Frothers Unite! UK

Clayface wrote:He isn't saying he is a great writer.

Actually, I'm going to be a bit of an obnoxious cunt here, because I'm in that kind of mood.
On second thoughts, not quite. You're right, I'm not saying I'm a great writer, but I am saying that I am good enough that I made most of my career from being a journalist on a national UK newspaper and that I've written three books, two of which are fiction and the other one is poetry, and also contributed to several anthologies.
A great writer? No. But good enough to have made my living as a writer.

Clayface wrote:He isn't saying he is a great writer. He is saying you are a throwback to the 1980's. Get your insults straight Thadeus T Wildebeest. 'You smell of poo and like sandwiches more than is healthy' would have been a good default fall-back for your traditional 'losing the fight? Insult them!' method.

You are really having problems with context this week, Max. We are talking about writing styles. I admire Mike's, which is something Hump, who seems to be having serious problems stringing a coherent sentence togther, finds laughable.

Unless, of course, Hump seems to think my political style should make me envious of Mike's writing style, in which case it would seem that Hump's been hitting the mushrooms a bit too hard.

Your fellow profs must sigh and whimper in frustration when you walk into Faculty meetings.

I avoid meetings like the plague. When I have a say in the matter, I choose to inflict myself on idiots. Radfems, most recently.

A Chaotic Humphrey wrote:

Macunaima nli wrote:something ressembling correct English.

I'm sure they resemble just that...!

Very GOOD, Hump! Here's your Reading Rainbow gold star for the week!

At last Humph's posts aren't written by a tedious cunt like mac's are.

Macunaima nli wrote: Hump, who seems to be having serious problems stringing a coherent sentence togther, finds laughable.

You found this incoherent then, Mac:

I can see why, Mac.
You've always struck me as someone who's sensibilities are still stuck in the 1980s. Which, given your age, is not surprising - I suspect that was the decade that you started making an impact on your world.
As for Mikey, well, he must seem very cutting edge and clever to you, because he seems so stuck in the 90s with his style. To your 80s mindset he is doubtless clever and edgy.
But Mikey has all the hallmarks of someone who hasn't quite got over the creative-writing classes he either didn't take back in the early 90s, or the ones he just didn't do that well at. So he's determined to stick at that style regardless, telling himself that they just don't get it. Despite the fact that they have just moved on from it all.
Which is why, to anyone who's ever worked in the creative/writing sector, he comes across as a bit hackneyed and laboured.
It's just soooooooooooooooo 1993 with Mickey.
But I can see why that to someone like you, stuck in 1983, he does seem clever and original. To the rest of us though, well, we've all been through that stage.

Erm...well, I was always taught that it was polite to assume that the speaker is in error when someone doesn't 'get' the point they were trying to make, so I accept that it may have been a bit obtuse of me. But still, I reckon it was pretty clear what I was saying.
Tell me what bits you struggled with and I'll happily clarify.

fucking slow internet connection....

A Chaotic Humphrey wrote:

Clayface wrote:He isn't saying he is a great writer.

Actually, I'm going to be a bit of an obnoxious cunt here, because I'm in that kind of mood.
On second thoughts, not quite. You're right, I'm not saying I'm a great writer, but I am saying that I am good enough that I made most of my career from being a journalist on a national UK newspaper and that I've written three books, two of which are fiction and the other one is poetry, and also contributed to several anthologies.
A great writer? No. But good enough to have made my living as a writer.

I can see why a hack would take issue with Mikey's florid style, not to mention have problems writing a coherent paragraph on the fly without an editor standing over their shoulder.

A poetry book, Hump? About what? A celebration of pipeweed? I can see it now: "'A Child's Garden of Grass', by Humphrey Proudfoot".

Macunaima nli wrote:You are really having problems with context this week, Max. We are talking about writing styles. I admire Mike's, which is something Hump, who seems to be having serious problems stringing a coherent sentence togther, finds laughable.

No, you are the one saying that. Humph's point was that YOUR writing style was inferior to Mike's and that it made you seem a bit of a 1980's throwback, and that you admired his more modern style, which was why he and you formed your little mutual appreciation club. A club with two members..... But you are not Mike, no sireee.

Remind us, when did you move to Brazil? Early 80's?

That Humph's reply was in less than perfect english was your attempt to change the context, in an ad-hominem kinda fashion. I understood him perfectly.

Correct English?
FFS Mac what are you? The English version of the Academie Francaise?

Everyone knows exactly what Humph was saying and he said it bloody well as it happens. You may not like it, but that was a daft comment you made in response.

Humph's comments may not have been academic English, but given what passes for English in many (arts and social science faculties in particular) groves of academe, that is probably a plus point.

You are entitled to like Lizard Puke's style. Some people like all sorts of stuff. The 80s 90s analysis is probably a bit hackneyed in itself for my taste - Mike's just a one furrow guy never mind what label you stick on it.

Stick to the facts Mac, just the facts.
(if anyone remembers Dragnet from the late 50s/early 60s with Sergeant Joe Friday)

No, hold on. Fuck it.
He's dead right.
I used the word 'obtuse' when I really meant 'abstruse'.
Mea Culpa.
You were right, Mac. Re-read it with the word 'abstruse' rather than 'obtuse' and I'm sure it will make more sense.
You fucking cock.

we all noticed Hump, but we don't expect too much from a Journalist.

Console yourself that it could have been much much worse. You could have used 'Write' for 'right'. That would have been just oreful. Sort of thing we would expect from a Poet for god sake.

I for one loved 'Open Faced Sandwiches of the twilight'. Some parts moved me deeply.

'This sarnie, it is really nice
'twas out of date, and thus the price
reduced to one I can afford
Just read Mac's Post and now I'm Bored
think i had better go and right
that Mail op-ed, my god what shite'