Dave Lee said: > > Trevor Lauder wrote: >> True, but answer this question then. Why, if someone really is >> "stunningly intelligent", do they choose to use slang and vulgarity in >> the >> place of a proper noun, pronoun, verb, adverb, adjective, or >> preposition? >> Such practice is unbecoming of someone who is truly intelligent (Someone >> who can "learn/reason/etc"). > > because they have the freedom to choose to. actions and results matter > more than words. its what people do that matters, and not how the speak, > or dress, or act, etc. many people choose to be different, especially in > the face of conforming for conformity's sake. like I mentioned before, if > the reciever understands, then I feel that should be good enough. if the > reciever did not like the language chosen because its not "proper", so > what? it seems to me that whats "proper" is just a matter of differing > taste. should they be offended by it, or make rash judgements about the > type of person? I don't think so. of course, I am guilty of doing this > sometimes, but I try not to. I also assume that "intelligent" people will > choose which type of language to use based on the other people involved. > so if they are speaking "improperly", then its probably because they feel > the the reciever is open or understanding or accepting of that type of > language, or they don't care if the reciever's fine sense of taste is put > off. I am mostly thinking of slang, and not vulgarity.
Yes, people have the freedom to choose how they speak, act, dress, etc. That freedom doesn't make it somehow acceptable and right though. To the contrary, these judgments are not rash. The way we choose to speak is a reflection of the type of person we really are. It tells people about the way we think and our innermost feelings. These things can be said about both slang and vulgarity. Concerning vulgarity, civilized conversation has no place for it. To quote George Washington: "The foolish and wicked practice of profane cursing and swearing is a vice so mean and low, that every person of sense and character detests and despises it" > > a similar question is, why do you choose to speak linux when there are far > more open doors to those who speak MS? > Not at all similar, you are comparing apples and oranges here. Linux vs Microsoft is not a comparison of right vs wrong, although some people would say it is :) Vulgarity vs clean speech is however, with vulgarity being in the wrong. > Dave > > > Well it seems we have done a good job of digressing from the subject of this email :) Cheers, -- Trevor Lauder Web: http://www.thelauders.net E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Resume: http://www.thelauders.net/resume/ Gentoo Powered "Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex... It takes a touch of genius -- and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." -- Albert Einstein
