[Ed Hansberry]

Originally Posted by BugDude10

Oh, and NASCAR, add that to the list. (Jeez, what a redneck, inbred, hillbilly, moron, sister-marrying, farm-animal-luvin', colossal crap in the genetic cesspool that is.)

:rotfl: NASCAR: The WWF of the racing world.

[Ed Hansberry]

Originally Posted by BugDude10

Oh, and NASCAR, add that to the list. (Jeez, what a redneck, inbred, hillbilly, moron, sister-marrying, farm-animal-luvin', colossal crap in the genetic cesspool that is.)

:rotfl: NASCAR: The WWF of the racing world.

[Brad Adrian]

Originally Posted by Jason Dunn

...I happen to thoroughly enjoy the UFC, it's the first sport in years that has truly interested me. It's a pure sport...

Oh, right! :huh:
Nothing celebrates the human condition more than two guys in a ring, trying to beat the snot out of each other.

[natestera]

jeez, even NASCAR and the UFC is trying to destroy the English language. I say we may as well go ahead and switch to Espanol. Of course the younger generation will just ruin that language as well. We could go back to grunting, but too few adjectives. How about we communicate purely in binary? That way any bits in the wrong combination to the response we expect will simply go right on the floor...

[veethree]

This is a really interesting topic to follow. However, though many have pointed to the fact that language evolves continually, something that seems to have been touched on only tangentially is that this evolution is prompted by changes in society as a whole. Two issues strike me here.

The use of shorthand in one form or another is clearly useful not only to the person sending the message but also to the one reading it. In today's world, with everything accelerated by technology, time seems to be at such a premium that people generally do not want to spend time poring over a message when they think they can grasp the essentials of it in half the time. This is not just endemic among the "modern generation" - just try producing a business report these days without an executive summary! Partly, I suppose, this is in an effort to deal with information overload but I can't help feeling something is lost in the process.

It also seems that, as messages are communicated to a wider and wider audience, the search for the lowest common denominator has led to an apparent "dumbing down" of society. In the search for ever increasing profits, for example, companies are aiming to keep their message as simple and oft stated as possible. This does not only apply to the commercial world though: it is just as obvious in the entertainment world. Don't you think that there is far more reliance on base (read: toilet) humour these days than there was a few decades ago? Just getting the simple, obvious message across seems to be the mantra of the day.

Personally, I think this is a pity: shades of meaning and subtleties in conversation (written or otherwise) are being lost. Complexity is being abandoned for the sake of volume. Rich variety in vocabulary is shunned in favour of speed of transmission of a message. I don't think it will affect adversely the ability of people to communicate effectively for a required purpose, but the nature of that required purpose seems to be a little .... lacking.

[BoxWave]

Mr. Brad Adrian and Co.,

Since I'm at work, I haven't had a chance to read through all the posts, but I can tell you this -- the comment about how the ability to communicate has tipped the scales in your favor time and time again is right on. I have noticed this trend in my life as well.

. I don't mind a little UFC now and then either...

Wing Yew

[Ummagumma]

Originally Posted by posiedon7

Looking back on all the past generations who have wanted to put their stamp on society and comparing it to the current generation, I would have to say this has been those most damaging in this sense. While at a Home Depot recently a customers asks a Home Depot employee for assistance in picking up something out of the cart so that the cashier can ring it up, the Home Depots response, "why are you buying something you cant pick up, you should have brought a man, do you have a man, I am not hurting my back sorry" and walks off. I see that played out more and more each day. Or when you pull up to a register at the grocery store and the cashier is chewing gum and talking on a cell phone with a wired headset hidden beneath her clothes and when you ask her why she charged you twice for the Cheese Doodles she gives you a look like, Hey I am busy here why are you interrupting me. <snip>

Well, if enough people complained to the manager and she got fired then the next one would be a bit more proactive in their work ? But then, how much is she being paid ? I think it's more of a Supply vs Demand thing, not "values" thing.

[Iain51]

Originally Posted by NatesterA

How about we communicate purely in binary?

There are 10 types of people in the world...
:mrgreen: