Jump to content

Phrases or words that indicate to you the contents of an 'article' or post are going to be garbage..


Recommended Posts

goosey-goosey Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I'm super sad when I read "super" used as an

> adverb.



Yes!!! Do you pronounce it with a "gee golly gee" gormless American accent whenever you read it? It's become such a commonly used little helper, especially in "youth" publications, social media etc.... These nachos are suuuper nice, just sayin', amirite?...

When articles quote percentage increases in something without actual numbers - i.e. "so and so is up 20% (yeah, but from an extremely low base, such that to be meaningless / statistically insignificant)".

miga Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> re: "Big State"...here's a handful from the

> quickest of googles, used as a phrase.

>

> http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cam

> eron/9171481/Brick-by-brick-were-tearing-down-the-

> big-state.html

> http://www.reform.uk/reformer/the-return-of-the-bi

> g-state-incomes-policy-and-the-trimmings/

> http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/9

> 559810/Douglas-Carswell-Bad-news-for-the-big-state

> .html

> http://www.jubilee-centre.org/all-in-this-together

> -the-big-state/

>

> Or do you mean that it never annoys you when you

> see this frequently used phrase?



No. I meant that those who bang on about big Pharma, big business, big etc seem to be anti-big apart from the state which they seem happy to run almost anything, dictate how we live our lives, think they know best how our money is spent etc. big is bad...apart from government where suddenly big transforms into efficient, benevolent, paternalistic, force of good and dictator of what's best for the likes of us

>>Yes!!! Do you pronounce it with a "gee golly gee" gormless American accent whenever you read it? It's become such a commonly used little helper, especially in "youth" publications, social media etc.... These nachos are suuuper nice, just sayin', amirite?...


It comes down to us living in an age where hyperbole rules...the most mundane singer is 'awesome', the most average talent is a 'genius', something sad is 'heartbreaking' and a crispy chemical-laden snack is 'super nice'. I can't work out whether it is because people can no longer distinguish between mediocrity and genius/great talent or it's just a lazy way of using a rich and varied language.

???? Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> miga Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > re: "Big State"...here's a handful from the

> > quickest of googles, used as a phrase.

> >

> >

> http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cam

>

> >

> eron/9171481/Brick-by-brick-were-tearing-down-the-

>

> > big-state.html

> >

> http://www.reform.uk/reformer/the-return-of-the-bi

>

> > g-state-incomes-policy-and-the-trimmings/

> >

> http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/9

>

> >

> 559810/Douglas-Carswell-Bad-news-for-the-big-state

>

> > .html

> >

> http://www.jubilee-centre.org/all-in-this-together

>

> > -the-big-state/

> >

> > Or do you mean that it never annoys you when

> you

> > see this frequently used phrase?

>

>

> No. I meant that those who bang on about big

> Pharma, big business, big etc seem to be anti-big

> apart from the state which they seem happy to run

> almost anything, dictate how we live our lives,

> think they know best how our money is spent etc.

> big is bad...apart from government where suddenly

> big transforms into efficient, benevolent,

> paternalistic, force of good and dictator of

> what's best for the likes of us


Ah, I see. I guess I don't get wound up by ideas as much as oversimplification.


The way phrases like "big state" or "big pharma" are used isn't dissimilar. It's shorthand for a scary idea that cuts out a lot of thinking for a receptive audience. Fair enough, the audiences might be on different parts of the political spectrum, but the nuance killing phrases have a similar effect. For every time a naturopath rails against "big pharma", there's a died in the wool libertarian crying "statist". The trick, in my view, is to skip over the yellow press and CiF nonsense. Although I suppose it is nice to have one's prejudices confirmed, it's one of the pleasures of getting old.

tfwsoll Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> >>Yes!!! Do you pronounce it with a "gee golly

> gee" gormless American accent whenever you read

> it? It's become such a commonly used little

> helper, especially in "youth" publications, social

> media etc.... These nachos are suuuper nice, just

> sayin', amirite?...

>

> It comes down to us living in an age where

> hyperbole rules...the most mundane singer is

> 'awesome', the most average talent is a 'genius',

> something sad is 'heartbreaking' and a crispy

> chemical-laden snack is 'super nice'. I can't

> work out whether it is because people can no

> longer distinguish between mediocrity and

> genius/great talent or it's just a lazy way of

> using a rich and varied language.


Yeah, probably hyperbole is a part of the picture. There's also the obligation people feel to be positive.

How can an accent be 'gormless'? It's an accent. Some may think your accent is 'gormless'. Gormless comment.Picking on Americans is a national pastime here. Don't think it's justified. Garbage in fact.

Perhaps I didn't express myself clearly. I didn't intend to describe the whole set of American accents as gormless sounding, but rather one particular gormless version of the same. Think Frank Zappa's "Valley Girl".


But thanks for being super defensive.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Latest Discussions

    • Real shame they went under. We have a rectangular table (that we are keeping) which is great. I would set some ebay search alerts if you haven't done so already.
    • Hello my name is Kat and I’m currently studying Solution Focused Clinical Hypnotherapy with CPHT London, and I’m offering free online hypnotherapy sessions as part of my professional training.  This is a safe, modern, and well-researched approach that helps people break free from the negative cycles of anxiety, low mood, and stress, and move toward calm, confidence, and lasting positive change. I’m studying CPHT’s accredited training, led by experienced, practising hypnotherapists, which is widely recognised as the UK's gold standard in Solution Focused Hypnotherapy. Over my training, I’ve already seen great results, and I’m now looking for volunteers who may benefit from support with 🌿 Anxiety and low mood (including stress, sleep issues, or IBS) What’s included: 💫 A full course of free weekly sessions (typically 8–12 weeks) 💫 Insight into how your brain works, and how to work with it 💫 Practical tools to feel calmer, more confident, and in control What’s required: ✔️ Commitment to weekly sessions ✔️ A stable internet connection for online sessions I have an enhanced DBS check and am a student member of the National Council for Hypnotherapy and the Association for Solution Focussed Hypnotherapy. If you’d like to take part or have any questions, please send me a direct message to book an initial consultation. I’d love to hear from you Warmest Kat
    • If this is approved BT will probably apply to remove the phone box. These cost far more than they earn and are very vulnerable to vandelism. The old phone boxes are not ideal to become WiFi hubs, and will need the same level of engineering work to convert (they will be connected over copper). And they don't offer the advertising opportunity which pays for the free WiFi. 
    • They're big and ugly electronic advertising boards. There's a shagged out phone box across the road that could do the same thing!
Home
Events
Sign In

Sign In



Or sign in with one of these services

Search
×
    Search In
×
×
  • Create New...