Politely deadly

[twfarlan]

Movies have ruined polite conversation in this country. I don't mean that encroaching media has reduced public discourse to shouting and fandom. I mean to say that politeness is a frightening thing.

Comments

[kitsunegeek]

You know, I was raised in a large Southern family. We were taught good manners, polite forms of address, how to write invitations, RSVP's, thank you notes, etc... In English class (and from my mother, who was far more exacting) we learned language, writing, grammar, and vocabulary. I have always appreciated these early lessons, considering them essential to a refined and civilized society; therefor I have held onto what I learned and worked to increase these skills

[twfarlan]

Well, watch the fictions of the era to see what is considered "fearful" to society at that time. Look at the 20s; gangsters were what people were afraid of, based on the problems of the time. In the 30s going into the 40s, it was fifth columnists and socialists, so your villains were patterned on that, leading to guys like the Red Skull. In the 50s on through the late 70s, maybe into the mid 80s even, scientists were all madmen trying to bring on the nuclear apocalypse. Doctor Doom, Lex Luthor, Doc Octopus, why, even some of the heroes of the day were results of science gone wrong, as in the case of the Hulk and the Fantastic Four. From the mid 80s, you see a shift in the heights of villainy from mad science to heartless capitalism. Lex Luthor is recast as an untouchable businessman, for example, as was Victor von Doom in recent Marvel rewrites of their various characters. Since the mid-90s or so? Mental patients, sociopaths, psychopaths, these have made up the bulk of your major villains, up to the day when terrorists became the

[craigers01]

Bitch, anserz mi txt!!

[twfarlan]

"Miscreant female, I demand you respond with your current location."

Translated into txtspk: "Bitch were u at?!"

[craigers01]

a/s/l?

[acelightning]

having just finished a lengthy conversation via text messages with Alex, i do have to point out that abbreviations and slang that seem illiterate and rude in ordinary language have a purpose in texting. there's a limit on how many characters a message can contain; furthermore, typing everything in correct English is time-consuming and tedious on a phone keypad.

(and, apparently, among today's youth, "bitch" has lost almost all pejorative force, and simply means "woman" or "girl".)

[acelightning]

Heinlein put it thusly:"Moving parts in rubbing contact require lubrication to avoid excessive wear. Honorifics and formal politeness provide lubrication where people rub together. Often the very young, the untravelled, the naïve, the unsophisticated deplore these formalities as empty, meaningless, or dishonest, and scorn to use them. No matter how pure their motives, they thereby throw sand into the machinery that does not work too well at best."

i think the reason the media now portray politeness and courtesy as frightening is related to the concept that courteous behavior is hypocritical and false; therefore, anyone who practices it is trying to trick you for some sinister purpose. now, it's true that plain, forthright, possibly even rude, behavior usually does indicate honesty - but that doesn't mean that the opposite of that behavior indicates the opposite of honesty. (there's a name for that logical fallacy, but i can't find it.)