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Disgruntled Talkbasser

#83
khay0s said:
That would be my point. While I don't want it to come, I do believe that there will be a time in which literacy skills are worthless. A horrible day it may be, but inevitable...soon enough we shall see. :hmm:

Leigh
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I respectfully disagree. Your point of view is like saying that because of modern transportation, there will come a day when nobody needs to know how to walk anymore.
 
#84
That is but one analogy. As I said before about hunting for food - sure, some of us can use a shotgun to hit a duck, but how many can use a spear to feed our families? All I can say is that I do hope you're right. However, it does appear as though there is a decline in both the use and ability to use proper English in both written and spoken form. That being a fundamental difference between your analogy and this situation.

Leigh
 
#85
khay0s said:
That would be my point. While I don't want it to come, I do believe that there will be a time in which literacy skills are worthless. A horrible day it may be, but inevitable...soon enough we shall see. :hmm:

Leigh
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What's the evidence that literacy skills are on the decline?

The less literate have more opportunity to interact in a text-based format with the expansion of internet access and mobile phone use. Perhaps this is giving us a false impression that society is less literate than it used to be?
 
#87
Bruce Lindfield said:
Virtually every forum on the net!! But you could always try TabCrawler for absolute proof!! ;)
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Well that's my point. There's a lot of people on the net now that wouldn't have had access ten years ago when it was all academics and the rich. The illiterate were essentially excluded.
 
#88
I'm talking about the level of literacy and linguistic ability of those whom are educated. Perhaps its simply anecdotal, but I've noticed that books and articles published earlier have a tendency to use proper grammar and punctuation than those published more recently. That would appear to contradict your assertion.

Remember, there are a few issues regarding literacy. When I say that there is a decline, I am personally making reference to a decreasing ability to express oneself with proper English. Thats not to say that more people aren't getting the opportunity to do so because that obviously isn't the case. I just feel that the overall acceptance of what classes as being 'literate' is perhaps lower than it used to be. I don't see spelling as an example, as dictionaries have been around for years. However, having a program that allows people to type nonsensical junk and have it fix the mistakes is going to have negative effects on the ability to use proper grammar. Its like me writing notes for an assignment then getting my mother to write it into an essay. How does it improve my essay writing ability?

With the use of technology and resources that are available to us, I'm sure that I could write a better essay than a random someone from the 1970s on a topic we both knew equal information on. Probably much of a muchness if the other person was educated. Now, lets take away my spelling and grammar check and then see who is better able to write an essay. I know who I'd have my money on (and, for once, it wouldn't be me).

Ultimately, our intelligence is largely controlled by our ability to use language to express internally or externally how we think and feel. If electronic thesauruses and grammar checks are making it such that we don't require a decent vocabulary or mastery of English, then how can we possibly develop as people?

Leigh
 
#89
dlloyd said:
Well that's my point. There's a lot of people on the net now that wouldn't have had access ten years ago when it was all academics and the rich. The illiterate were essentially excluded.
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I suppose my view is based on having worked in recruitment policy, for one of the largest employers in Europe and seeing the decline in standards of literacy amongst potential candidates.

I have no doubts that less people are totally illiterate - I have severe doubts that as many people now are "fully literate" as there were 10 years ago!! ;)
 
#92
khay0s said:
I'm talking about the level of literacy and linguistic ability of those whom are educated. Perhaps its simply anecdotal, but I've noticed that books and articles published earlier have a tendency to use proper grammar and punctuation than those published more recently. That would appear to contradict your assertion.
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It was a suggestion rather than an assertion.

But then again, access to education is also increasing. Access to tertiary education has nearly doubled (at least in the UK) in the last ten years or so without concomitant increases in secondary education standards.

I don't know about the apparent phenomenon of poorer grammar in more recent books. Maybe grammatical correctness is a feature of books that stand the test of time?
 
#93
Bruce Lindfield said:
I suppose my view is based on having worked in recruitment policy, for one of the largest employers in Europe and seeing the decline in standards of literacy amongst potential candidates.

I have no doubts that less people are totaly illiterate - I have severe doubts that as many people now are "fully literate" as there were 10 years ago!! ;)
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I'd tend to agree.
 
#95
Bad_Habit_Bassist said:
Talk about hijacking a thread....:D.


Ray
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Maybe this is the proof of why Joe is becoming disenchanted with TB. It is kind of absurd how this thread has turned into a discussion of grammatical prowess amongst the populus, when it was supposed to be about a TB'ers concern for his feelings of lack of connection to TB lately. And may I add that he has been a very strong contributor to community. BTW, I know grammar is not my strongest area, no need to point that out.
Sorry about this Joe, I feel your pain.
 
#96
vegaas said:
Maybe this is the proof of why Joe is becoming disenchanted with TB. It is kind of absurd how this thread has turned into a discussion of grammatical prowess amongst the populus, when it was supposed to be about a TB'ers concern for his feelings of lack of connection to TB lately. And may I add that he has been a very strong contributor to community.
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Well I don't know how you can hijack a thread that wasn't really about anything in the first place - it had no subject apart from a bit of moaning about TB getting worse and getting no replies to threads!!

So this has provided a load of responses and is mostly about what's wrong with TB - which is vaguely what it was about in the first place - perfectly "On Topic" !! :)
 
#98
P. Aaron said:
If "disgruntled" is angry, mad, or "discontented". Does being "gruntled" mean you are you happy & contented?
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Of course :

He was as gruntled as a pig in **** !! ;)

Seriously!!

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary


One entry found for gruntle.


Main Entry: grun·tle
Pronunciation: 'gr&n-t&l
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): grun·tled; grun·tling /'gr&nt-li[ng], 'gr&n-t&l-i[ng]/
Etymology: back-formation from disgruntle
: to put in a good humor <were gruntled with a good meal and good conversation -- W. P. Webb>
 

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