PNWI Community Thread version 3.0 (KEEP REFRIGERATED AT ALL TIMES)

[Smokey D]

He could have spoken shorter.

I'm not going to presume to edit Tolkien's writing, but it must be obvious that he could have cut it down.

[gregulus]

I wish someone would put the Silmarillion on the big screen, except with exceptional detail and accuracy. It'd be like 8 hours long, but it would rule.

That said, Tolkien rules. It's an exceptional escape to read a story as epic as the Legendarium.

[Mr. Ron]

Yeah Smokey, you're sentenced top the stockades for 3 days!

[PerpetualBurn]

I'm going to have to agree with Smokey here.

It's of course a great work that Tolkien produced such a detailed world, with its own legends, languages, and intricate structures.

But that doesn't mean his actual writing was very good.

[AFragileHope]

I love LOTR. And the film adaptations were truly awesome.

I read The Hobbit when I was about twelve lol perhaps I developed mentally far too quickly for my own good...

[Smokey D]

The Hobbit was pretty much intended as a child's companion to LotR.

[AFragileHope]

I guess. But then when I started reading LotR I got lost in it.

And tbh, I would rather live on Middle Earth then Earth at times. Then again, reality sometimes has its perks; like social lives, finance and cool stuff like girlfriends and grindcore.

[Smokey D]

Some people criticise LotR for that very reason. Middle Earth is an escapist merry England that never really happened.

But that's a whole other argument.

[PerpetualBurn]

An argument so good, it merits posting thrice.

[Smokey D]

Hahaha. Crappy internet.

Also, thanks for introducing me to Moorcock 133t hax0r. He's pretty bright.

Like when he says "Then the underground papers began to emerge and I found myself in sympathy with most of their attitudes -- but once again I saw the old arguments aired: Tolkein, C. S. Lewis, Frank Herbert, Isaac Asimov and the rest, bourgeois reactionaries to a man, Christian apologists, crypto-Stalinists, were being praised in IT, Frendz and Oz and everywhere else by people whose general political ideals I thought I shared. I started writing about what I thought was the implicit authoritarianism of these authors and as often as not found myself accused of being reactionary, elitist or at very best a spoilsport who couldn't enjoy good sf for its own sake."

and

"If I were sitting in a tube train and all the people opposite me were reading Mein Kampf with obvious enjoyment and approval it probably wouldn't disturb me much more than if they were reading Heinlein, Tolkein or Richard Adams."

Now that's good writing.

[1338 h4x0r]

:angry:

[AFragileHope]

"If I were sitting in a tube train and all the people opposite me were reading Mein Kampf with obvious enjoyment and approval it probably wouldn't disturb me much more than if they were reading Heinlein, Tolkein or Richard Adams."

Mein Kampf is crap though. Hence why I've always enjoyed good writers and authors, not some megalomaniacal loser.

[beso negro]

But now a cry went up, passing up the wind from the south from vale to vale, and Elves and Men lifted their voices in wonder and joy. For unsummoned and unlooked for Turgon had opened the leaguer of Gondolin, and was come with an army ten thousand strong, with bright mail and long swords and spears like a forest. Then when Fingon heard afar the great trumpet of Turgon his brother, the shadow passed and his heart was uplifted, and he shouted aloud: `Utúlie'n aurë! Aiya Eldalië ar Atanatári, utúlie'n aurë! The day has come! Behold, people of the Eldar and Fathers of Men, the day has come!' And all those who heard his great voice echo in the hills answered crying: `Auta i lómë! The night is passing!'

Not hard to read at all, if you ask me.

kind of. but i'm not an english major and i hate fiction.

[1338 h4x0r]

kind of. but i'm not an english major

Neither am I :lol:

[McP3000]

haha smokey is dissing the lotr fags

[Mr. Ron]

Well, bash him all you want, but he pretty much pioneered modern fantasy into what it is generally excepted as now.

[1338 h4x0r]

PENIS

I don't think he heard that

[spitfirejunky]

He's hit or miss for me.

Return of the King lent itself very well to his writing style, but Fellowship of the Ring was absolute boring rubbish.

[Dr Hooch]

LOTR trilogy; fantastic ideas, beautiful world

writing style NOT GREAT

this is why they make such great films

[McP3000]

Well, bash him all you want, but he pretty much pioneered modern fantasy into what it is generally excepted as now.
im not bashing LotR, i think its cool (even though ive never gotten too into it other than reading the books once and watching the movies). I just found it funny that Smokey D bashed them.
:smash::smash:

[1338 h4x0r]

yeah it's cool bro

[corb]

The Hobbit was an extremely enjoyable read when I was a youth. :)

[Iskandar]

I thought you liked lotr?I do. And in fact I don't think much of the naysayers who go on about how long-winded Tolkien is.

I have no problem with foreign words. My desire is clarity of expression and it's pretty stupid to say some words originally from Latin or something can't convey meaning more precisely and concisely than Anglo-Saxon terms.It's even more stupid to think that a Latinate word is automatically more sophisticated and concise than its plain Anglo-Saxon equivalent.

Note that I'm not criticizing Tolkien for this. I was just stating that in general overblown writing turns me off. But I don't really consider Tolkien to be an overly flashy writer. His style is more archaic than superflueous.

[Smokey D]

It's even more stupid to think that a Latinate word is automatically more sophisticated and concise than its plain Anglo-Saxon equivalent.

Well teh cool thing about English is that it's huge vocabulary allows for shades of precise meaning. Avoiding some words because they originated in Latin or French is stupid, and cuts out that ability. Much of the move towards Anglo-Saxon words seems to have been based on the idea that Anglo-Saxon culture was in some way superior. That was Tolkien's idea anyway.

Orwell, another strong supporter of plain English, had a contradictory position. In his essays he wrote about how we should be wary of people using Latinate English to confuse and avoid telling the truth but in 1984 he wrote against the destruction of language and its the diversity of expression.

[PerpetualBurn]

But I don't really consider Tolkien to be an overly flashy writer. His style is more archaic than superflueous.

I don't think he's "overly flashy". I'm just not a fan of such extreme verbosity.

There's a lot to admire about Tolkien, admittedly, but his actual writing style is often quite poor.

Plus his use of "poetry" is often offensively bad. See the example earlier in the thread.

[Mr. Ron]

Ho! Ho! Ho! To the bottle I go
To heal my heart and drown my woe.
Rain may fall and wind may blow,
And many miles be still to go,
But under a tall tree I will lie,
And let the clouds go sailing by.




haha I love that one

[1338 h4x0r]

Plus his use of "poetry" is often offensively bad. See the example earlier in the thread.

"All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king."

That's cool.

Ho! Ho! Ho! To the bottle I go
To heal my heart and drown my woe.
Rain may fall and wind may blow,
And many miles be still to go,
But under a tall tree I will lie,
And let the clouds go sailing by.




haha I love that one

"Hey! Ho! To the bizzotle I go!
When I'm straight up trippin' or lost ma ho
**** go down, ain't fly no mo'
But I still goooooootttttttttsa get up out yo!
Kickin' it old school, bring da pain
Wit ma boy MB put y'all to shame!
Mo' betta n' a sweet-*** rhyme n' hook
Is a 40 all up in this Took!"

[Mr. Ron]

<33333

[Hababi]

This is an illustration of how to break up:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NmbljTGqCg&eurl=http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_stump/default.aspx

[Mr. Ron]

old but lol all the same

[Iskandar]

Orwell, another strong supporter of plain English, had a contradictory position. In his essays he wrote about how we should be wary of people using Latinate English to confuse and avoid telling the truth but in 1984 he wrote against the destruction of language and its the diversity of expression.I don't see the contradiction. Orwell saw the excessive use of foreign vocabulary as one of the ways in which the English language is abused. Newspeak is a satire of politically motivated language in general.
Avoiding some words because they originated in Latin or French is stupid, and cuts out that ability.There's nothing wrong with foreign words and phrases, but I don't see any reason to prefer them to native vocabulary when an equivalent exists in English. Ex. Weltanschauung/worldview.

Really my problem is with the notion that Romance words are superior. All words are alike; there's no reason to ascribe prestige to a certain class of words.

[dei]

I'm pretty sure Portuguese is horrible.

[1338 h4x0r]

There's nothing wrong with foreign words and phrases, but I don't see any reason to prefer them to native vocabulary when an equivalent exists in English. Ex. Weltanschauung/worldview.

Umwelt is possibly the most useless pretentious imported word in English. I saw it when I was on the shitter, reading one of the snobby music magazines my sister reads—the only good band I ever learned about in any of them was Yellow Magic Orchestra—and, in a review, I saw someone write Umwelt in place of environment like a normal ****ing English speaker.

I was so angry I wanted to punch someone or something in the dick


Really my problem is with the notion that Romance words are superior. All words are alike; there's no reason to ascribe prestige to a certain class of words.

Sieg Heil

[Smokey D]

I don't see the contradiction. Orwell saw the excessive use of foreign vocabulary as one of the ways in which the English language is abused. Newspeak is a satire of politically motivated language in general.

Newspeak is about the destruction of words to fulfill a political agenda. Are you going to say the destruction of Latinate words to fulfill some stupid Anglo-Saxon first agenda doesn't fit?

There's nothing wrong with foreign words and phrases, but I don't see any reason to prefer them to native vocabulary when an equivalent exists in English. Ex. Weltanschauung/worldview.

That's a horrible example. Why on earth would you use the blatantly non-English Weltanschauung in place of the wholly English (and partly Anglo-Saxon) worldview? And the reason to prefer them is that there is a distinction in meaning, often not present in the originating other languages. Because English is extremely analytic, this is essential to clarity of expression. Our rich linguistic history accords us both 'view' (from French vue) and 'sight' (from Old English 'gesiht') , and while they are similar concepts with considerable crossover, only a fool would say they are completely synonymous. Likewise, the difference between mutton and sheep and beef and cattle is abundantly clear to an English speaker but to the French they are the same thing.


Really my problem is with the notion that Romance words are superior. All words are alike; there's no reason to ascribe prestige to a certain class of words.

To use either Anglo-Saxon or Latinate words because they are 'superior' is stupid. To use them because they offer clarity of expression is essential.

[1338 h4x0r]

That's a horrible example. Why on earth would you use the blatantly non-English Weltanschauung in place of the wholly English (and partly Anglo-Saxon) worldview? And the reason to prefer them is that there is a distinction in meaning, often not present in the originating other languages.

Gestalt (seemingly continuous pattern) is a worthy loan word. As is Viergruppe (the smallest non-trivial finite group), if only for historical reasons.

I wish we still used sicker to say 'sure'.

[Smokey D]

Gestalt is a good word, albeit quite a technical one, because 'seemingly continuous pattern' or 'underlying universality' or however else you want to define it is much more difficult to say.

[1338 h4x0r]

Well, yeah, that's why I like gestalt

[totah]

I always like the word, "indubitable".

[Iskandar]

Newspeak is about the destruction of words to fulfill a political agenda. Are you going to say the destruction of Latinate words to fulfill some stupid Anglo-Saxon first agenda doesn't fit?Not really, not unless we destroyed their Anglo-Saxon equivalents as well.
That's a horrible example. Why on earth would you use the blatantly non-English Weltanschauung in place of the wholly English (and partly Anglo-Saxon) worldview? Out of sheer pretentiousness. That's what makes it a good example, because people actually use Weltanschauung.
To use either Anglo-Saxon or Latinate words because they are 'superior' is stupid. To use them because they offer clarity of expression is essential.Well, yeah. I clearly stated that there's nothing wrong with Latinate words. The only problem is the temptation to use them excessively.

[1338 h4x0r]

I always like the word, "indubitable".

'irrespective' is cool

[Mr. Ron]

Is irregardless a word? I've always heard it wasn't.

[1338 h4x0r]

It might be but it's GAY

[guitrguy]

Is irregardless a word? I've always heard it wasn't.

its not being highlighted by mozilla.

[Smokey D]

It's idiomatic, but logically speaking it makes no sense.

[totah]

You're an idiomatic.

Longest word in the dictionary: Antidisestablishmentarianism. Try typing that one out as fast as you can. It's like a tongue twister for your fingers. Finger-twister? Knickers.

Most missing word from the dictionary: Gullible.

[spitfirejunky]

IUPAC is bound to have come up with a longer word for an organic chemical.

[Iskandar]

Sesquidipedalian.

[1338 h4x0r]

S-(2-diisopropylaminoethyl) methylphosphonothiolate

VX nerve gas

[Iskandar]

I have decided to henceforth post using only words which have a demonstratable etymological connection to Old English pre-dating the Norman conquest.

[italic zero]

IUPAC is bound to have come up with a longer word for an organic chemical.
http://www.othyr.com/titin.html

[Der Übermensch]

Is irregardless a word? I've always heard it wasn't.

Not sure, but it is used to mean the same as regardless... although technically it should be a double-negative and actually mean with regards or something...

[Iskandar]

I don't see why regardless wouldn't work in its place.

[guitrguy]

You're an idiomatic.

Longest word in the dictionary: Antidisestablishmentarianism. Try typing that one out as fast as you can. It's like a tongue twister for your fingers. Finger-twister? Knickers.

Most missing word from the dictionary: Gullible.

I see where this is going, and I approve.

[totah]

Cos regardless means "without regards", and irregardless means "not without regards". "Regardful" would work.

ie: Irregardless of current trends...

is the same as

Regardful of current trends...

I guess "regarding" is also suitable in some similar sentences.

[Iskandar]

I agree wholeheartedly!

[totah]

I'm reading this book of Sufi stories and lessons, and there's one that's pretty class-strugglist, imo. It goes something like this:

A greatly-respected Sufi teacher was asked by many people: You have among your followers beggars, farmers, artisans, craftworkers. Would it not be wise to incorporate scholars and intellectuals to further your renown in the land?

The Sufi replied: We will be infinitely closer to the day of calamity when famous men of intellect will be singing my praises, for surely they will be singing for their own benefit rather than for our continued work.
_____

Anti-academia is what I calls it.

[Dr Hooch]

what a wanker! has he even met any academics?

Some of the ones in the physics department still haven't gotten the hang of this whole "I am a human being with needs and wants" stuff.

[1338 h4x0r]

what a wanker! has he even met any academics?

Some of the ones in the physics department still haven't gotten the hang of this whole "I am a human being with needs and wants" stuff.

That sounds vaguely familiar.

I'm not saying it's from personal experience.

[Iscariot]

guys guys check this out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsO3v7BzV6g

i feel so inspired now

let's revolt before we end up in a casket!

[Iscariot]

omg this man is a heroic warrior

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oU6A0uGxZuM

[Mr. Ron]

......

[Iscariot]

Tags: Earthquakes Rocket Explosions Tornado Hurricane Lava Tunder Storm Eruption Corrupt Terminated Evil Curse Undead Immortal

:lol:

[Iscariot]

ok one last video i mean i would have stopped after the first but these just keep getting better:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9cbTonBUFM

[Smokey D]

Cos regardless means "without regards", and irregardless means "not without regards". "Regardful" would work.

ie: Irregardless of current trends...

is the same as

Regardful of current trends...

I guess "regarding" is also suitable in some similar sentences.

Irregardless means regardless though, which is why it's pretty stupid.

[Dr Hooch]

omg this man is a heroic warrior

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oU6A0uGxZuM

EarTH godamnnit

[totah]

Irregardless means regardless though, which is why it's pretty stupid.

Really? That's stupid as. That's like flammable and inflammabe. It pisses me off so much. It's incredible how such a moronically-developed language manages to be so beautiful.

[Hababi]

I can think of nothing to say:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bA2LgJviH9w

[Iscariot]

wtf

[McP3000]

gravel isn't a libertarian wtf

and what a faggot at that

[totah]

Another instant classic: http://www.xkcd.com/

[dei]

I'm not sure how I feel about this thread.

[totah]

Like frozen bricks in a hot desert noon.

[dei]

You should write poetry.

[1338 h4x0r]

Another instant classic: http://www.xkcd.com/

permalink plz

http://xkcd.com/407/

kthx

[dei]

What would you call someone who is both socially and fiscally left-leaning but doesn't support democracy? Besides "idiot" and its synonyms, of course.

[totah]

What would you call someone who is both socially and fiscally left-leaning but doesn't support democracy? Besides "idiot" and its synonyms, of course.

Two-dimensional?

[dei]

:confused:

[totah]

:smash: all your prejudices of a two-dimensional political landscape.

[dei]

Let's be serious here!

[totah]

I am serious.

Every statement is true in at least two different levels. Including this one.

[dei]

totah, I am an anarcho-fascist.

[Reaganista]

What would you call someone who is both socially and fiscally left-leaning but doesn't support democracy? Besides "idiot" and its synonyms, of course.
depends on why they dont support democracy

[Reaganista]

I can think of nothing to say:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bA2LgJviH9w

holy **** i need to register to vote for him

gravel isn't a libertarian wtf

lolwut

[dei]

depends on why they dont support democracy

They don't like democracy because Republicans are allowed to vote.

[Reaganista]

you could call them authoritarian socialist or marxist-leninist if they happen to be marxist or you could call them blanquist if youre into that

[ringworm]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/04/eveningnews/main3994634.shtml?source=RSSattr=U.S._3994634

[Dr Hooch]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/04/eveningnews/main3994634.shtml?source=RSSattr=U.S._3994634

so?

That's been going on since forever.

[dei]

what if i don't like communists?

[Dr Hooch]

what if i don't like communists?

it's ok, no-one does

[dei]

communism is like that friend that talks about the future and how he's going to make it big and be super rich but the guy can't even tie his own shoes.

[McP3000]

dei speaks truthisms

[Reaganista]

what if i don't like communists?

uh then stop being one idk

[dei]

come back when you know something.

[Reaganista]

false premise

[McP3000]

dei and tway trolling each other

ITS A NEVER ENDING CYCLE

[thedeadwalk!]

Is drinking 375ml of whiskey a week too much?

[Reaganista]

wtf is a ml

[thedeadwalk!]

Milliliter.

[Reaganista]

o ok at first i thought it was miles i was gona say drinking and driving is bad but if its only a mililiter that sounds not as bad but still drink and driving is dangerous even if its just to pull hte car out the drive way or what have you

[Route One]

haha you dumb twat

[Reaganista]

???
guys u have to cut me some slack i dont know dui laws like u guys

[Route One]

u kno im kiddin luv

[thedeadwalk!]

My question is still unanswered! Am I a drunk!?

EDIT: I mean alcoholic!

[Route One]

very

[Reaganista]

My question is still unanswered! Am I a drunk!?

try to dance or have a conversation with a stranger without fighting them if you can do either ur not drunk

[Route One]

Good litmus test tbh ^^

[thedeadwalk!]

But I'm a happy drunk.

[Reaganista]

that's a bummer man how do you ever get in fights then

[thedeadwalk!]

Whenever someone hits me three times.

[Reaganista]

hmm i guess that could work i prefer to talk a lot of **** all night and then throw the first punch but i usually miss and then it goes badly from there

[thedeadwalk!]

Yeah, I really like to establish confirmation that they want to throw down. Though, I've never been drunk in a fight; that would help with absorbing some blows, maybe even vomit on the guy.

[Reaganista]

ya u dont feel **** but ur technique is shot to hell i vaguely remember holding some guy in a half-assed shoulder lock screaming wat i thought was 'ill ****ing kill you' but hopefully came out as incoherent jibberish

[thedeadwalk!]

I just can't comprehend people being angry when drunk. That's not how I feel at all.

[Reaganista]

i can go either way

[thedeadwalk!]

I know I do this a lot, but I'll say I'm an exception, and not an alcoholic. I'm not denying anything!

[totah]

Don't worry about it. Alcoholism isn't so bad if you're willing to deal with it. It's no more a crutch than stonerism or biting your nails. And it's way funner than the latter.

Bukowski was an alcoholic, and now he's 70 and still drinks regularly. All the greats did it. Shakespeare was a noted barroom brawler. He killed Huey P in a bar fight once. And then he stole his idea and sold the rights to Marlowe. Then he stabbed Marlowe and stole his idea for The Merchant of Venice. Then everyone called him a neo-Nazi so he apologised and gave ten thousand dollars to a Jewish orphans charity.

Am I thinking of someone else here? I have a bottle of whiskey-flavoured alcoholic drink (that's on the label) in the kitchen.

[Iscariot]

I just can't comprehend people being angry when drunk. That's not how I feel at all.

you have to already be angry which is not a far stretch for some of us i mean come on we spend a ton of our time on mx how happy can we be

[Smokey D]

Don't worry about it. Alcoholism isn't so bad if you're willing to deal with it. It's no more a crutch than stonerism or biting your nails. And it's way funner than the latter.

Bukowski was an alcoholic, and now he's 70 and still drinks regularly. All the greats did it. Shakespeare was a noted barroom brawler. He killed Huey P in a bar fight once. And then he stole his idea and sold the rights to Marlowe. Then he stabbed Marlowe and stole his idea for The Merchant of Venice. Then everyone called him a neo-Nazi so he apologised and gave ten thousand dollars to a Jewish orphans charity.

Am I thinking of someone else here? I have a bottle of whiskey-flavoured alcoholic drink (that's on the label) in the kitchen.

Shakespeare didn't kill Marlowe if that's what you mean.

[Iskandar]

Is drinking 375ml of whiskey a week too much?It's not particularly healthy, I can tell you that.

[guitrguy]

Hey alex, you wanna write a speech?

[McP3000]

I just can't comprehend people being angry when drunk. That's not how I feel at all.
me neither...im such a chill drunk. im very similar to when im high, but with less coordination
you have to already be angry which is not a far stretch for some of us i mean come on we spend a ton of our time on mx how happy can we be
being bored during school doesn't mean im jaylink lonely

[Iskandar]

Hey alex, you wanna write a speech?Hey Brian. Hit me up over MSN, we'll chat, why not?

[guitrguy]

I'm at work, so no MSN. I was just kidding, but I am writing it on socialized medicine.

[Iskandar]

I'm at work, so no MSN. I was just kidding, but I am writing it on socialized medicine."It's good."

Instant A+ because as we know it, academia is a commie haven.

[guitrguy]

I need to stretch "its good" to 6 minutes. Its heavily conservative in my class too. :cool:

[PerpetualBurn]

Is drinking 375ml of whiskey a week too much?

It's about 15 units. The recommended limit for a man per week is usually no more than 21 units.

Obviously that relies on the idea you don't exceed about 4 units per day.

It's not really problem drinking unless you're doing a lot in a couple of nights a week.

[McP3000]

I need to stretch "its good" to 6 minutes. Its heavily conservative in my class too. :cool:
you're such a rebel

[guitrguy]

you're such a rebel

I would be a conformist if the class was heavily liberal.

[totah]

Ana rukh lil dubstep rave.

[McP3000]

I would be a conformist if the class was heavily liberal.
uh oh you're so conformist that you conform to the nonconformists

[guitrguy]

but there are no noncomformists for me to conform with.

[McP3000]

i know
its the new wave of the future

[totah]

Like Alf: The Movie.

[Iskandar]

Ana rukh lil dubstep rave.
what

[PerpetualBurn]

I went to the Steel City derby tonight. Fight broke out as three Wednesday fans were sat among the United section.

I say fight. They took a huge beating from a large gang of hooligans. The police response was disgracefully slow. One guy could've been killed he took that many blows.

[Dr Hooch]

It's because sports fans are all animals!

If they were at all civilised they'd merely read it in the next day's papers and settle their differences through letters to the editor.

[PerpetualBurn]

Well, the section next to me where it kicked off is really a rough part of the ground. No one deserves the kind of beating those guys took, but they really shouldn't have been so stupid as to get tickets in the United section and then open their mouths when Wednesday scored.

It was disgusting how many people came piling in to take a shot though. Genuinely terrible to watch.

[Smokey D]

Remember when I said the English had no culture?

S'right.

[Dr Hooch]

Remember when I said the English had no culture?

S'right.

The working classes are the problem. Maybe if the state was a little less generous with our tax money, they'd be too busy earning money to get into trouble!


Dr Hooch has a real job earning money to buy himself more mother's ruin for uni, and found himself paying something called "national insurance contributions". This means he is actually contributing to the state, so he has decided that this liberal nonsense has got to stop, and is behaving in a manner fitting to a young gentleman of his station in life.

[PerpetualBurn]

Remember when I said the English had no culture?

S'right.

Ok. We all saw LOTR. You've got some nice fields.

You must be very proud of your country.

[Smokey D]

I know. It's like we're a better version of your country or something.

It's funny 'cause Middle Earth was meant to be an idealised version of England but it's forever going to be associated with New Zealand.

[PerpetualBurn]

For the record, I never actually watched LOTR.

[Smokey D]

It was pretty much a 9 hour advertisement for Tourism New Zealand.

[PerpetualBurn]

What is there other than fields and sheep?

My understanding is that it's Wales with less rain.

[Smokey D]

Skiing, mudpools and beaches. Some forests.

[pooble]

And The Finest Shireweed

[Reaganista]

Well, the section next to me where it kicked off is really a rough part of the ground. No one deserves the kind of beating those guys took, but they really shouldn't have been so stupid as to get tickets in the United section and then open their mouths when Wednesday scored.

It was disgusting how many people came piling in to take a shot though. Genuinely terrible to watch.

you have teams named after days wtf sense does that make

[gregulus]

who



i said i'm entertaining offers not making them

natalie portman told me that she would be willing to pay you a dollar for some lovin'.

[Reaganista]

when the **** did i post that

and i would accept that offer if she made it

[thedeadwalk!]

It's about 15 units. The recommended limit for a man per week is usually no more than 21 units.

Obviously that relies on the idea you don't exceed about 4 units per day.

It's not really problem drinking unless you're doing a lot in a couple of nights a week.
Where does this come from?

[Dr Hooch]

Where does this come from?

British government health department

They're a load of sh!t and your doctor will admit this

The only reason our units are the size they are is because 2 units = driving limit for a small male and they don't want you pushing it

[PerpetualBurn]

you have teams named after days wtf sense does that make

There's a few apocryphal stories about precisely why, but essentially back when they were formed they played all their games on Wednesday. Something about being bakers who had a different schedule to other people or something stupid.

I don't care.

I hate them passionately.

British government health department

They're a load of sh!t and your doctor will admit this

The only reason our units are the size they are is because 2 units = driving limit for a small male and they don't want you pushing it

Not entirely fair, as I understand. It's inaccurate in that people all process alcohol differently due to physiological differences (weight, liver function etc.).

But it's still a reasonable gauge to say that a guy drinking 15 units a week isn't drinking excessively.

[totah]

what

I'm going to a dubstep rave, bil arabiye.

when the **** did i post that

and i would accept that offer if she made it

I saw her walking down a street in Ramat Gan once. I was gonne stop and rape her but then my girlfriend called me so I couldn't.

Why won't this damn computer stop giving me virus alerts!?! ARGHHH! I hate Windows!!! Linux doesn't get affected by any virii ever. If that's not a good reason to switch, I don't know what is. 'Cept a death-threat from Bill Gates.

There's a few apocryphal stories about precisely why, but essentially back when they were formed they played all their games on Wednesday. Something about being bakers who had a different schedule to other people or something stupid.

Baker's dozen means 13 because bakers are stupid and English people will take any opportunity to rob a man of his bun.

[mph4ever]

i think you'll find that bill doesn't really care anymore but i would take a death threat from ballmer seriously ;)

[Iskandar]

I'm going to a dubstep rave, bil arabiye.Palestinian dialect? I only know the standard language, so the word "rukh" was unfamilar to me.

[totah]

Rakh is "he walked" (which is the root), Rukhet is "I walked/You walked" and Rukh is "I'm walking".

[Iskandar]

Rakh is "he walked" (which is the root), Rukhet is "I walked/You walked" and Rukh is "I'm walking".Weird. I'm used to ذهب. Or مشى, but I rarely use that.

[McP3000]

you speak arabic?

totally badass

[Reaganista]

not badass every arabic speaking white i know totally sucks at all things dropper included

[McP3000]

oh snap you got dun told the dropper

[Iskandar]

you speak arabic?

totally badassIt is?:)

[Route One]

dUrka DuRka LOL

[Reaganista]

haha he changed his post

[J Rad]

dropper doesn't speak arabic he uses translators and rosetta stone software

[Iskandar]

dropper doesn't speak arabic he uses translators and rosetta stone software
أخرج من هذه المحادثذ

Translators dont work by the way.

[J Rad]

أخرج من هذه المحدثة

translators dont work by the way

that would explain why moka and semi have corrected your arabic on several occasions

[Smokey D]

Maybe it's coz he's a student of Arabic not a native speaker.

[Iskandar]

Thank you.

[J Rad]

a rosetta stone trial version student

[Iskandar]

a rosetta stone trial version studentLiving Language.

Not like I copy and paste from it. What, am I going to post grammatical exercises?

[J Rad]

i'm just busting your balls i learned half of my spanish from programs like rosetta stone

[J Rad]

and wtf neg rep i don't think i've ever negged you

jerk

[Iskandar]

i'm just busting your balls i learned half of my spanish from programs like rosetta stoneI thought you were just being an arse tbh.

Besides it's your alt so I didn't think you'd mind too much.

[J Rad]

yeah i don't actually mind the neg i only have like 70k rep on here as compared to my 400k on my main

[PIMP METAL]

im listening to a bands cover of metallicas 2007 live unrealesed song that rob trujilio said would not make it on their "funky" "heavy" "rockin" "amazing" new album.

[Chu]

Why won't this damn computer stop giving me virus alerts!?! ARGHHH! I hate Windows!!! Linux doesn't get affected by any virii ever. If that's not a good reason to switch, I don't know what is. 'Cept a death-threat from Bill Gates.
Shouldn't spread false information....

Although, that said, it is actually a good idea to switch imo..

[J Rad]

switching to linux seems ridiculously inconvenient

i don't even want to install an os to begin with so the fact that my computer came with windows already installed was a blessing

[Chu]

They've made things very easy :)

[J Rad]

not easy enough for me

[Chu]

You've never tried, have you? :p

[J Rad]

well of course not because just the idea of switching os's is exhausting

too much effort and not enough reward tbh

i've gotten maybe one virus in the 8 or so years that i've been using windows i'm not really worried

[dei]

I want to learn a second language.

[J Rad]

i thought you were mexican

wouldn't that mean you can speak english and spanish

[Chu]

You could start here, http://www.greenteapress.com/thinkcpp/ ... Of course, I don't think that's what you meant... lol

[dei]

i thought you were mexican

wouldn't that mean you can speak english and spanish

Only my grandmother speaks Spanish regularly. I can speak a little bit but I can't formulate sentences correctly and my pronunciation is horrible. I can only read and understand people who are speaking it.

[Iskandar]

Only my grandmother speaks Spanish regularly. I can speak a little bit but I can't formulate sentences correctly and my pronunciation is horrible. I can only read and understand people who are speaking it.Then you're well on your way. You're in luck, Spanish is an easy language.

[Smokey D]

Easy relative to like Persian or Russian or something, but no language is easy to learn. To become fluent, they all require dedication or immersion or both.

[Futue te Ipsum]

and eventually you reach a point where you question whether it's worth it, and more often than not come to the conclusion that no, it isn't.

[Smokey D]

It seems that way.

Damn French.

[Futue te Ipsum]

in my 3 years of french lessons I learned how to say pants an go **** a chicken

I was pleased with my progress, actually

[PerpetualBurn]

I can't think of many other things I'd like to say to a Frenchman.

[dei]

Well, there are a lot of Mexocunts in Los Angeles and I'd like to visit my family in Mexico and Spain.

[Iskandar]

Easy relative to like Persian or Russian or something, but no language is easy to learn. To become fluent, they all require dedication or immersion or both.
Scots.

No, seriously.
It seems that way.

Damn French.I don't know why a New Zealander from England would want to learn French anyway, but it's better than remaining monolingual, I guess.
Well, there are a lot of Mexosquirrels in Los Angeles and I'd like to visit my family in Mexico and Spain.Spain would be cool.

Except for the Spanish.

[dei]

If it weren't for Portugal, Spain would be the worst place in the world.

[Smokey D]

Scots.

No, seriously.

That's one of those stupid 'is it a dialect or is it a language? questions. I don't really consider it a separate language.

I don't know why a New Zealander from England would want to learn French anyway, but it's better than remaining monolingual, I guess.

I have the French connection.

[Iskandar]

That's one of those stupid 'is it a dialect or is it a language? questions. I don't really consider it a separate language.I do, albeit a more or less dead one.
I have the French connection.Mysterious.

[Smokey D]

I do, albeit a more or less dead one.

From what I can tell, Scots is as distinct a language from English as Cockney is from General American.

[Iscariot]

smokey i think i'm getting tired of trolling in here i think people are starting to think i really believe half of what i post and that is disheartening

but if i stop trolling i can't really stir up controversy

what should i do

[Smokey D]

Get more controversial convictions?

[Iscariot]

oh but that's such a chore

isn't there some way i could be "improved" like the six million dollar man but politically

[Smokey D]

Join the Republicans.

[Iscariot]

haha

well that's one way to become more controversial

[Iskandar]

Join the American Nazi Party.

From what I can tell, Scots is as distinct a language from English as Cockney is from General American.Formerly, it was more distinct, having developed independently from Old English. But after the Act of Union a process of attrition began where Scots and English effectly merged into Scottish English.

[Smokey D]

The difference between the English spoken in Cumbria and the Scots spoken in Scotland was purely political. Obviously the difference between the English spoken in London was very different to Scots but it was also very different from any of a hundred other English dialects.

How do you mean 'having developed independently from Old English?' Scots comes from the same Anglo-Saxon/Danish roots as English.

[Iskandar]

The difference between the English spoken in Cumbria and the Scots spoken in Scotland was purely political. Obviously the difference between the English spoken in London was very different to Scots but it was also very different from any of a hundred other English dialects.Well of course the closer you got to Scotland, the more similar the language would be. Classic dialect continuum. There's one among the German dialects too, and Arabic.

How do you mean 'having developed independently from Old English?' Scots comes from the same Anglo-Saxon/Danish roots as English.Yeah, and Scots and Middle English developed along different lines. Like German and Dutch.

[Smokey D]

Well of course the closer you got to Scotland, the more similar the language would be. Classic dialect continuum. There's one among the German dialects too, and Arabic.


My point is that either Cumbrian is a language or Scots is a dialect.

Yeah, and Scots and Middle English developed along different lines. Like German and Dutch.

More like Dutch and Flemish.

London English developed along different lines to Cumbrian or whatever, approaching in some places to mutual incomprehensibility. Middle English is a bit misleading since it was never universal.

[Iskandar]

My point is that either Cumbrian is a language or Scots is a dialect.Cumbrian would have been considered a dialect of English due to its lack of a literary tradition (unlike Scots) and political status as part of English.

When things aren't clear-cut from a linguistic point of view, you have to look at it from a sociological point of view.

[Smokey D]

Literary tradition is a stupid yardstick. There are hundreds if not thousands of languages without literature.

A language is a dialect with a legitimate monopoly on the use of force.

[Mr. Ron]

Literary tradition is a stupid yardstick. There are hundreds if not thousands of languages without literature.

A language is a dialect with a legitimate monopoly on the use of force.

Damn, didn't know that.

[Smokey D]

There are still places without writing, let alone literature.

[Iskandar]

Literary tradition is a stupid yardstick. There are hundreds if not thousands of languages without literature.But two distinct orthographic forms is a potent symbol of the division between two languages. Look at Hindi vs. Urdu.
A language is a dialect with a legitimate monopoly on the use of force.Very clever.

But you see how political considerations factor into the issue of what constitutes a "language."

[Mr. Ron]

There are still places without writing, let alone literature.

Well, I knew that. But possibly thousands? Thats what I didn't know, that there might be that many.

[Iskandar]

Well, I knew that. But possibly thousands? Thats what I didn't know, that there might be that many.There are thousands of languages in the world, and many of them are endangered or moribund.

[Mr. Ron]

There are thousands of languages in the world, and many of them are endangered or moribund.

I feel ignorant for not knowing that. :(

[Smokey D]

But two distinct orthographic forms is a potent symbol of the division between two languages. Look at Hindi vs. Urdu.

Urdu and Hindi are far more distinct than Scots and English, but even then some people classify them as part of a single Hindustani language.



But you see how political considerations factor into the issue of what constitutes a "language."

Well yeah that's what I've been saying the whole time.

Like when I said "The difference between the English spoken in Cumbria and the Scots spoken in Scotland was purely political."

But it's not entirely fair to say that all languages are merely dialects until they acquire an army. It doesn't make sense to dispute the difference between Chinese and English.

[guitrguy]

I know how speak a >.02% of all languages

[Mr. Ron]

I know enough Spanish to get by in a Spanish speaking country, and just some German phrases and sentences.

[guitrguy]

I'm the reverse of you.

[Mr. Ron]

Spanish is so incredibly easy to learn, you should pick it up someday, its useful.

[Iskandar]

Urdu and Hindi are far more distinct than Scots and English, but even then some people classify them as part of a single Hindustani language.Like other diverging languages (Serbo-Croat is another good example) the speakers tend to actively create differences between the two to emphasize their cultural distinctiveness. Urdu does this with Arabic vocabulary and Hindi does this with neologisms drawn from Sanskrit.

I feel ignorant for not knowing that.That's okay. The average person most likely doesn't know that either.

Right now, a lot of the most endangered languages are those of aboriginals in the Americas and Australia. Cultures that were once vibrant and prominent are almost extinct.

[Iscariot]

Spanish is so incredibly easy to learn, you should pick it up someday, its useful.

tbh i think it's a little odd that a foreign language is useful in an english speaking country

call me what you will but the idea that they come here and expect us to learn their native language seems off

but yeah learning the little bit of spanish you need to get by in the wrong neighborhoods is not hard

[Mr. Ron]

tbh i think it's a little odd that a foreign language is useful in an english speaking country

call me what you will but the idea that they come here and expect us to learn their native language seems off

but yeah learning the little bit of spanish you need to get by in the wrong neighborhoods is not hard

Its not like i was made to, I chose to take some classes in high school and college.




That's okay. The average person most likely doesn't know that either.

Right now, a lot of the most endangered languages are those of aboriginals in the Americas and Australia. Cultures that were once vibrant and prominent are almost extinct. I remember reading about the Haida of British Columbia as a kid. Now there are only 45 speakers of Haida left.

I think thats pretty interesting. Do the Haida have some sort of alphabet or written language?

[Iskandar]

tbh i think it's a little odd that a foreign language is useful in an english speaking countryEnglish isn't the only language spoken in America. If you went to some areas of New York City, you could have a conversation in fluent Yiddish, Chinese, Thai...
I think thats pretty interesting. Do the Haida have some sort of alphabet or written language?Yeah, most native languages do now. Linguists are working hard to study and record dying languages, because if the last speakers die and the language isn't written, the entire culture is gone forever.

There are some success stories. Inuit, Navajo and Quechua are flourishing, for example.

[Smokey D]

Like other diverging languages (Serbo-Croat is another good example) the speakers tend to actively create differences between the two to emphasize their cultural distinctiveness. Urdu does this with Arabic vocabulary and Hindi does this with neologisms drawn from Sanskrit.


Yeah I know.

But that didn't happen and isn't happening with Scots and English.

[Iscariot]

English isn't the only language spoken in America. If you went to some areas of New York City, you could have a conversation in fluent Yiddish, Chinese, Thai...

i don't see that as a good thing

it's hard to believe in american unity when everyone speaks 15 different languages

[Smokey D]

Pfft, American unity. What a stupid reason not to speak other languages.

Especially since minority communities are usually among the most patriotic.

[Iscariot]

minority communities are cess pools for crime

[Iskandar]

i don't see that as a good thing

it's hard to believe in american unity when everyone speaks 15 different languagesNot if they all speak English as well.

I don't get people who hate multiculturalism. It rocks.

Yeah I know.

But that didn't happen and isn't happening with Scots and English.
No, because Scots is pretty much dead now.

[Iscariot]

Not if they all speak English as well.

many don't

mainly, the problem ones don't

[guitrguy]

Spanish is so incredibly easy to learn, you should pick it up someday, its useful.

I might, I'm more interested in mastering German, tbh.

[Mr. Ron]

I might, I'm more interested in mastering German, tbh.

I've always wanted to get into German, I think its a beautiful language (many will disagree with me on that). I'll probably teach myself over the summer or get Rosetta stone or something.

[Smokey D]

minority communities are cess pools for crime

True more crime tends to happen in minority groups, but most people of minorities are law abiding.

No, because Scots is pretty much dead now.

At the time Scots was flourishing, I have a hard time saying it's any more or less distinct than a hundred other English dialects.

[Iskandar]

many don't

mainly, the problem ones don'tYes, that is a problem.
At the time Scots was flourishing, I have a hard time saying it's any more or less distinct than a hundred other English dialects.A hundred is way exaggerated. There were certainly several dialects of Middle English, but London was recognized as the standard.

[guitrguy]

I've always wanted to get into German, I think its a beautiful language (many will disagree with me on that). I'll probably teach myself over the summer or get Rosetta stone or something.

I love it. I took French for a year and hated it.

[Mr. Ron]

I love it. I took French for a year and hated it.

French is sort of close to German in some cases, is it not?

[Iskandar]

German is cool. It's like an older form of English, when the grammar was more complicated and the spelling made sense.

[Mr. Ron]

German is cool. It's like an older form of English, when the grammar was more complicated and the spelling made sense.

Haha true. When I first read Beowulf I was like; THIS IS HOW IT SHOULD BE SPOKEN!

[guitrguy]

French is sort of close to German in some cases, is it not?

Just a few borrowed words, but French is a Romance language.

[Iskandar]

Haha true. When I first read Beowulf I was like; THIS IS HOW IT SHOULD BE SPOKEN!Agreed.
Just a few borrowed words, but French is a Romance language.Yeah, and German and English aren't.

There are more than a few cognate words, I'd say. Via Latin.

[Mr. Ron]

Nothing says romance like shouting angry sounding words. <3

[Smokey D]

Yes, that is a problem.
A hundred is way exaggerated. There were certainly several dialects of Middle English, but London was recognized as the standard.

Pretty much every village has its own dialect. Certainly every county would have until the 19th century.

[Iskandar]

Pretty much every village has its own dialect. Certainly every county would have until the 19th century.Regiolect is more like it, then.

[Smokey D]

Isn't German in some ways grammatically closer to Latin than French is?

[Mr. Ron]

Up hear where I live we drop out T's like crazy.

"What do you want?"

is

"Wha'd yew wohn?"

[Iskandar]

Isn't German in some ways grammatically closer to Latin than French is?It's closer to the same type of grammar; namely, synthetic grammar, which relies heavily on inflection.

But that doesn't mean German has the same verbs as Latin or something.

[guitrguy]

Isn't German in some ways grammatically closer to Latin than French is?

Tbh, I don't know because I am pretty unfamiliar with Latin.

[Mr. Ron]

I don't know how I feel about Latin. I think I like Greek better.

[Iskandar]

For centuries you weren't considered educated if you didn't know Latin.

That's always irritated me.
I don't know how I feel about Latin. I think I like Greek better.Me too. I find the Greek civilization a lot more interesting than Rome.

[Mr. Ron]

I guess I'm drawn to languages that have interesting grammatical writing styles.

[guitrguy]

For centuries you weren't considered educated if you didn't know Latin.

That's always irritated me.
Me too. I find the Greek civilization a lot more interesting than Rome.

The Greeks were a more intellectual society in general.