The Dumbing Down of America - Here's Why

[vitanola]

Of course, that's the fun of using it. The receiver is usually not sure what has just been said but the context implies it's not a compliment, but something rebarbative.

Of course I may have been speaking tounge-in-cheek. Naturally, I frequently associate with catamites.

It would be interesting to receive a 'thanks!' for that one, and not a little scary..

I should think so.



Not that there's anything wrong with that!



I would never have expected any discussion Uranianism on this board.

Please! The ladies! :eeek:

 

[The Reno Kid]

There has indeed been a "dumbing down" of our society for generations. Unfortunately, it does not stop with vocabulary. English usage in general is in an abysmal state.

In a former life, I worked as a professional economist in our nation's capital (apologies to all our non-American friends). Because I was a fair writer, I was often asked to review submissions to the professional economics journal that my agency published. A fairly large proportion of the papers I read were filled with orthographic and grammatical errors. Many were simply incoherent drivel. It would have been bad enough if these papers had been submitted by a cross-section of the public. Sadly, most of them came from writers with advanced degrees from Ivy-League schools such as Harvard, Penn, Columbia, Brown, etc. Now, I will freely admit that even the very best writer will benefit from a good editor, but much of this material was beyond redemption. Certainly, all the submissions were not like this but I read enough of them to be very disturbed.

I come from a pretty humble background and I attended very small schools in very small towns when I was a nipper. But I am quite secure in the knowlege that my tenth-grade English teacher (God bless her) would have despaired over these people... right before she assigned failing grades to their sorry efforts. I'm afraid that we have sacrificed real learning at the altars of "self-esteem" and "fairness."

I'll get off my soapbox now.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I used the word "dystopian" this afternoon. My mother had never heard of it before.

 

[Fletch]

I would never have expected any discussion Uranianism on this board.

Personally, I have no interest whatsoever in Uranus.

 

[vitanola]

Personally, I have no interest whatsoever in Uranus.

I find that to be a great relief.

Nor have I in yours.

Not that there is anything wrong with that...

 

[LizzieMaine]

And they say that the art of repartee is dead.

 

[dhermann1]

The dumbing down of this thread. lol

 

[vitanola]

And they say that the art of repartee is dead.

Thank you, I'll be here all week. You should really try the Brisket!

You know, in an exchange that refers to Urnings, Catamites and, well, other things, that takes a bit of talent, don't you think?



Where are Havelock Ellis and Magnus Hirschfeld when we need them?

 

[Fletch]

How is it done?

 

[vitanola]

How is it done?

I don't know that this is the venue for one to ask such a delicate question, but if you must, one might refer to either Ellis' "Inversion" or Hirschfeld's "Der Urnische Mensch", Max Spohr, Leipzig 1903.

 

[Flick]

Never let school interfere with your education.

~ Mark Twain

By design. It's far easier to control the ignorant than it is to control the erudite.

There has indeed been a "dumbing down" of our society for generations. Unfortunately, it does not stop with vocabulary.

Yes, the dumbing down is real, and while the linguistic abilities have as well declined, the truth of why, IMHO, has not been broached within this thread. I hesitate, secondary to the dearth (by design) of political discussion within this forum. Yet this is important, and deserves discussion among all truly concerned.

Maj. Nick has it correct. The issue is control. A very simple example. We all know the Pledge of Allegiance by rote. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic, for which it stands...

Now do you live in a Republic, and if not, why not and when did it change?

I certainly do not expect any further discussion of this, again secondary to the non-political nature of this forum, but perhaps someone might find this of interest.

 

[vitanola]

We all know the Pledge of Allegiance by rote. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic, for which it stands...

Beg pardon.

"I pledge Allegiance to my Flag and the republic for which it stands. One nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

 

[Fletch]

I don't know that this is the venue for one to ask such a delicate question, but if you must, one might refer to either Ellis' "Inversion" or Hirschfeld's "Der Urnische Mensch", Max Spohr, Leipzig 1903.

I meant how is the brisket done, actually. But to each his own.

 

[LizzieMaine]

I don't know that this is the venue for one to ask such a delicate question, but if you must, one might refer to either Ellis' "Inversion" or Hirschfeld's "Der Urnische Mensch", Max Spohr, Leipzig 1903.

Boy, it's getting to be like The Trial Of Oscar Wilde in here.

 

[Fletch]

Sooo, uh...how do you like your brisket?

 

[LizzieMaine]

Smoked , Montreal style.

"I was standing in my yard smoking some meat. I was all out of cigarettes."

 

[vitanola]

PARDON ME!
:eeek:


Gedempte Fleysch. I like it braised with onion, leeks, carrots, a little garlic, black pepper, a couple pinches pickling spice, a cup of that good old fashion Kosher wine and a half-cup of vinegar. Brown first the Brisket in very hot schmaltz, then add the vegatables, spices, liquid, and perhaps a couple of table spoons of tomato paste, and cook over a very low fire for three hours until tender. Serve with Kasha or with Latkes.

 

[vitanola]

Smoked , Montreal style.

"I was standing in my yard smoking some meat. I was all out of cigarettes."

I think that was covered on another thread, "Smoking Relatives".

Boy, it's getting to be like The Trial Of Oscar Wilde in here.

I just looked out the window, and it is most certainly a Wilde Evening. Lake Effect.

 

[Flick]

The Deliberate Dumbing Down of America.

 

[LizzieMaine]

The Deliberate Dumbing Down of America.

I knew this author back in my reporter days -- she was on the school board in one of the towns I covered twenty-odd years ago. I can honestly say that those were not dull meetings -- you never knew if she was going to come across the table at the superintendant or not. One memorable evening she threw an entire box of tea bags in his face after a particularly noisy argument -- the Mad Tea Party, we called it the next morning. Agree with her or disagree, she was always Good Copy. (What made it even funnier was that the superintendant's name was Marx -- a word she spit out whenever she spoke to him like it was wormwood in her mouth.)