> -----Original Message----- > From: Kevin Graeme [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2005 9:11 AM > To: CF-Community > Subject: Re: Onward to Iran > > Why must objectivity use dull language? For instance, which is the > more objective phrase:
Well - I don't think it has to be dull. But "desolate and hopeless" are both pretty darn absolute. Phrases like "war torn", "battle-ravaged", "uncertain", "bleak", etc. are less absolute while being more descriptive (I think). Extreme language is always an indication of extreme views in my opinion. Once the writer/speaker has made their fundamental viewpoints so clear in their choice of language it's very difficult to reasonably consider what else is said. > 1. Project for the New American Century > 2. A century of violence and American expansionism. > > Version 2 actually explains version 1, but uses "loaded" (i.e. > descriptive) words. I don't actually consider these replacement for one another. The first is a label applied, the second is a description made. But still, the second is using absolute language. This is fine, of course, but doesn't bode well for objectivity. The entire century wasn't violent, right? And not all American violence has been expansionistic. Something like (off the top of my head) "A century regularly punctuated by violence, much of it alleged American expansionism" might strike me as less absolute. More open to reader consideration. It's hard to explain why I react to certain words and phrases and not to others. For me, at least, objectivity displays both an understanding that: 1) The information is "as known presently" with the assumed corollary of "it could change at any time". 2) A sense that the writer would be willing to change their viewpoint should new information come to light. 3) A lack of extreme, engrained ideas to be shored up by the rest of the work. In other words many writers use of language clearly shows their bias in a situation making anything potentially reasonable they might say suspect as cherry-picked to support that bias. I don't know how to explain it better. I do know that when reading the article in question the absolute language (especially considering it began on the third sentence) tainted my response to it. Jim Davis ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Find out how CFTicket can increase your company's customer support efficiency by 100% http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=49 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:5:149868 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:5 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
