Watching a trailer for 'Ironman' last night, I noticed the warning
"Contains strong violence and one use of moderate language".
Forgive me for being pedantic, but isn't moderate language the sort you
use to talk to priests, judges, grandmothers and maiden aunties? (as in
"Moderate your language, young man. You're not in the public bar of the
Rose and Crown now".) This being so it follows that the vast majority of
the 'Ironman' script is full of expletives and blasphemy; or is this not
what is meant?

Is it possible that English has changed so much that moderate now means
moderately bad or have copywriters become so lazy that the insertion of
two syllables (-ly bad) is likely to overtax their delicate fingers and
wear out their sota designer keyboards? The other possibility is that
language now means bad language which leaves me with a problem; how the
*!&% do I communicate the old meaning of the word?

There is some evidence that the second possibility is the case as I have
heard such usage as "He used language in front of my kids so I hit him".
Leaving aside the dubious use of violence to educate or correct I have
to wonder how we are supposed to communicate meaning without using
language. Telepathy perhaps? I am pretty sure that I will not be able to
use words since I have also heard "He used words so I ..." and there is
the older "We had words" meaning "We had an (unresolved) argument".

I am left in a quandary. I can no longer write scripts or programs as to
do either requires me to use both language and words. I can't
communicate this to my clients because yet again I would have to use
language and how do I explain to my bank manager that my income has
dried up because I can't afford to offend my clients without offending
him by doing so?

omg I've just realised that I'm going to be kicked off p.o-t for
persistent use of language. :-(

John (listening to Chwhynny - I Am)
-- 
I will be brief but not nearly so brief as Salvador Dali, who gave the
world's shortest speech. He said, "I will be so brief I am already
finished," then he sat down.

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Languages change as people use them. I am in the front line protesting
against that, but it just seems to be an inevitable consequence of human
nature, and there's nothing we can do about it, unfortunately.

  Do you remember when "gay" was an innocent word and was the synonym for
"happy"?

-- 
                                                          - Warp

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Warp wrote:

>   Do you remember when "gay" was an innocent word and was the synonym for
> "happy"?

Once upon a time, Dick and Fanny were perfectly normal English names...

More oddly, once "wicked" meant something bad. Today, it means something 
good. (Numerous similar examples can be easily found.)

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*

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On 28 Apr 2008 15:45:13 -0400, Warp <war### [at] tagpovrayorg> wrote:

>  Do you remember when "gay" was an innocent word and was the synonym for
>"happy"?
>

Wasn't there a line from "Seven brides for seven brothers" that went'
"Gay's upstairs feeling a little queer"?
-- 

Regards
     Stephen

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Warp escribió:
>   Languages change as people use them. I am in the front line protesting
> against that, but it just seems to be an inevitable consequence of human
> nature, and there's nothing we can do about it, unfortunately.

One of the worst being "Free software". And I know you agree, I read all 
your rants on your website :)

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Warp wrote:
>   Languages change as people use them. I am in the front line protesting
> against that, but it just seems to be an inevitable consequence of human
> nature, and there's nothing we can do about it, unfortunately.
> 
>   Do you remember when "gay" was an innocent word and was the synonym for
> "happy"?
> 
For those who did not know who is my favorite songwriter and those who 
don't care:
http://ericbogle.net/lyrics/lyricspdf/sillyslangsong.pdf

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>  Do you remember when "gay" was an innocent word and was the synonym for
> "happy"?

Sure, there's a restaurant near here that has the word
gay in the name. They serve good tasting food too.
http://www.dirtydavespizza.com/ (flash)

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Doctor John wrote:
> Watching a trailer for 'Ironman' last night, I noticed the warning
> "Contains strong violence and one use of moderate language".

They probably intended to say "mature" or "immoderate," spelled it 
wrong, and the spell checker changed it to "moderate."

Regards,
John

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On Tue, 29 Apr 2008 08:09:59 -0400, John VanSickle wrote:

> Doctor John wrote:
>> Watching a trailer for 'Ironman' last night, I noticed the warning
>> "Contains strong violence and one use of moderate language".
> 
> They probably intended to say "mature" or "immoderate," spelled it
> wrong, and the spell checker changed it to "moderate."
> 
> Regards,
> John

I think it is shortened from 'moderately offensive' language. Who ever 
shortened it just didn't pay attention to the new meaning of the sentence.

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Warp <war### [at] tagpovrayorg> wrote:
>   Do you remember when "gay" was an innocent word and was the synonym for
> "happy"?

  Which also reminded me of these:

http://www.chickenjohn.freeserve.co.uk/images/man_with_a_very_big_cock.jpg
http://sam.zoy.org/porn/cute_underage_chick_with_hairy_pussy.jpeg

-- 
                                                          - Warp

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Warp wrote:

>   Which also reminded me of these:
> 
> http://sam.zoy.org/porn/cute_underage_chick_with_hairy_pussy.jpeg

Awww, cute!

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*

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And lo on Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:11:07 +0100, Sabrina Kilian  
<ykg### [at] SUCKSvtedu> did spake, saying:

> On Tue, 29 Apr 2008 08:09:59 -0400, John VanSickle wrote:
>
>> Doctor John wrote:
>>> Watching a trailer for 'Ironman' last night, I noticed the warning
>>> "Contains strong violence and one use of moderate language".

Oh no one of the characters probably gets beaten to a pulp and then says  
"Shit that hurt"... gotta warn the parents about that type of language.

>> They probably intended to say "mature" or "immoderate," spelled it
>> wrong, and the spell checker changed it to "moderate."
>
> I think it is shortened from 'moderately offensive' language. Who ever
> shortened it just didn't pay attention to the new meaning of the  
> sentence.

Or possibly derived from Strong Language, so you also get Mild Language  
and Moderate Language; like cheese :-)

I have yet to see anything that warns me it contains "Language", but I  
suppose it's only a matter of time.

-- 
Phil Cook

--
I once tried to be apathetic, but I just couldn't be bothered
http://flipc.blogspot.com

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Phil Cook wrote:
> I have yet to see anything that warns me it contains "Language", but I 
> suppose it's only a matter of time.

'Mild Peril' always makes me chuckle.

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Bill Pragnell wrote:

> 'Mild Peril' always makes me chuckle.

Indeed...

"WATCH The Day After Tomorrow. IN CINEMAS NOW! [Contains mild peril.]"

Uh, no... no, actually the entire film *is* mild peril. It does not 
merely "contain" it. :-P

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*

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And lo on Fri, 02 May 2008 16:01:16 +0100, Bill Pragnell  
<bil### [at] hotmailcom> did spake, saying:

> Phil Cook wrote:
>> I have yet to see anything that warns me it contains "Language", but I  
>> suppose it's only a matter of time.
>
> 'Mild Peril' always makes me chuckle.

Ah mild peril - [solo]How could you serve - [chorus]Mustard.

-- 
Phil Cook

--
I once tried to be apathetic, but I just couldn't be bothered
http://flipc.blogspot.com

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And lo on Fri, 02 May 2008 16:11:33 +0100, Invisible <voi### [at] devnull> did  
spake, saying:

> Bill Pragnell wrote:
>
>> 'Mild Peril' always makes me chuckle.
>
> Indeed...
>
> "WATCH The Day After Tomorrow. IN CINEMAS NOW! [Contains mild peril.]"

'No don't go into down that crevasse - there might be a crazed wolf down  
there, or you might slip and find yourself hanging over a 1000ft drop'
'No way this movie only contains mild peril'
'Oh! Hey go ahead then, if you want me I'll be in the woods kicking bears'

> Uh, no... no, actually the entire film *is* mild peril. It does not  
> merely "contain" it. :-P

I've seen this film, I know I've seen this film; so why is it I can't  
remember a single thing about it other the fact I've seen it?

-- 
Phil Cook

--
I once tried to be apathetic, but I just couldn't be bothered
http://flipc.blogspot.com

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Phil Cook wrote:

> I've seen this film, I know I've seen this film; so why is it I can't 
> remember a single thing about it other the fact I've seen it?

...because it's diabolically shallow and pointless? (Not to mention 
laughably implausible.)

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*

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On Fri, 02 May 2008 16:40:08 +0100, Invisible wrote:

> Phil Cook wrote:
> 
>> I've seen this film, I know I've seen this film; so why is it I can't
>> remember a single thing about it other the fact I've seen it?
> 
> ...because it's diabolically shallow and pointless? (Not to mention
> laughably implausible.)

Well, if there are crevasses, then there are bound to be points 
somewhere. ;-)

Jim

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Invisible wrote:
> Bill Pragnell wrote:
> 
>> 'Mild Peril' always makes me chuckle.
> 
> Indeed...
> 
> "WATCH The Day After Tomorrow. IN CINEMAS NOW! [Contains mild peril.]"

I think I first saw it on the DVD jacket for 'Ice Age'.

Language: none
Sex/nudity: none
Violence: none
Other: contains mild peril

Brilliant.

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And lo on Fri, 02 May 2008 17:04:04 +0100, Bill Pragnell  
<bil### [at] hotmailcom> did spake, saying:

> Invisible wrote:
>> Bill Pragnell wrote:
>>
>>> 'Mild Peril' always makes me chuckle.
>>  Indeed...
>>  "WATCH The Day After Tomorrow. IN CINEMAS NOW! [Contains mild peril.]"
>
> I think I first saw it on the DVD jacket for 'Ice Age'.
>
> Language: none

Ice Age was a silent movie?

-- 
Phil Cook

--
I once tried to be apathetic, but I just couldn't be bothered
http://flipc.blogspot.com

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Jim Henderson wrote:
> On Fri, 02 May 2008 16:40:08 +0100, Invisible wrote:
> 
>> Phil Cook wrote:
>>
>>> I've seen this film, I know I've seen this film; so why is it I can't
>>> remember a single thing about it other the fact I've seen it?
>> ...because it's diabolically shallow and pointless? (Not to mention
>> laughably implausible.)
> 
> Well, if there are crevasses, then there are bound to be points 
> somewhere. ;-)
> 
> Jim

No. There are no points. Not even a peak. I'm a survivor of this movie, 
and let me tell you, I walked away from it with a little bit less of my 
soul than I had when I watched it. It was truly a soul-sucking 
experience. The movie was breathtakingly boring, with no suspension of 
disbelief at all.

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Mike Raiford wrote:
> The movie was breathtakingly boring, with no suspension of 
> disbelief at all.

Yet people in the US Congress actually based policy on it. You really 
gotta wonder sometimes.

-- 
   Darren New / San Diego, CA, USA (PST)
     "That's pretty. Where's that?"
          "It's the Age of Channelwood."
     "We should go there on vacation some time."

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On Fri, 02 May 2008 11:20:05 -0500, Mike Raiford wrote:

> Jim Henderson wrote:
>> On Fri, 02 May 2008 16:40:08 +0100, Invisible wrote:
>> 
>>> Phil Cook wrote:
>>>
>>>> I've seen this film, I know I've seen this film; so why is it I can't
>>>> remember a single thing about it other the fact I've seen it?
>>> ...because it's diabolically shallow and pointless? (Not to mention
>>> laughably implausible.)
>> 
>> Well, if there are crevasses, then there are bound to be points
>> somewhere. ;-)
>> 
>> Jim
> 
> No. There are no points. Not even a peak. I'm a survivor of this movie,
> and let me tell you, I walked away from it with a little bit less of my
> soul than I had when I watched it. It was truly a soul-sucking
> experience. The movie was breathtakingly boring, with no suspension of
> disbelief at all.

Surely the crevasse in question wasn't completely smooth? ;-)

(I haven't seen the movie)

Jim

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>> The movie was breathtakingly boring, with no suspension of disbelief 
>> at all.
> 
> Yet people in the US Congress actually based policy on it. You really 
> gotta wonder sometimes.

....I am now officially scared.

._.

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*

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>> Language: none
> 
> Ice Age was a silent movie?

Indeed. At least, the trailer was.

You actually have to admire the amount of life and energy they put into 
that damned squirrel!

BTW, for some reason I find foreign language dubbings of movies to be 
really quite amusing. Maybe because of the low quality of the people 
hired to do this work? IDK. The other day I was listening to the Italian 
version of the famous prologue to the War of the Worlds. Very funny!

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*

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