American says Americans are stupid on MSNBC.com

[aden_nak]

Here's a link to the reader feedback thingie, look for the title: Is MSNBC's tone accessible?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4838957

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Is MSNBC's tone accessible?

I wanted to take a moment to let you know of the difficulties in the language used in the article "Harry Considers Auschwitz Invites" that is published on MSNBC.com this morning.
This article is clearly written by someone with a graduate level, college education, and terms such as "incandescent", "caustic", and "cavorting" are definitely not part of the everyday language usage of ordinary Americans, 70% of whom have a high school education or less.
I would urge all articles on MSNBC.com to be written in language that is accessible to all, and therefore avoid the risk alienating large segments of the American population.
Phillip J. Welton

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Apparently our nimble-minded reader doesn't think that the American public is ready for great big two syllable words like "caustic". I am further amused by the fact that he was upset over "incandescent" being used, since that's supposedly what Prince Charles himself said concerning Harry's behavior ("incandescent with rage" was the exact quote). I guess from now on, the media should make everyone newsworthy use small, simple words. Just like our current small, simple leader.

So, hats off to Phillip J. Welton for reinforcing the stereotype of Americans as uneducated. I think what I like most, though, is that he pretends to be writing in out of the goodness of his heart to warn those misguided thinkin' types at MSNBC that other Americans (not him, of course) might not know some of those words. Stupid prat.

[Tony_Illinois]

1. What a stupid letter. I very much doubt that there are any

people reading MSNBC who cannot understand the language. And there certainly are not any who cannot use a dictionary.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

2. This is art

God bless Mr. Welton for attempting to bring all the news to the drooling Americans who can't read and wouldn't understand what Prince Charles said about his son.

God bless him for caring and being so quick to make sure that the already-simple press goes that extra distance to make sure their work product is reduced to grunts and gestures.

Mr. Welton is, indeed, a savior of the oblivious. Would that they could read, for then, perhaps, they might understand what he has done on their behalf.

He is a prince among the subliterate.

I wonder if Mr. Welton would understand a simple phrase like "Bite me, Phil"?

[ixion]

3. big words hurt brain

:freak: :dunce:

Thank you Mr. Welton, for standing up for those who refuse to use thier mind. :eyes:

</sarcasm>

[barb162]

10. I know a family who gets pissed off when others use "big" words.

They feel the big word users are being arrogant. Ten years ago wouldn't people feel they should try to learn the meaning of the words? Now they don't. There are changes occurring in our society and they are not good. Now the dum-dums want everyone down to their level. Don't upset them.

[Melynn]

16. I have the same problem

I have a co-worker who gets mad when I use big words. And I try to dumb down what I say to begin with.

Yes, the dumbing down of America is a problem. Is the rise of the right-wing because America is getting dumber? Or is the country getting dumber because of the rise of the right-wing?

[barb162]

19. I think the first is correct. CA's education system was really great

for yrs. and now it's one of the lowest financed of all the states. Well, I bet kids in that state are getting "dumber" and they will be more susceptible to the evangelicals.

But then again what's the diff? No good jobs will be available anyway as those are going to Asia. So the low education will fit right in with no jobs. With low education levels, no one will expect anything or fight for rights. It will all work beautifully together. Live in huts, scrounge for food. Pray more to Jesus when you can't find food or are cold.

[ixion]

20. oh, I imagine I'd get along with them smashingly

I've always found it efficacious to interject polysyllabic vernacular into my day to day palaver. :+

[barb162]

24. such a droll sense of humor!

[meow2u3]

23. They're just jealous

People like this family actually are covering up their willful ignorance by badmouthing people who use big words as "arrogant."

Like we're supposed to stoop to their level because they refuse to learn. :eyes:

[barb162]

27. The family doing the accusation is accusing the brother's family of

using the "big" words. Problem is the brother's family is using NO big words and whenever I ask what big words, they can never think of the big words. The two husbands are brothers. Both wives are teachers. The brothers, though, well, one is a high school grad and the other has a masters in physics from Stanford. The brother who stopped with the high school degree doesn't like to read (actually none in that family like to read and they all vote Bush) and the other family is composed of voracious readers, up on all current events, run a Dick Cheney, Wolfowicz hate group, etc. They are on different wavelengths.

The wife and husband who don't read will say things like "he don't..." and that is something, the tense mistakes, that drives me up a wall. How can you get a four year teaching degree and make "he don't" mistakes. < Nail in ear, Argghhhh.>

[barb162]

29. Rethinking this, I wish just once that one family would give an

example of a big word. I suspect the other family is using rather common words, but to the first family, these same words are big words.

[Buns_of_Fire]

4. *grunt*

Boosh. Good. Letter. Bad. *grunt* Me. Want. Food. Now. *grunt*

[BiggJawn]

9. Me no want food. Just now eat....

Me want go Wally-mart now. Spend money, buy cheap shit. Bush say that good. Me like see Bush happy when I go spend money.

Smarty people think they better than Mongo because they know hard words. Smarty people no watch Faox Nooz. Who real smart one?

[barb162]

11. Mongo need rest.

[Deja Q]

21. LOL. I think Mongo needs more than rest...

[barb162]

22. Yes, Mongo in bad way....

[JohnLocke]

5. For Pete's sake!

Is MSNBC's tone accessible?
I wanted to take a moment to let you know of the difficulties in the language used in the article "Harry Considers Auschwitz Invites" that is published on MSNBC.com this morning.
This article is clearly written by someone with a graduate level, college education, and terms such as "incandescent", "caustic", and "cavorting" are definitely not part of the everyday language usage of ordinary Americans, 70% of whom have a high school education or less.
I would urge all articles on MSNBC.com to be written in language that is accessible to all, and therefore avoid the risk alienating large segments of the American population.
Phillip J. Welton
--------
Ugh.

[durablend]

6. "Werds need to be semple"

"So our presinent can understood them"

[JohnyCanuck]

14. A good rule of thumb to follow.

If a word looks like it's too long for Shrub to pronounce correctly or to understand what it means, then it should not be used, and by default anything over two syllables is by deffinition strictly verbotten. Ooops now I have just gone and done it myself. I just used a three syllable word, and if that's not bad enough, it's a foreign, unAmerican, old European one at that. You really do have to watch yourself. Someone please spank my ass immediately.
:crazy:

[annabanana]

17. no one's head should be higher than Shrubs's

(If a word looks like it's too long for Shrub to pronounce correctly or to understand what it means, then it should not be used) lol

[BrklynLiberal]

7. What is so pathetic is that someone was so incensed (really, really upset)

by the use of polysyllabic (more than one syllable)words that he took the time to write that asinine (really, really stupid) note.
I hope that it is MSNBS's sense of humor that led to its being published.

[pacalo]

8. Unbelievable!

I just had to respond to that letter:

I hope Mr. Welton's letter was intended to be sarcastic, alluding to the fact that our current self-imposed president has effectively dumbed down our country. Mr. Bush may have stolen two elections, but there is actually a majority of us who can understand and appreciate words containing more than one or two syllables.

Mr. Welton can get off his high horse & resume his daily dose of KoolAid being served on virtually any tv news station.

With veritable sincerity,

xxx

[Shopaholic]

12. I guess the language they use over at Faux is more to that

letter writer's liking. :wtf:

[Bariztr]

13. Need to upgrade his reading list

I guess none of those "big" words were in My Pet Goat.

He should get a Leap Pad and begin with the the 1st grade book, why in no time he will be reading like the big kids.

[Paranoid_Portlander]

15. And yet Mr. Welton uses the big word "accessible"...

... in the first sentence of his complaint. I'm surprised that he knows what it means. Maybe it's part of the header written by MSNBC. On edit: I see now "accessible" in the main text of his letter, also "alienating".

[Deja Q]

18. Welton can go discombobulate himself, what a load...

What's left to say about twits like him? The internet is freely accessible and, guess what, there are MANY online dictionaries that are 100% free. Philip J Fry Welton there ought to USE one of thm. :eyes:


Indeed, I just wrote them a letter:

Regarding those who claim MSNBC article writers need to make their articles more "accessible" to all (more lucid, perhaps?), I say they should go discombobulate themselves. They are reading an internet web site. There isn't a web browser that won't allow more than one browser window up at one time. And, best of all, there are many internet-based dictionaries that can be loaded into an aforementioned window.

I see nothing wrong with relishing the use of the English language. There is no harm in it, except that some people (including myself at times) have to scurry off to find a dictionary. Is that really a pain to do? No way! Such activity broadens the mind, and is not a chore. And that should be more important than the dumbing down of our nation's people even further. The moment that learning becomes a chore is the moment you can hear a great flushing sound, indicating our society's amalgamated intelligence has been flushed down the toilet.

Please keep up the good work at attempting edification while telling the story. We NEED more entities like MSNBC in this regard! And please feel free to use those "big words", and even more.

(name), Esquire and proud American.

[Ezlivin]

25. We don't need no stinkin' thesaurus

Just stick to the monosyllabic words.

Did IQs sharply drop while I was away? (Ripley in Aliens)

[noiretextatique]

26. he was being facetious

right? :shrug: right?!

[allalone]

28. what struck me funny

is that the title of the article uses invites instead of invitation. too funny.