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look! frankly, sort of
It’s the political season, the golden moment for the talking heads. I enjoy listening to them. But I have a request: could we ban “look!”, “frankly,” and “sort of”? Look seems to be the word of choice for the experts. They are being asked to analyze the convention or the polls or their dog’s position in the race and they begin every other assertion with “look!” I want to say, Look! We’re listening already! We think you have something worth saying or we’d be on another channel. The hosts have asked you to be their guest, and not some other talking head. Jesus said, “Behold!” but he was special.
Frankly is the word of false candor. You’re crying wolf with a word like that. Real candor has it’s own shock value and won’t go unnoticed. (While we’re at it, let’s ditch “honestly” too.)
But I’ve saved the worst for last, sort of. National Public Radio, please take note. Advise your guests never ever to say sort of. They say it often. You don’t hear a lot of sort of on the a.m. dial. The merchants of certainty disdain sort of. We live in the age of uncertainty and we’ve got these brains that don’t want to mess with it. But this excessive and quibbling use of sort of gives the humble dose of uncertainty a bad name. (Uncertainty is like blood pressure medication. By the time you know for sure that you need it, the damage may have been done.) My point is we don’t like it. It doesn’t win many converts. Why should we listen to you if all you do is spout off regarding things you’re not certain about? We can do that ourselves, without the fund raising.
I feel better now.
Tags: minor annoyances, NPR, politics, talk radio, words
August 30th, 2008 at 8:47 am
Frankly, and perhaps even arguably, this is one of Wilsons more key and noteworthy posts. It is certainly worthy of both our time and reflection. Given the volatile religious and political landscape on every front, especially the noteworthy, yet troublesome, hotspots in our great nation, it behooves each man to search his own heart at this seminal crossroads in our history. Said differently, at this very juncture each one must search one’s own heart. Frankly, and most earnestly, isn’t that what Ken really is saying? There is no arguent there, friends. Which, I am happy to say, arguably makes it not even arguable. Let me say as honestly as I can, “look, the essence of this very moment is what matters.” Ken more than most knows what matters. And matter, I mean time, is a precious commidity. Can we at least agree on that? Catholics and Protestants, and men and women on both sides of the aisle, find an overwheling, if not in fact overarching agreement, on that point. Do they not?
It really goes without saying, finally and ultimately, that this sort of dribble is not the kind of verbage you will find on this blog or from the mouth of Ken Wilson. While I am a bit vague about some feelings and sort of uncertain about some opinions, I am, frankly, more certain about this issue than almost any other. And that is something to behold!
August 30th, 2008 at 11:19 am
hilarious
…
(and deep, too deep?)
August 30th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
I’d like to stand up in defense of “sort of”. The peddlers of certainty and revilers of nuance and complexity may win converts, but they do it at the expense of humility, intellectual curiosity, and ultimately of the truth itself.
Just because something can’t be reduced to a sound-bite, turned into an absolute, or have it’s depths plumbed in a 30 second radio or TV spot does not make it less worthy of discussion.
And when you aren’t able to be certian, aren’t able to be complete, and aren’t able to reduce the messy complexity of reality into a sound bite “sort-of” is not only the right thing to say, it’s an expression of moral courage and resistance against the new American hubris of the sound bite.
Of course, “sort-of” is only sort of a good thing, sometimes it’s an excuse not to take a stand, an excuse to hide your face from the truth, and pretend that nothing is wrong.
So, in the end, “sort of” is sort of good and sort of bad.
August 31st, 2008 at 7:25 am
We need to know what we’re saying . . . it really bugs me when one of my kids says, “Anyways.” Drop the “s.” The word is “anyway.”
When my kids were young I used to read them a bedtime story, and afterwards I sometimes asked them “So, what did you think of the book?” More often than not, the answer was a simple “Good.”
I told them that the word “good” was banned. The book could be funny, boring, interesting, scary, lovely, awful, delightful, . . . or a combination of terms. Anything but good. It’s time to give the old and tired words “good” and “bad” a well-deserved rest. (I’m such a tough dad).
I think the same applies for people. Not that the old and tired need to be put to rest, but that people are rarely just good or bad. Somebody could be ebullient, which means Bubbling with enthusiasm or excitement; or they could be tremulous, if they are timid or nervous. Some people are pivid (you can look that one up).
I feel the same way about many other words. I will argue that the word “awesome” only applies to Yehoveh. Think of it. Awesome means: amazing: inspiring awe or admiration or wonder . . . that seems to describe Yehoveh quite well don’t you think? I may appreciate Chicago, but I wouldn’t say Chicago was “awesome.”
August 31st, 2008 at 12:58 pm
While we’re being nitpicky…
Why is “afterwards” ok (as opposed to “afterward”), while “anyways” is not? It seems that the issue stems from regional dialectical prejudice (if you speak like a southerner you must be unintelligent?). And why did you capitalize “Bubbling”? Just curious…
Pivid sounds like an interesting word… I couldn’t find a definition anywhere, could you tell us what it means?
But seriously, I’d have to disagree with your comment about the word “awesome” ONLY applying to God (of course, you’re entitled to your opinion). Don’t you think that God’s actions are/can be “awesome”? Creation being part of His acts (ongoing acts), just about anything could be described as “awesome” and it would only indirectly be describing God Himself.
Obviously, I’m just looking for ways to waste my time, and I also enjoy a good grammar pick, so thanks for providing me with an excuse to procrastinate my more important duties
August 31st, 2008 at 1:03 pm
BTW it really bugs me when people say “I could care less” (unless of course they mean that, which I’ve never heard to be the case) or “irregardless”… huh, no spell-check issue, I guess I was wrong, irregardless IS a real word. Now I get to learn something new, and be humbled in the process…
I guess after years of controversy it’s been accepted as a combination of “irrespective and regardless”… I’ll have to remember that.
August 31st, 2008 at 5:37 pm
First, I have to admit that even I am prone to typing too fast . . . the word was supposed to be “pivot,” not “pivid.” I’m laughing at that now . . . a pivot is someone who is so important, everyone else depends on them to function. (That’s they way I foolish viewed myself in my family, and I learned that that isn’t always the case). In a story, it could be the most important character.
Second, I have to agree that, although a word has become accepted in our modern vernacular, doesn’t make it correct. For years I was told that “ain’t” ain’t a word, but now it’s in our dictionary, so that makes it correct.
I will still argue the case for “irrespective” over “irregardless” Well, I’ll quietly argue the point, well sort of . . . I’ll probably just mutter around the issue quietly. Just like I tend to do when I hear someone say “afterwards.”
But regardling the “works of God” being “awesome,” is certainly acceptable . . . we’re still referring to the Creator. And that is certainly more applicable than saying, “That new Corvette is awesome . . .” Don’t you think? Now you could argue that God gave the designer the creative ability to create that car, but God didn’t, Himself, create the car.
I mean standing on a mountain top and viewing the majestic (there’s another bugaboo word) view and saying, “Wow! That’s awesome!” would be an acceptable use of the word.
But I’m big hearted and won’t criticize anyone for misusing most words, excluding my children of course, but that’s my job as their father.
August 31st, 2008 at 6:30 pm
You know, I found another word that would have worked as well. Put in the word: pavid. Pavid means: Exhibiting or experiencing fear; timid, which would have worked wonderfully in the context of the point I was making.
September 2nd, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Please add CLEARLY to the list of banned words.
September 3rd, 2008 at 5:48 am
1) Look
Pivid (not a word)
2) Frankly
3) Sort of
4) Anyways
5) Good
6) Bad
7) Awesome (except in relation to God)
9) Afterwards (towards too for that matter)
10) “I could care less” (should be “I could NOT care less”)
11) Irregardless (unless you’re a progressive and accept new words)
12) Bugaboo
11) words from one’s children
-feel free to add clearly to this list (as I have)
Lori, I CLEARLY understood what you meant.