Monday, September 15, 2008

pinker

Pinker gave many examples of why prescriptivists are "Kibbitzers" and "nudniks." My only problem with some of these examples is that I seemed to get lost. Or bored. I think I read one paragraph 3 times before I actually comprehended it. And even now, sitting here at the computer, it is difficult to force myself to comment on "Grammar Puss." Don't get me wrong, I like the article. I agree with Pinker's points (those of which I thoroughly followed). One of my favorite lines is when he states that "most of the prescriptive rules of the lanuage mavens make no sense on any level." I guess I just wished Pinker could have made these claims using a little less ink. Most of the time greater detail results in greater understanding. However, I'm not sure I understand it any better.

This post may not make any sense. I'm tired. And words are forming in my brain at an unusually slow rate. eh.

10 comments:

Murph said...

You can look here for more help with pinker:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBGIQ7ZuuiU

brandonmichael5 said...

I expected a combat-hardened fellow in baggy clothes. I was very much disappointed. Disappointed is a weird word that makes me think of being non-appointed, as in if I were appointed captain of the good ship Lollipop. So, you pretty much ruined my chances of having any sort of fun by spinning that steering will thing on ships. Thanks a lot.

kasey mckinzie said...

are you high? or drunk? seriously, i know a guy..Creeper..he could probably hook you up .

brandonmichael5 said...

Nope - I don't do drugs, or drink.

I was bored (having commented on people's walls for a few hours) and playing off of something you said about people not understanding what you wrote. It was basically like saying "So you really think people didn't understand what you said? Try this out."

There was also a stab in there about how non-fitting your title of your blog is and was.

Tell Creeper that his line of work isn't safe, and chances are he will end up in prison. And also add that we all know what happens in prison, and no one wants any of that business.

kasey mckinzie said...

next time maybe you could clarify more..Like Rachel's blog was talking about. That way people arent confused about your ideas and your (non)drug habits. And Creeper went to jail. He's out on bail. I don't think its wise to be talking to him though. Since he's a dangerous convict and all.

kasey mckinzie said...

And dont be jealous of my blog titling. :)

brandonmichael5 said...

The point was to not clarify and be random. Telling you about it would have ruined it. It did its job and confused you. I hope it was fun.


You're right, but only a smidgen right. There may be a tinge of jealousy in the back of my mind because your blog title is even more random and crazy than mine.

But, mine gives you an idea of what I'm going to be doing (putting my foot in my mouth) and yours really doesn't tell me anything useful about you or your goal. So ha!

So creeper exists? Or was made up in the process of formulating a joke? If he is real, why exactly would you be friends with or communicate with someone who it is currently not safe to talk to. I'd stay away from that. Pretty dang far away.

(In all reality though, someone who served time for drug sales isn't by default a dangerous person. Our society acts to harshly on random pot heads selling random pot. Rapists and murderers are dangerous though. And maybe people who sell certain drugs, dangerous ones.)

kasey mckinzie said...

Creeper exists. And we're not friends. And we don't communicate. Thats why I told you I wasnt going to talk to him. It's not just the drugs that make him dangerous..its also the peeping in our windows at night, the trying to break into our house, and the gun that he pulled on his wife (when she was alive) in their front yard. yyyeah, I am okay with not talking to him. lol.

Aaron said...

I agree. I try to stay short and sweet. Why write in 35 pages what you can write in 12?

kasey mckinzie said...

exactly.