Page 3 of 4 FirstFirst 1234 LastLast
Results 21 to 30 of 36

Thread: Extroduction

  1. #21
    Join Date
    May 2018
    Posts
    1,076

    Re: Extroduction

    Quote Originally Posted by Pain View Post
    Oh dear! It appears the world has gone stark raving mad since I gave my word everything was coming up roses – barely six months ago! So I’ve popped back to apologise for contriving a false sense of optimism. Who’d have guessed some fiendishly contagious disease was already stalking the Earth (who, other than conspiracy theorists, soothsayers and the insightful, that is)?... I’m referring, of course, to the highly virulent, out of control Political Correctness bug and its Retrospective Correctness mutations. But on top of that there’s Covid 19 with which to contend. Difficult times indeed (but ‘The Great Escape’ formerly known as Brexit will still turn out fine).

    So, finding myself with time on my hands and not wishing the devil to find work for them, I pondered on the weighty question of which piece of music was most fitting for these troubled times: “Gloomy Sunday”…. “Dark Side Of The Moon”…? No! It had to be none other than “Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life” penned by ever-optimistic cheeky chappie Eric-The-Idle for “The Life Of Brian”.

    Here’s my version (most appropriately based on that played by misanthrope Melvin Udall in “As Good As It Gets”) Attachment 5087

    Despite my including the jazzy break, it has more cheese than a 70’s Ploughman’s Lunch. Still, many a good tune played on the old organ, so some say but… perhaps this might not be one of them.
    Welcome back, Pain
    __________________
    Beauty (12th August 2007 - 3rd November 2008 )
    Dylan (4th November 2008 - 23rd March 2012)
    Tom (29th August 2014 - 17th October 2014)
    Ebony (1st January 2014 - 2nd March 2018)
    Tigger (31st October 2014 - current)
    Willow (3rd November 2018 - current)

  2. #22
    KK77's Avatar
    KK77 is offline NMP Complaints Mismanagement Controller
    Country:
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Posts
    7,649

    Re: Extroduction

    Quote Originally Posted by Pain View Post
    By crikey! Since I returned I can’t help but notice there’s some really, really angry folks pouring out vitriol and serious insults in the NMP forum these days. What became of showing just a little respect for someone who expresses views different to one’s own (no matter how barmy they may be), or having a tidge of tolerance (which at the very least means not hurling a barrage of slanging when in disagreement), or behaving with decorum (conducting oneself in a polite and courteous manner)…? Yes, all of these mores were to be found in common decency, which as I’ve mentioned before has been replaced by the pretence of Political Correctness.

    It really is unacceptable to fill your asterisking post aggressively with astertisking asterisks and asterisking expect to be asterisking taken asterisking seriously, O-asterisking-K!
    Unfortunately, this behaviour manifested with the appearance of the Scourge and one wonders whether it is part of the New Normal-Great Reset agenda.

    Fear is at the root of all this anger and hate. There is an old adage which describes this: Tell a fearful man the truth and he'll either worship you or kill you...

    In these hate-filled times there is only one logical course of action, Prof PA.
    __________________
    KK

    Never Surrender, Comrade

  3. #23
    KK77's Avatar
    KK77 is offline NMP Complaints Mismanagement Controller
    Country:
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Posts
    7,649

    Re: Extroduction

    Quote Originally Posted by Pain View Post
    A million years ago I posted an NMP question asking whether a person could tell the difference between rage and panic, given that both can bring about the same symptoms. Can it be, KK, that the scourge has indeed provoked in some folks a sense of panic or anxiety manifesting as uncontrollable rage or anger over that which they have no control? Or is it simply that those folks no longer care? A case of “I’ll do as I please, as long as I remain Politically Correct in the New Order of Things.”
    I think that both fear over that which cannot be controlled and a pious form of "I'll do as I please..." are factors in observed phenomenon. Perhaps in a ratio of 60:40 (respectively).

    Interestingly, the roots of the word "scourge" confer some clues: A form of whip with many (usually leather) strands used for self-mortification of the flesh, especially in religious sanctification - ie, purifying from sin. There is sacrifice and discipline involved - suffering hardship and pain for a "greater cause". However, if there is (often subconscious) doubt or suspicion in this greater cause to which one is figuratively "giving oneself over" there must also be anger generated towards oneself by this ambivalence, which will, invariably, be projected at those who dare to question the morality and validity of this "sanctification".

    Sound familiar?
    __________________
    KK

    Never Surrender, Comrade

  4. #24
    Join Date
    Dec 2016
    Posts
    3,832

    Re: Extroduction

    There is a lot of "us vs them" thinking as well. And I know we're all guilty of it sometimes because it's human nature. It's what banded us together and kept us alive in our hunter/gatherer days...but this type of thinking is not conducive to a pandemic. In a global society, it's not "every man for himself". Our societies and economies are too interwoven for that thinking to help. We all need to be working together to find a solution, and I just don't see that happening, especially here in my country.
    __________________
    I'm still a work in progress.
    Currently working on: World Domination

  5. #25
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Posts
    16,747

    Re: Extroduction

    It's another Brexit situation but one with a sting in its viral tail?

  6. #26
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Posts
    784

    Re: Extroduction

    It's the old strategy of divide and conquer. A minority can't control and rule over the majority without creating conflicts between groups. The list of groups who are in conflict with each other keeps getting bigger. These groups can then be manipulated and mobilised through fear, anger, hatred and deception, deflecting attention away from activities of those who truly hold power.

  7. #27
    Join Date
    Dec 2016
    Posts
    3,832

    Re: Extroduction

    Quote Originally Posted by Pain View Post
    But then there’s the ‘We’re all in this together fighting a common enemy’ sentiment – a sentiment governments hope will bind and pull us through. This only succeeds when those governments are clear and objective in their aims. And…? Well, you decide for yourself if that’s what’s happening.
    Of course that's not happening in the US. It's pretty much every state for themselves here. And then depending on the state, every county for themselves and down the hierarchy.

    Hollow is making the point I was alluding to... Historically tyranny and fascism have been born out of crises and natural disasters. We all need to be pulling together, not further dividing.
    Last edited by AntsyVee; 16-07-20 at 20:06. Reason: typos
    __________________
    I'm still a work in progress.
    Currently working on: World Domination

  8. #28
    Join Date
    Dec 2016
    Posts
    3,832

    Re: Extroduction

    I figured I better move our discussion of the evolution/devolution of the English language over here, as I was having to dodge the Covid posts to keep up.

    I teach humanities and we argue about the impact of "text speak" all the time, especially when we receive essays full of it. One of my colleagues, like you, is convinced that eventually our language is just going to rot away and we will become like the people in the movie Idiocracy; that we will just press buttons with pictures of the thing that we want. Other teachers think that we are just being elitist, and that we need to concentrate on teaching students the appropriate usage of it.

    Right now in our district, we are debating whether or not to replace the teaching of cursive handwriting with typing. What do you think/.
    __________________
    I'm still a work in progress.
    Currently working on: World Domination

  9. #29
    Join Date
    Dec 2016
    Posts
    3,832

    Re: Extroduction

    I'm nothing if not charming.

    I'm not sure if I believe in the validity of meritocracy either. I agree with you there.

    I haven't made up my mind in the cursive handwriting vs. typing debate. Studies have shown that taking notes and writing by hand help students remember content more effectively than typing and copying and pasting on a virtual document. On the other hand, by 15, students need to know how to type using more than two fingers and be able to use basic word processing. And schools are increasingly running out of enough time to teach the basics, especially with so many students starting school already behind in the language department.

    Humanities is a fancy word for saying the disciplines of human society and culture, so at my school that means I teach English, History, Journalism and Speech/Debate.
    __________________
    I'm still a work in progress.
    Currently working on: World Domination

  10. #30
    Join Date
    Nov 2018
    Posts
    7,747

    Re: Extroduction

    I hope you don't mind me butting in here?

    As for the whole cursive v typing debate, that's a tough one. I very much see Vee's point and I do think the more intensive process of writing in cursive can aid recall.

    However, there are also plenty of other weapons a good teacher has in their arsenal, many of which don't involve either writing or typing, not to mention what happens when you factor different learning styles into the equation. As Vee knows, I'm not a teacher but I am a digital learning specialist - I work with teachers, the people who train them and the deprived kids they help.

    Being realistic, digital literacy is just as important as basic literacy and numeracy these days, and while our kids might be digital natives with their phones, a lot of them struggle with the basics of research and word processing - in a lot of cases, they no longer have a PC at home. They're unlikely to be asked to do much handwriting within the workplace.

    As for text-speak, no, I don't much like it. I'm middle-aged, though, and today's young learners have been born into a different world. Languages are always going to grow and evolve, and on the whole, I think that's a beautiful thing - our young people are still creating, even if we don't like what they create.

    Besides, if we were going to preserve the English language in amber, what would we preserve and what would we jettison? What's that perfect point where our shared language couldn't possibly improve?

    It's our job to be grumpy at the young, but I think we also have to be mindful that we don't close off our own minds at the same time.
    Last edited by BlueIris; 06-08-20 at 16:35. Reason: Cut off halfway through!

Page 3 of 4 FirstFirst 1234 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •