn all that stuff in a few weeks.

[mockney piers]

Ha ha, yes, totally agreed Jeremy. Just pointing out that history has lots of examples if it all going drastically wrong.

No fun if you're there at the time, yet here we all still are!!

[Brendan]

I?ve often thought that if civilization collapses, unless you?re a farmer, engineer, builder, nurse or doctor you are a bit surplus to requirements. All that there will be for the rest of us to do is fight over resources. So unless you can design a waterborne sewage system of fix a gammy leg you best get yourself big stick (preferably one with a nail in it).

[Tony.London Suburbs]

Jeremy Wrote:

Surely the effects of climate change are gradual

When you say "gradual" Jeremy what kind of time span do you have in mind?

[mockney piers]

Brendan, borrow World War Z when Sean is done with it, there's a chapter in there dedicated to how the bigwigs in society all found themselves rated category E, no useful skills.

[SeanMacGabhann]

oh he's done with it and a fantastic book it is too. err.. now I need to find it. I'll try and get it before I get along to the drinks tonight

Back to Jeremy's points - I too used to have such faith in the professions and no doubt many of them are on top of it. However, all of us have a responsibility to want the truth. Enough scientists have been working on climate change and have jumped up and down about it. But do we really want to listen. Do we really???? (© Brendan 2008)

For the scientists to have enough time to take action, governments have to sanction and propagate the findings. To do that, voters have to want to listen (rather than just lump the government out in preference for another lot with a more palatable message)

I don't think that most voters are there yet

I don't buy CWALD's apocalyptic scenario however - it's as much to do with her belief that the capitalist society we live in is about to go down the plughole as it is with green policy. And yes I am aware of the overlap.

[PeckhamRose]

So. Lynne Truss. Heroine or just smug and annoying person?

[Jeremy]

I am, of course aware that CWALD's opinions are far from mainstream (possibly radical left wing?)... and by arguing against them I am probably just stating what seems obvious in most of our minds. Even so... I am genuinely interested in why she believes the capitalist society is on the verge of collapse. And if it is, why would it necessarily be replaced with an anarchist society? And even if we did have an anarchist society, would we still not have the need for various roles, albeit in a non-heirarchical fashion? It wouldn't necessarily be every man/woman for themself - or would it?

Interesting that she mentions producing fuel for vehicles as an essential skill, as presumably without the resources of large companies, pretty soon there would be no complex machinery or technology in existence? (or would we get it all from China, in exchange for letting them use Wales to dump radioactive by-products)?

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

This thread has reminded me of the 70s series "Survivors". Just started watching it on YouTube. If I don't make it tonight, you know why!

[ChavWivaLawDegree]

Jeremy - I said I think it will be replaced by a military dictatorship, but I would prefer anarchy.

Fighting over ever dwindling resources to keep the big capitalst powers in control has meant that tax payers have to be sucked dry.

In order to keep the saps at the bottom dutifuly working, paying their taxes and buying the crap they say we need to be someone, they control the media and politicians who push through draconian laws to stamp on any of us who might step out of line when the food becomes too expensive to buy and we can't keep the wars we produce off our doorsteps any longer.

[PeckhamRose]

I loved Lynne Truss's book. But then I don't know if you should start a sentence with "but".

[citizenED]

Kingsley Amis identitfied two principle groups in debates over the use of language: "Berks are careless, coarse, crass, gross and of what anybody would agree is a lower social class than one's own; w**nkers are prissy, fussy, priggish, prim and of what they would probably misrepresent as a higher social class as one's own."

[PeckhamRose]

...looks in mirror. Can't see a reflection.

[Jah Lush]

Lynne Truss's book is apparently full of mistakes. I haven't read it as it doesn't appeal.