Comments on: Chic Clicks: The Best Of This Weeks Beauty Blogs

By: ROFLMAO

ROFLMAO — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 20:57:12 +0000

Snarky? Maybe. Politically incorrect? Could be.

Funny? You bet!

Thanks for the research and sound advice…and a little laugh in this oh-so-serious world.

Signed: Mixed race English teacher married to a non-native speaker.

By: Meg

Meg — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 16:00:33 +0000

@Mid Brain

Thank you very much for the apology. I can’t speak for everyone, of course, but I certainly accept it and think more of you for it.

Now, where’s that report on mineral makeup? I’m waiting.

By: Meg

Meg — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 15:59:16 +0000

@Dennery “…I didn’t presume or jump to the conclusion that they must have originated from individuals speaking English as a second language. On the contrary, I find drawing such conclusions offensive.”

I think it’s very reasonable and unoffensive to consider that English isn’t their first language. Is it the only possibility? No, of course not — and no one is saying it is. However, it’s probably the least offensive assumption and actually gives them the benefit of the doubt. Other possibilities: they’re spammers/pranksters/trolls or they’re mentally handicapped in some way (which is certainly not to say that there’s anything morally wrong with that but I’d rather be accused of speaking a second language poorly than just sounding dumb or crazy).

Also, one of the reasons why I suggested that they may not be native speakers is because I have studied several languages and also second language acquisition as well as other areas of linguistics. Based on my experiences (both speaking other languages and working with non-native speakers), I think it is very reasonable to think those people may not be native speakers.

By: Dennery

Dennery — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 14:27:47 +0000

Whoops. I meant to type politically ‘CORRECT’!

By: Dennery

Dennery — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 14:24:35 +0000

I was neither offended nor did I find this to be “snarky”. I thought they were rather humorous myself. I say this because I didn’t presume or jump to the conclusion that they must have originated from individuals speaking English as a second language. On the contrary, I find drawing such conclusions offensive. From my perspective, they read more like entries from ‘pranksters’, if you will. I’ve seen similar instances of this nature more frequently than you might imagine at various forums, blogs, in commentary posted at other websites, and the like. Though hard to believe, and harder still to understand, occasionally someone will submit an outrageous question, leave an off-the-wall remark, or post in a manner similar to the above. Some are clearly intended to incite a reaction of sorts, while the less obvious appear to be lame efforts to garner any response at all. I’m not saying either scenario applies here, but it certainly seems plausible.

I hope the following won’t be misconstrued or misinterpreted. That said, personally I think our society’s over zealous fixation to be ‘politically incorrect’, has lead to an equally excessive compulsion to find offense in every – even slightly – dubious situation.

All too often, we read negativity into such circumstances, assuming the worst – regardless of whether such conclusions are warranted or justified.