OT: Inequivocally Obfuscated, Politically Correct *LINK*

Re: OT: Inequivocally Obfuscated, Politically Corr

Jack Guzman from Maine

>Years ago,I worked with a guy whose hero was Slip Mahoney fron the Bowery Boys.As some may remember,Slip would try to sound important by using big words.Due to his lack of learning his words would be made up facsimiles of actual words. Close but not quite right.This guy I worked with would make up his own words also to sound important.He was a contractor and often would spend hours talking to prospective clients,trying to sell a job.He knew what he was saying about building but he would throw in made up words here and there.I think he did it just for fun.The funny part is,most people just listened to him attentively,pretending to understand what he was saying.I overheard several of his spiels and it was hard not to laugh when I would recognize one of his favorite homemade words thrown in the middle of a serious technical explanation of building techniques.English can be a fun language to play with.---Jack

Re: OT: Inequivocally Obfuscated, Politically Corr

Patrick Gibbons, Speaker of Texan

>As woodworkers it should be very easy for us to appreciate on a deeper level the wonders of language and particularly the English language. Language is just like wood; it is a living, changing thing. It can be cut, measured, bent, laminated, mixed, stained, turned into a thing of beauty or utility or allowed to warp, rot or disintegrate. "What's that piece made of? Is it birch or maple? Red oak or white? Mahogany or Sapele?" "Where did that word come from? Alcohol is an English word isn't it? (It comes from the Arabic) Cork is an English word isn't it? (It comes from the Latin word for oak)" And just as yesterday's "ugly" style of furniture is today's standard so yesterday's slang is today's standard English. And so words are raw materials. They can be turned into the entire range of products according to the skill of the mechanic.

Re: OT: Inequivocally Obfuscated, Politically Corr

Dave Anderson Chester, NH

>Well Sir William, Your link can only be described as biting, cynical, vicious,and unfortunately....... right on the mark. The author is adept in his use of the language to skewer some professions which really deserve the impalement.

Thank You William And Jack

Howard In Toronto

>Great link, William.

Thank you.

There was a great sprint in there about Franz Kafka that I found interesting.

Jack - Slip Mahoney?

Oh my - it's been YEARS that I've even thought about them. Thanks for the memories...

My favourite look has always been a suit with a baseball cap....

Howard

Re: OT: Inequivocally Obfuscated, Politically Corr

William Duffield, on the Cohansey

>I don't agree with everything he says, and also find a lot of it a bit rude, but I thought he makes some interesting points, that we need to think about when we listen to people try to sell a point of view.