From: simmons@texhrc.uucp (Bob Simmons)
Subject: Re: Black Gavan Chapter four -what if he dropped out of high school
Organization: Texaco EPTD
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 16:15:17 GMT

In article <tgee.712183058@cunews> tgee@alfred.carleton.ca (Travis Gee) 
requests a translation of the article about which he complained because of
its unusually poor grammar. I won't take up this gauntlet because I have
never yet convinced an anal-retentive personality of anything when it comes
to form. As a substitute, I offer a translation of *his* article:

>With reference to the article named in the subject line, to which this
>is a follow-up, I wish to make a couple of brief points. I am not
>citing the article, and the reason for that brings me to point 1:
>it is too badly written to bother reading it. I made it about halfway,
>and gave up. If writers wish to make a point, it should be expressed
>clearly, or people will waste lots of bandwidth trying to pull out the
>meaning by asking for clarification.

    Translation: I was not able to read the article because it didn't fit
    my idea of "correct" writing style. Save bandwidth so I can use it to
    teach you how to write correctly.

>     Point 2: this is a new paragraph. It brings up a new idea: the
>idea of a paragraph. That little indentation tells the reader that one
>has moved to a new topic. It helps one to sound less like one is
>rambling incoherently. Please learn to use it. It will help to
>organize you thoughts so other people don't die of lexical indigestion.

    Translation: [Condescending fourth grade grammar lesson on paragraphs]

>     Point 3: Incoherence is reduced by proper grammar. Annoyance on
>the reader's part is further reduced by correct spelling. If you mail
>system doesn't allow easy editing, then for God's sake, create the
>file with an editor and take the extra step of uploading it to your
>news reader. People will take you more seriously.

    Translation: Since I do not recognize English if it contains mis-
    spellings or incorrect grammar, I cannot take seriously anything
    you write.

>     Point 4: I wasn't able to make heads or tails of most of what was
>being said in the half that I read, but what I did understand was that
>little of it had much of anything to do with psychology. Find the
>proper group, and post there. Or, if it has something to do with
>psychology, put a little paragraph at the beginning, so people who are
>interested in other areas can hit 'n' before wasting too much time
>trying to figure out what's going on.

    Translation: Your posting so violated my sense of order that it
    threw me into a real snit. 

>      There's a guy named Mutlu on some other groups who
>constantly posts loads of propagandistic crap. He is a figure of fun,
>and has inspired many people to take the time to learn how to make a
>kill file. If you value your message, don't abuse it (and fellow
>netters) by packing your golden nuggets in fish-wrap. I'm sure your
>message is intruiging: the reference to high school does suggest some
>psychology-related ideas. If you can get them across in 150 words or
>less, I will read your replies. Otherwise, I (and not a few others)
>will enshrine your name beside Mutlu's in the kill file.

    Translation: Although I have spent close to 400 words telling you
    why your article is unacceptable to me (it has bad grammar), please
    write some more so I can expound further. But keep it to 150 words
    or less.
>
>Regards, 
>
>((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((
>Travis Gee ()  tgee@ccs.carleton.ca     ()
>           ()  tgee@acadvm1.uottawa.ca  ()        ()()()()
>           ()                           ()              ()
>           ()                           ()()()()()()()()() 
>MY opinions! MINE, MINE, MINE!! Nobody else's!!!

-- 
_______________________________________________________________
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Newsgroups: sci.psychology