while i am not particularly fond of textspeak, and acknowledge that spelling can be important to avoid miscommunication (it's important to have two p's in rapping, for example), i feel it is equally important to reject centralized grammar authorities and am exceedingly apprehensive about allowing this unelected body to dictate the rules of discourse.
from where does this body claim it's authority to police free expression?
jessica
+falconpO8 mockery is what sociologists call an informal social control mechanism.
Space Dwarf
+jessica haha you use big words. You funny
jessica
+Space Dwarf this is actually a very serious concern. whomsoever controls our language controls our thoughts. this has been understood for centuries, but expresses itself in it's most known contemporary form in the writings of george orwell.
for an actual historical example, you want to look at french. we think of french as a derivative of latin. the actual truth is that french was something that was invented by french intellectuals around the time of the french revolution, and forced on the people of france (who spoke languages such as occitan). the language was written in such a way as to uphold certain hierarchical relationships, the most obvious being the way it approaches gender.
in english, the most obvious way that language is used as a means of control is in the use of capitalization to cement deference to authority.
the idea of policing language is one that should never be taken lightly.
Ruben Gz
+jessica We're good! Until they make a United Channels of Youtube, we'll be fine! Toast: to policing and exploiting grammar discrepancies, here here!
jessica
+Ruben Gz see, i must dissent out of principle and maintain my grammar anti-authoritarianism in the face of such an affront on personal liberty. hold to your individuality, people. do not be coerced into conformity,
MrQuelquDeux
+jessica You are either the biggest troll I've seen, or you absolutely missed the point (to avoid calling you a total idiot).
Please, go away if you're not here to have fun.
Space Dwarf
+MrQuelquDeux How dare you! She is trying to protect us from this oppression and conformity! Check your privilege!
jessica
+MrQuelquDeux i'm sorry - what point have i missed? do you not see how this kind of creeping totalitarianism is a threat on our grammatical freedom?
it starts with the grammar nazis in their brownshirts floating around making examples of people, and it escalates from there. soon, we'll be dealing with public executions for not capitalizing "ceo".
but, i suppose you think it can't happen here? oh, it can. and, it is. wake up! sheeple!
FilthyScooter
+jessica I hope you don't mind me point in out that this series started as a way to "troll the trolls" or to make fun of people who purposely use incorrect grammar. Which in fact, is annoying. We aren't forcing correct grammar unto people, but instead pointing out those who flat-out ignore it.
jessica
+FilthyScooter i think this is some a-level rationalizing.
Seamus Spike
+jessica Goodness me, I don't believe I have ever seen someone express anarchist ideals both through and about language. The frivolity of your language is comparable to a Russell Brand with actual ideals. Are you an anarchist? I personally believe that it is one of the only ways to truly allow the human race to evolve and reach a new plain of understanding, simply due to the fact that people would have the opportunity to truly fulfil their true creative and cognitive potential!
jessica
+Seamus Spike an anarchist, i am. although, i dispute that my language is frivolous.
i do feel that abolishing the enforcement of grammatical conventions in favour of cultivating individual grammatical expression would be a positive change in the educational system. i'm not really against spelling - as mentioned, it is necessary to avoid misunderstanding. but, beating all these rules into kids just teaches deference to authority, while stamping out the individual spirit of expression. i think this is an especially important consideration when it comes to language, because it doesn't just frame the way we type, it also frames the way we think.
i mean, you can just imagine some grade three teacher sorting through poe and marking red xes all over it. that makes me frown.
_ninjaflower_
Uhh.... Okay I think you were saying that this whole thing is insulting? Idk. The obly thing that is insulting is the fact that u r saying we beed to be individual and everybody makes mistakes, and yet u r using perfact grammer!
jessica
+_ninjaflower_ i think, if you look a little more carefully, you'll realize that i put my anti-capitalism on full display.
in fact, i would make any linguist trying to analyze my writing very angry, you're just not aware of the reasons why.