Nappy-headed Hos (Was: "Nappy-headed who'es" redux)

James Harbeck jharbeck at SYMPATICO.CA
Sun May 20 01:52:11 UTC 2007


For those wondering about they style of Dr. Aman's web presence,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reinhold_Aman might be useful reading. I
wouldn't say it justifies it, but it does indicate that one need not
take it personally.

I fail to see the utility of rudeness in scholarly discourse, but it
might make useful material for a study in pragmatics. Much discourse,
of course, isn't really about what it's "about" so much as it's about
some manoeuvring or needs on the part of the speaker.

But in my experience with email lists, people who like to flame
others aren't worth keeping in the long run. Civilized discourse is
more effective, and -- contrary to what many flamers like to say --
more honest. Lists that become spittoons for people with personality
disorders lose their habitability.

James Harbeck.

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org



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