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Dunno, usually when I hear voices in my head it means I've forgotten one of my supplements or haven't had enough sleep.
How do you feel about, inappropriate use of commas?
- Thread starter jackangel
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Musclemom, I love and respect you, but I gotta say my bit:
1.) I agree with you about the decline in grammar skills in the gen pop.
2.) Dyslexics aren't retarded, and it kinda sucks that you mashed those two words together to mean someone indescribably illiterate. It's not funny to joke about learning disablities. Maybe I'm too quick to take offense about that, but I have seen how hurtful it can be to people.
3) I find that people who nitpick about grammar and spelling aren't immune to sloppy thinking or writing. Myself included.
I see your point, and I can't disagree with you, but I will say this much in my defense:
Regarding your point #2: You have to understand that I'm SUCH a grammar Nazi that I meant exactly what I said. I'm extremely familiar with dyslexia (and is less familiar sibling, dyscalculia) and I understand perfectly well that a person with dyslexia is in no way lacking intelligence. When I use a word or phase, I usually say exactly what I mean and mean exactly what I say.
Regarding your point #3: While I'm the first to admit I'm not perfect, I'm very, very good at what I do, which is medical transcription. Grammar, spelling and punctuation are nearly second nature to me. Nobody proofreads my work other than me, and occasionally the doctors themselves. So I don't feel I quite fall under the category of the cauldron calling the kettle black, if you get my drift. I avoid criticizing the punctuation and grammar on the boards. However, the fact remains there are some people who create posts that make my brain hurt from the sheer volume of the abuse of the written word.
This thread reminded me also of poetry that used unconventional punctuation.
I remembered e.e . cummings of course at first, but then I discovered this one which I think is kinda beautiful. He describes his use of commas as a sort of pointillistic approach to writing which slows the reader down. I like it.
When I Was No Bigger Than A Huge
By Jose Garcia Villa
When, I, was, no, bigger, than, a, huge,
Star, in, my, self, I, began, to, write,
My,
Theology,
Of, rose, and,
Tiger: till, I, burned, with, their
Pure, and, Rage. Then, was, I, Wrath-
Ful,
And, most,
Gentle: most,
Dark, and, yet, most, Lit: in, me, an,
Eye, there, grew: springing, Vision,
Its,
Gold, and,
Its, wars. Then,
I, knew, the, Lord, was, not, my, Creator!
--Not, He, the, Unbegotten—but, I, saw,
The,
Creator,
Was, I—and,
I, began, to, Die, and, I, began, to, Grow.
I remembered e.e . cummings of course at first, but then I discovered this one which I think is kinda beautiful. He describes his use of commas as a sort of pointillistic approach to writing which slows the reader down. I like it.
When I Was No Bigger Than A Huge
By Jose Garcia Villa
When, I, was, no, bigger, than, a, huge,
Star, in, my, self, I, began, to, write,
My,
Theology,
Of, rose, and,
Tiger: till, I, burned, with, their
Pure, and, Rage. Then, was, I, Wrath-
Ful,
And, most,
Gentle: most,
Dark, and, yet, most, Lit: in, me, an,
Eye, there, grew: springing, Vision,
Its,
Gold, and,
Its, wars. Then,
I, knew, the, Lord, was, not, my, Creator!
--Not, He, the, Unbegotten—but, I, saw,
The,
Creator,
Was, I—and,
I, began, to, Die, and, I, began, to, Grow.
For some reason I read that and was reminded of this one. Not completely unconventional punctuation but certainly enough to notice (incidentally, this is considered, by some, to be the worst poem ever published):
A Tragedy by Theophile Marzials
Death!
Plop.
The barges down in the river flop.
Flop, plop,
Above, beneath.
From the slimy branches the grey drips drop...
To the oozy waters, that lounge and flop...
And my head shrieks - "Stop"
And my heart shrieks - "Die."...
Ugh! yet I knew - I knew
If a woman is false can a friend by true?
It was only a lie from beginning to end--
My Devil - My "friend."...
So what do I care,
And my head is empty as air -
I can do,
I can dare
(Plop, plop
The barges flop
Drip, drop.)
I can dare, I can dare!
And let myself all run away with my head
And stop.
Drop
Dead.
Plop, flop,
Plop.
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