As someone without the letters BA to my name you can dismiss my criticism as lacking authority, but having attended high school debates I feel confident enough to say that the least imaginative way to opening a review or debate is with a definition. I’ll forgive you because you didn’t use the line “The Oxford dictionary defines soapies as …” as your first sentence.
Also I’m perfct so don’t even bother scrutinising my reviews for mistakes in an attempt to divert the attention from yourself.
Tom 28 August 2006, 05:32 AM
2
I didn’t open it with a definition so I assume you’re only bringing this up for academic purposes. Or you could be talking about this. But let’s face it, the definitions look cool, with their cute syllable separators. This won’t be the last one in my reviews.
I wanted to define soaps because I was curious as to whether a soap was considered a genre or just trash. I think there’s a case to be made for the former but I didn’t want everything to be coming out of my head alone. While I did avoid that cliche it’s not really good form to pop in a definition and not say where you got it from (my computer’s dictionary… Mirriam Webster I think).
Believe me — I know you’re perfct.
Andy 28 August 2006, 06:04 AM
3
You’ve written a dozen paragraphs and the first two discuss whether Bleak House is a soapy. Looks like opening with a definition to me.
It’s done stylishly and there was a reason why you defined the word (same for the The Constant Gardener) but it’s still a definiton. You’ve got two strikes to your name for lack of imagination and use of cliches. One more and you’re out.
Jack 28 August 2006, 07:03 AM
4
You guys are clearly working of different definitions of the word definition. Sorry if I’ve walked into a beautifully subtle conversation and ruined it by pointing out the irony.
Tom 28 August 2006, 07:19 AM
5
The first two discuss whether if Dickens et al were alive today, would they be writing for television. I barely touch on soaps until I define them. Ner. There’s no subtlety here Jack. It’s just a slow news day. Now excuse me, I’ve got to find some of Andy’s cliches, post haste.
def ▪ i ▪ ni ▪ tion
noun
the act of defining or making definite, distinct, or clear.
the formal statement of the meaning or significance of a word, phrase, etc.
the condition of being definite, distinct, or clearly outlined.
Optics. sharpness of the image formed by an optical system.
Radio and Television. the accuracy of sound or picture reproduction.
Jack 28 August 2006, 08:28 AM
6
Well exactly. If you and Andy both believe yourselves to be correct - then clearly you both think “definition” means something different. I didn’t say yours was the wrong one, even if you didn’t credit it.
Possibly it’s the phrase “opens with” that’s contentious. Clearly there is some breakdown somewhere.
My vote is on Andy and what he thinks the word “dozen” means. It seems unlikely that Andy would exaggerate. We wouldn’t have won many debates that way.
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Andy
28 August 2006, 05:05 AM
As someone without the letters BA to my name you can dismiss my criticism as lacking authority, but having attended high school debates I feel confident enough to say that the least imaginative way to opening a review or debate is with a definition. I’ll forgive you because you didn’t use the line “The Oxford dictionary defines soapies as …” as your first sentence.
Also I’m perfct so don’t even bother scrutinising my reviews for mistakes in an attempt to divert the attention from yourself.
Tom
28 August 2006, 05:32 AM
I didn’t open it with a definition so I assume you’re only bringing this up for academic purposes. Or you could be talking about this. But let’s face it, the definitions look cool, with their cute syllable separators. This won’t be the last one in my reviews.
I wanted to define soaps because I was curious as to whether a soap was considered a genre or just trash. I think there’s a case to be made for the former but I didn’t want everything to be coming out of my head alone. While I did avoid that cliche it’s not really good form to pop in a definition and not say where you got it from (my computer’s dictionary… Mirriam Webster I think).
Believe me — I know you’re perfct.
Andy
28 August 2006, 06:04 AM
You’ve written a dozen paragraphs and the first two discuss whether Bleak House is a soapy. Looks like opening with a definition to me.
It’s done stylishly and there was a reason why you defined the word (same for the The Constant Gardener) but it’s still a definiton. You’ve got two strikes to your name for lack of imagination and use of cliches. One more and you’re out.
Jack
28 August 2006, 07:03 AM
You guys are clearly working of different definitions of the word definition. Sorry if I’ve walked into a beautifully subtle conversation and ruined it by pointing out the irony.
Tom
28 August 2006, 07:19 AM
The first two discuss whether if Dickens et al were alive today, would they be writing for television. I barely touch on soaps until I define them. Ner. There’s no subtlety here Jack. It’s just a slow news day. Now excuse me, I’ve got to find some of Andy’s cliches, post haste.
Jack
28 August 2006, 08:28 AM
Well exactly. If you and Andy both believe yourselves to be correct - then clearly you both think “definition” means something different. I didn’t say yours was the wrong one, even if you didn’t credit it.
Possibly it’s the phrase “opens with” that’s contentious. Clearly there is some breakdown somewhere.
My vote is on Andy and what he thinks the word “dozen” means. It seems unlikely that Andy would exaggerate. We wouldn’t have won many debates that way.
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