I've visited the IoM many times and love the island. The overwhelming impression still left on me is still one of magnificent desolation coupled with a sparseness of human population.
Let's hope that's not the inevitable end result of democracy!
A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
It is a fact that the more secure and educated and prosperous societies become the fewer children they have which will leave the western world in a demographic crisis as youngsters become too few to replace the older generations as they die and then you get problems with having enough people working to run all the services and industry so you rely on immigrants to do the "menial" tasks and certain skilled jobs for which too few of the indigenous people are not qualified............
In places like the IoM it must be exacerbated by young people leaving to get higher education and jobs and careers.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
I know that my previous post about the importance of punctuation has left most forum members indifferent. I will nevertheless continue my relentless (and fruitless) crusade for the promotion of commas with an example taken from the current discussion.
BobTheGardener wrote "I've visited the IoM many times and love the island. The overwhelming impression still left on me is still one of magnificent desolation coupled with a sparseness of human population. Let's hope that's not the inevitable end result of democracy!"
Dovefromabove replied "I've a feeling it might be Bob "
Without the crucial comma, Dove's comment means that Bob himself might be "the inevitable end result of democracy".
Had Dove replied "I've a feeling it might be, Bob" (with the comma before "Bob") she would have clearly meant she hoped that "magnificent desolation coupled with a sparseness of human population" was not "the inevitable end result of democracy".
Yes Papi Joe I know and accept that - I am usually a pedant of the first order about my own writing (although not that of others, always bearing in mind that I am not aware of the circumstances under which the post is being made) - however this morning I was posting from my phone and punctuation isn't its strong point. Bearing in mind that most posters write in a conversational manner, I made the calculated decision not to make the effort to insert the comma, knowing that the regular members would understand my meaning when reading my post in context.
When writing short stories, essays, plays and poetry my punctuation is more punctilious - however, when posting from a phone most people nowadays accept a slightly more punk approach - in future I shall have to remember that I'm not the only pedant on board and that I'm being marked with a red pen.
Last edited: 13 November 2016 09:41:58
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Papi Jo.I had retired from the board until spring then peeking at the posting's for the last time I spotted your Policing the English as written why? Living in an area where we have five different dialects within thirty five miles and having been taught the correct way to speak and write English at High School your points are lost on me. I did well in English attaining high marks though not seeing the signs or the various hints and nods I probably missed out of getting two hundred out of a hundred. Who else i ask had a full blown kiss on the lips from the English teacher during the School play. Father was from Prudhoe, Mother brought up in North Yorkshire i was born in Durham, we are a coastal area with Ports and sea going people with a thriving immigration enhancement many from wartime as well as the new entrees, the local language is rich and at times ripe.
My point being as long as people write to each other and it is becoming a lost art with all those thumb operated machines, what matter where we miss the odd punctuation mark, some of which I learned at school I am now told are redundant. Seeing excited children in a group learning session reading books instead of i-pads at the library fills me with joy, who cares if they learn how to punctuate as long as they learn to read books again.
Reet aas ofen te getin me ganzi and aaa's upt garden, t' suns shining.
Posts
I've visited the IoM many times and love the island. The overwhelming impression still left on me is still one of magnificent desolation coupled with a sparseness of human population.
Let's hope that's not the inevitable end result of democracy!
I've a feeling it might be Bob
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
It is a fact that the more secure and educated and prosperous societies become the fewer children they have which will leave the western world in a demographic crisis as youngsters become too few to replace the older generations as they die and then you get problems with having enough people working to run all the services and industry so you rely on immigrants to do the "menial" tasks and certain skilled jobs for which too few of the indigenous people are not qualified............
In places like the IoM it must be exacerbated by young people leaving to get higher education and jobs and careers.
Hi all,
I know that my previous post about the importance of punctuation has left most forum members indifferent. I will nevertheless continue my relentless (and fruitless) crusade for the promotion of commas
with an example taken from the current discussion.
BobTheGardener wrote "I've visited the IoM many times and love the island. The overwhelming impression still left on me is still one of magnificent desolation coupled with a sparseness of human population.
Let's hope that's not the inevitable end result of democracy!"
Dovefromabove replied "I've a feeling it might be Bob "
Without the crucial comma, Dove's comment means that Bob himself might be "the inevitable end result of democracy".
Had Dove replied "I've a feeling it might be, Bob" (with the comma before "Bob") she would have clearly meant she hoped that "magnificent desolation coupled with a sparseness of human population" was not "the inevitable end result of democracy".
Yes Papi Joe
I know and accept that - I am usually a pedant of the first order about my own writing (although not that of others, always bearing in mind that I am not aware of the circumstances under which the post is being made) - however this morning I was posting from my phone and punctuation isn't its strong point. Bearing in mind that most posters write in a conversational manner, I made the calculated decision not to make the effort to insert the comma, knowing that the regular members would understand my meaning when reading my post in context.
When writing short stories, essays, plays and poetry my punctuation is more punctilious - however, when posting from a phone most people nowadays accept a slightly more punk approach - in future I shall have to remember that I'm not the only pedant on board and that I'm being marked with a red pen.
Last edited: 13 November 2016 09:41:58
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
FARAGE HAS NOW MET WITH THE PRESIDENT ELECT AT TRUMP TOWER.....BOTH HAVE BEAMING SMILES.
Dove "When writing short stories, essays, plays and poetry my punctuation is more punctilious..."
Point taken, Dove.
Papi Jo.I had retired from the board until spring then peeking at the posting's for the last time I spotted your Policing the English as written why? Living in an area where we have five different dialects within thirty five miles and having been taught the correct way to speak and write English at High School your points are lost on me. I did well in English attaining high marks though not seeing the signs or the various hints and nods I probably missed out of getting two hundred out of a hundred. Who else i ask had a full blown kiss on the lips from the English teacher during the School play. Father was from Prudhoe, Mother brought up in North Yorkshire i was born in Durham, we are a coastal area with Ports and sea going people with a thriving immigration enhancement many from wartime as well as the new entrees, the local language is rich and at times ripe.
My point being as long as people write to each other and it is becoming a lost art with all those thumb operated machines, what matter where we miss the odd punctuation mark, some of which I learned at school I am now told are redundant. Seeing excited children in a group learning session reading books instead of i-pads at the library fills me with joy, who cares if they learn how to punctuate as long as they learn to read books again.
Reet aas ofen te getin me ganzi and aaa's upt garden, t' suns shining.
Frank
Last edited: 13 November 2016 11:55:46
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Hey Bob - apparently the end of democracy (whatever that is
) is now down to you.....
Or is it 'up' to you?
Discuss......
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...