Posts by LoveUniHateExams

16

The Importance of Language

by LoveUniHateExams in

language is obviously a very important thing.

obviously, language is essential in conveying ideas - without it, we'd be screwed.. but it goes beyond that in terms of its importance.. first, it's a good idea to use accurate language, especially when talking about important things or discussing difficult topics.. second, we should be free to use the words we want to use.

unfortunately, there is an attempt by certain people to control what words we can and cannot say.

LoveUniHateExams

Learning how not to make horrible faux pas like that is one of the hardest things about learning a new language - very much so.

I was reading a book in my local library by a British guy who lived with and photographed Bedouin people. Many Arabs are urbanised/settled, but some still roam the deserts of the Arabian peninsula and the Levant, rearing camels and/or sheep/goats (some Bedouin even consider Bedouin who raise sheep/goats as not true Bedouin XD).

This British author apparently highly offended a Dubai businessman by calling his ancestors 'Bedouin', lol. He didn't mean any offence, he obviously holds a romantic view of Bedouin people, unlike the Dubai businessman. XD

16

The Importance of Language

by LoveUniHateExams in

language is obviously a very important thing.

obviously, language is essential in conveying ideas - without it, we'd be screwed.. but it goes beyond that in terms of its importance.. first, it's a good idea to use accurate language, especially when talking about important things or discussing difficult topics.. second, we should be free to use the words we want to use.

unfortunately, there is an attempt by certain people to control what words we can and cannot say.

LoveUniHateExams

Mmm colour me skeptical. Where is this “video”? - here's the video ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDEMGTMO7zM

BTW, why on earth should you be sceptical? Remember that JK Rowling got a ton of online hate, including death threats, for simply mocking the phrase 'people who menstruate'.

33

The problem with Capitalism!---Billionaires

by pistolpete in

as imperfect and flawed capitalism is, it has worked better than other forms of economic and political systems-so far.

it’s very simple in “theory.” capitalism is an economic and-or, political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state.

in other words, keep government out of it as much as possible.

LoveUniHateExams

Social democracies promote education for all - but we in the UK already have this, and we're a capitalist country.

So, you could also say 'capitalist democracies promote education for all'. ;)

33

The problem with Capitalism!---Billionaires

by pistolpete in

as imperfect and flawed capitalism is, it has worked better than other forms of economic and political systems-so far.

it’s very simple in “theory.” capitalism is an economic and-or, political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state.

in other words, keep government out of it as much as possible.

LoveUniHateExams

Always an interesting/bold move when capitalist apologists invoke Cambodia to argue against egalitarian social democratic alternatives to dysfunctional late stage capitalism. Like, what’s the connection? - socialism is the half-way house to communism. You personally might not regard it in this way but plenty of left-wingers do.

Plus, both socialism and communism rely on the same holy text by the same man - Das Capital by Karl Marx.

Karl Marx knew that his idea would cause violent overthrow of existing institutions.

BTW Always an interesting/bold move when capitalist apologists invoke Cambodia to argue against egalitarian social democratic alternatives to dysfunctional late stage capitalism - this wasn't the reason why I posted my original comment.

More like, I was saying 'you think capitalism has problems, just look at communism'.

16

The Importance of Language

by LoveUniHateExams in

language is obviously a very important thing.

obviously, language is essential in conveying ideas - without it, we'd be screwed.. but it goes beyond that in terms of its importance.. first, it's a good idea to use accurate language, especially when talking about important things or discussing difficult topics.. second, we should be free to use the words we want to use.

unfortunately, there is an attempt by certain people to control what words we can and cannot say.

LoveUniHateExams

Language is obviously a very important thing. Obviously, language is essential in conveying ideas - without it, we'd be screwed.

But it goes beyond that in terms of its importance.

First, it's a good idea to use accurate language, especially when talking about important things or discussing difficult topics.

Second, we should be free to use the words we want to use. Unfortunately, there is an attempt by certain people to control what words we can and cannot say. This is evident in Canada's Bill C-16, which requires by law people to use other people's pronouns. Plus, I've just come across a video which gives a list of terms for hospitals to call female patients:

Vulva havers

Womb-bearers

Menstruators

Egg-providers

Person with eggs

^^^ sorry, couldn't resist it, that last term is ridiculous, lol.

The world isn't always an easy place in which to live, and life often throws up difficult issues.

We should be free to use the words we want to use. Social media platforms such as Twitter and FaceBook take note.

33

The problem with Capitalism!---Billionaires

by pistolpete in

as imperfect and flawed capitalism is, it has worked better than other forms of economic and political systems-so far.

it’s very simple in “theory.” capitalism is an economic and-or, political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state.

in other words, keep government out of it as much as possible.

LoveUniHateExams

@PistolPete - you've started an interesting thread about the flaws of Capitalism (and it does have flaws), but I'd just like to show you and everyone else the problem with Communism …

11

Are 'The Proud Boys' white supremacists?

by LoveUniHateExams in

the name proud boys was brought up during the pre-election debate.. trump caught quite a bit of flack for refusing to condemn the group.. well, i just discovered a youtube vid examining a so-called racist incident between a proud boys member and antifa.. and the pb guy is married to a black woman and has a mixed-race daughter.. and, apparently, people of color can join and have joined the group.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hysfylmv1wi.

are they really white supremacist?.

LoveUniHateExams

@SLB

And Biden will be president in January, helped by BLM funding.

I suppose BLM funding is ok and BLM are a good group to be backing Biden, right? lol

11

Are 'The Proud Boys' white supremacists?

by LoveUniHateExams in

the name proud boys was brought up during the pre-election debate.. trump caught quite a bit of flack for refusing to condemn the group.. well, i just discovered a youtube vid examining a so-called racist incident between a proud boys member and antifa.. and the pb guy is married to a black woman and has a mixed-race daughter.. and, apparently, people of color can join and have joined the group.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hysfylmv1wi.

are they really white supremacist?.

LoveUniHateExams

The name Proud Boys was brought up during the pre-election debate.

Trump caught quite a bit of flack for refusing to condemn the group.

Well, I just discovered a youtube vid examining a so-called racist incident between a Proud Boys member and Antifa.

And the PB guy is married to a black woman and has a mixed-race daughter.

And, apparently, people of color can join and have joined the group.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HysfylmV1WI

Are they really white supremacist?

180

Languages, Dialects, Accents

by LoveUniHateExams in

jw
friends

just though i'd start a thread devoted to languages, dialects/sociolects and accents, with the idea being that posters can comment on any language, or dialect or accent of any language, on this thread.. any phrases, expressions or idioms that you find interesting are also welcome.

first, the subject of english accents came up on another thread.. the british isles have many different types of accent (although many of the dialects may be dying out), and if i start to take a closer look, i can't help but see 'patterns' .... in received pronunciation of standard english, the letter r is pronounced initially, between vowels, and after consonants, e.g.

red, arrow, break.

LoveUniHateExams

Just a quick return to this thread.

I think I may have already mentioned that Arabic is a language of roots and patterns. Most Arabic words have a triliteral (three-consonant) root running through them, in a certain order, to give the word a basic meaning. There are then different vowels arranged in different patterns to give different meanings to words.

So, kitaab, kitaaba, kataba, kaataba, maktab and kaatib (meanings: book, writing, to write, to write to each other, office & writer) all have the root k, t, b which means something to do with writing.

Here's a video about Lebanese Arabic from a native speaker. See if you can identify the triliteral root of all the words in the lesson …

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmBuiYt0ims

1

New Comic Book Character, lol

by LoveUniHateExams in

ok, i don't know much about comics or comic book characters.. but, apparently a new character has been created, and she's the daughter of starfire (nope, me neither).. take a look at this little video, lol ….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcpr5dd5jpy.

LoveUniHateExams

Youtuber The Critical Drinker did a good video about this character.

His thesis is essentially that we've always had heroes and that they give us something to aspire to. He then quite rightly asks what aspiration will this new character (actually a self-insert by the writer) give to people.

Here's Drinker's vid …

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ow79eUHFhp0