Lori, I CLEARLY understood what you meant.

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.

I guess after years of controversy it’s been accepted as a combination of “irrespective and regardless”… I’ll have to remember that.

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

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.”

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.

…

(and deep, too deep?)

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!