Off-topic randomness - a place to ramble?

[HollyJoy]

They are just way too cute, Be!

 

[redbaybound]

Be, when you say monsters you must be thinking of the type on Sesame Street. They are so adorable!

 

[Tishke]

You dont have me fooled Be!!

Those are no beasts, just princesses in training!

Oh, edited to add that your youngest may also be a Zeta girl in training with her Orange shoes!!

You saw the shoes, too?! LOL I mean, these girls have style!!

 

[PurpleDuck]

Oh, edited to add that your youngest may also be a Zeta girl in training with her Orange shoes!!

Uh, Bella? Do you recall the shoe modeling show you gave Tinkabell and I in the Esplanade? Sorry to say, but this is where Tinkabell and I would have to say that those are a 'gold yellow' not orange and remind you to picture Tinkabell's shirt as a reference!

 

[Tinkerbelle739]

Uh, Bella? Do you recall the shoe modeling show you gave Tinkabell and I in the Esplanade? Sorry to say, but this is where Tinkabell and I would have to say that those are a 'gold yellow' not orange and remind you to picture Tinkabell's shirt as a reference!

Your yellow is zeta girl orange my sweet duck!

 

[surfcruiser]

I almost began a new thread with this my latest pondering, but with the onslaught of new threadiness after the maze fiasco, I remembered this one, and have thus added myself to the list of random randomizers.

I began thinking about our (read: anyone on VMK) natural ability to communicate most concepts, ideas, and phrasings even with the limited vocabulary we are so blessed with whilst wandering about our virtual lands.

It amazes me how we humans have such persistence in our inherent need to communicate that we have developed a new speak, a new dialect, based on a technology, and resulting from the good intent of our friend, the Big White Hand of Safety.

We say things like 'on hunt red credits' and talk about how we 'heart' this or 'hat' that. I'm sure you can add many more phrases that are not in the official VMK dictionary, but have wormed their way into our daily speech patterns so much so, that they begin to bleed into our real life daily talk also, outside of the cartoon world where we live from open to close. Funny.

I am a scuba diver among other things, and while under water, the lack of air in the space we must communicate in necessitates an alternate form of communication with a sign language that has become so common to people of like hobby that I can flash an 'OK' sign to a dive friend sitting in the same above water room and he or she will know exactly what I am saying: 'I am in a satisfactory state of existence, my systems are all functioning properly, and my ears don't hurt.'

In a nutshell (where did we get that phrase from?), we people types must talk and convey our moods, our ideas, our plans, and our state of general existence to each other. We must speak our intention to help someone in need or our displeasure with a 'taken' drone. We must. We are simply wired that way. And this has been seen since the dawn of time (pause while reflecting on Spaceship Earth ride in Epcot).

And the limitations of the VMK-nese dictionary, both the abridged and the unabridged (our own phraseology) versions have inadvertently become, rather than limitations, another language to learn.

And the Hand, in its well-intentioned efforts, has not safe-guarded its children players as well as they would like to believe they have. With our persistence in our need and drive to inflect and articulate in any environment, we give the Hand a new problem with this possibly valid solution: Rid VMK of the dictionary that shows inclusion of words allowed and instead create a list of words that we are not allowed to speak that may be considered vulgar - much like the G movies we have all come to know and love.

But then, what words are considered vulgar? Most of us were brought up to know them, and I certainly won't attempt a list of them here or anywhere else as 1) this is a family oriented message board and 2) I personally think said vulgarities indicate a total lack of intelligence and an unlearned or lack of mastery of the English language.

Ok, I am done thinking about this now. Have a nice day.

-SurfPonderer

 

[tigressjewel]

In a nutshell (where did we get that phrase from?), we people types must talk and convey our moods, our ideas, our plans, and our state of general existence to each other. We must speak our intention to help someone in need or our displeasure with a 'taken' drone. We must. We are simply wired that way. And this has been seen since the dawn of time (pause while reflecting on Spaceship Earth ride in Epcot).

As for the rest of your ponderings.. thank you! It makes great reading material while "nedding" I heart it!

 

[surfcruiser]

As for the rest of your ponderings.. thank you! It makes great reading material while "nedding" I heart it!

Thank you. Sometimes if I don't dump my brain out like that, the smoke in the room gets nasty and the cerebral matter on my shoulders makes for a horrendous laundry bill.

 

[redbaybound]

My grandma always said that vulgarity was the sign of a lazy mind. I guess you two agree

 

[JeanJoe]

Consider myself at the surface, mask on my forehead, waving both arms above my head and slapping the water in a big hello, then.


Oh, that's not the right signal?

I am a scuba diver among other things, and while under water, the lack of air in the space we must communicate in necessitates an alternate form of communication with a sign language that has become so common to people of like hobby that I can flash an 'OK' sign to a dive friend sitting in the same above water room and he or she will know exactly what I am saying: 'I am in a satisfactory state of existence, my systems are all functioning properly, and my ears don't hurt.'

 

[wdeversole]

VMK-nese

Ah yes, learning another language.

Brings back memories of high school. My French teacher was Mrs. Huang - the wife of a Taiwanese importer/exporter. She spoke seven different languages, but her English had a STRONG Chinese accent, so I can only imagine what her French was like.

I have never been to France, but I am convinced that when I finally get there someday, the French people will laugh at the poor American with the Chinese accent !!

 

[hagen]

But then, what words are considered vulgar? Most of us were brought up to know them, and I certainly won't attempt a list of them here or anywhere else as 1) this is a family oriented message board and 2) I personally think said vulgarities indicate a total lack of intelligence and an unlearned or lack of mastery of the English language.

Fine... leave it to the English degree to have to take on this subject.

Most of us were certainly brought up to recognize certain words and actions as being vulgar, certainly. However, the culture does not permit these to remain the "standards of debasement" for long, since so many of these inappropriate sayings and deeds have been absorbed into the vernacular through the pervasive media and the unrelenting population explosion. And time continues to remodel our vernacular to accommodate this ever-rolling tide. Consider that just eighty years ago, a female who's ankle was showing was thought of as scandalous, and sixty years ago that was the opinion of a female knee showing beneath a skirt. Now VMK has short skirts and exposed midriffs on the avatars. I won't use any grammatical examples so as not to offend any of you folks out there who still believe that a four-letter word is the verbal equivalent of clubbing baby seals while wearing a commie fur hat, but I do enjoin you to remember that what is crude language to us now will be seen as quaint to our grandchildren (for example, "egad" means nothing to us now, but search its etymology sometime... and consider that VMK allows us that blasphemy but will not let us say the word "God.").

And regarding the notion that vulgarities are an indication of a lesser grasp of the language, I must protest. Is that something people saw in Reader's Digest years ago and thought it seemed like a safe motto? "Dirty words" have always had a place in the common lexicon, and if you really believe they are a sign of a poor mastery of my beloved English language, please explain the anomalies of Shakespeare, Twain, Faulkner, Forster, Bradbury, Heller, Salinger, Steinbeck, Ginsburg, Morrison, Aristophanes... and plenty more can be found who have committed a vulgarity or two in their works. Besides that, the very word "vulgar" used to mean "characteristic of or belonging to the masses," back when the upper class was busy trying to keep the common folks down and out. It has since morphed into our colloquial speech as a term for "coarse language." Well, that just proves my point about how time changes our speech, doesn't it?

I'm not saying anyone needs to teach "four-letter words" to kids as they learn their ABCs, but I am saying that just because someone chooses to use such language does not mean they can't rub two words together. And I am also saying what we think is offensive today will be on Law and Order next week.

hagen

 

[JeanJoe]

The opposite is also true -- I have it on good authority that the term 'hagen' will soon be considered quite vulgar.

And I am also saying what we think is offensive today will be on Law and Order next week.

hagen

 

[hagen]

The opposite is also true -- I have it on good authority that the term 'hagen' will soon be considered quite vulgar.

I will be honored to be part of the common tongue, my Fearless (Community) Leader...

hagen

 

[surfcruiser]

Fine... leave it to the English degree to have to take on this subject.

Ah. I am but a lowly electronics engineer academically, and a blue-collar, curse slinging, wrench tweaker and glorified meter reader by trade.

Most of us were certainly brought up to recognize certain words and actions as being vulgar, certainly. However, the culture does not permit these to remain the "standards of debasement" for long, since so many of these inappropriate sayings and deeds have been absorbed into the vernacular through the pervasive media and the unrelenting population explosion. And time continues to remodel our vernacular to accommodate this ever-rolling tide. Consider that just eighty years ago, a female who's ankle was showing was thought of as scandalous, and sixty years ago that was the opinion of a female knee showing beneath a skirt. Now VMK has short skirts and exposed midriffs on the avatars. I won't use any grammatical examples so as not to offend any of you folks out there who still believe that a four-letter word is the verbal equivalent of clubbing baby seals while wearing a commie fur hat, but I do enjoin you to remember that what is crude language to us now will be seen as quaint to our grandchildren (for example, "egad" means nothing to us now, but search its etymology sometime... and consider that VMK allows us that blasphemy but will not let us say the word "God.").

And regarding the notion that vulgarities are an indication of a lesser grasp of the language, I must protest. Is that something people saw in Reader's Digest years ago and thought it seemed like a safe motto? "Dirty words" have always had a place in the common lexicon, and if you really believe they are a sign of a poor mastery of my beloved English language, please explain the anomalies of Shakespeare, Twain, Faulkner, Forster, Bradbury, Heller, Salinger, Steinbeck, Ginsburg, Morrison, Aristophanes... and plenty more can be found who have committed a vulgarity or two in their works. Besides that, the very word "vulgar" used to mean "characteristic of or belonging to the masses," back when the upper class was busy trying to keep the common folks down and out. It has since morphed into our colloquial speech as a term for "coarse language." Well, that just proves my point about how time changes our speech, doesn't it?

I'm not saying anyone needs to teach "four-letter words" to kids as they learn their ABCs, but I am saying that just because someone chooses to use such language does not mean they can't rub two words together. And I am also saying what we think is offensive today will be on Law and Order next week.

hagen

Well said sir. I am just pondering, and my opinion was by no means an attack on those words that somehow move movie ratings closer to the end of the alpha-numeric order by those who decide those things (whatever those things are). I merely attempt to teach my children, both of which were adopted at the ages of 4 and 10 approximately ten years ago (my effort to help slow the population explosion), that the words my father taught me were wrong to say and improper are still wrong and improper, and that there are methods of expression in our limited language that will allow them to express themselves in a much more intelligent manner -- my efforts in helping to slow the ever changing "standards of debasement."

I stand in firm agreement with you, and amazement, as the words that were once considered as "common," or vulgar (for what the word means today) are slowly becoming more and more accepted by culture. Conversely, many words that once described a condition or a person are now considered to be derogatory in the name of political correctness, and carry the same shock value as an f-bomb once did. Seven Dwarves? Shudder. Song of the South? Oh my. And the movie Aladdin praised a certain god in it's script way before the 9-11 attack turned much of America (at least for a few days) into a flag flying, racial profiling, shrieking bald eagle of passion. I don't know if Disney would do/say that in a film today, but in its day, Aladdin The Disney Movie was all that and a bag of orange and black candy corn (Happy Night Before All Saints Day uh... season). Ever wonder how we may be speaking in 20 years? I would think that you do, as a student of the English language, and obviously as a scholar of the history of our language.

Well thanks for the great read Hagen... I will continue to sit back and observe the dynamic world we live in, and if I can stir up the pot of pondering as I ride this spinning ball, I shall! It's just too much darn (can I say that here?) fun.

One day, George Carlin will set us all straight again, but until then, EGADS!

- SurfCommoner

Thar just ain't really no sucha thang as slang.

 

[marypops!]

i just came back from la somme a place in france involved with WW1

i had 20 euros with me when we had to but something i left it in the coach

i got some new wellies for it didn't use them

we spent half the day getting there and getting back

but all in all was very fun and learnt about holes and junk

 

[lab_girl]

VMK little people are tougher than they look!!

 

[redbaybound]

No fair! You always get the Yeti when we play chicken!

 

[peoplemover913]

Wow, I think I'm in love with Hagen and SurfCruiser...I share a deep "glove" for the English language and you both have a gift...wow!

 

[Alyce]

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