Further reflections on the funeral

[Anna]

It's the use of the word "deviant" Ian, which IS unacceptable. Care to define what categories of humankind you'd include under that term? Slightly uncomfortable

Not sure about this deviant stuff I'm sure. Vegans? Or, maybe Lesbians? Lentils? People with post-ironic beards? Gays who wear sandals with socks?
<confused emoticon>

[scottycelt]

According to my trusty Collins dictionary 'deviant' means .. 'deviating from what is considered to be acceptable'.

So is suggesting that something is unacceptable now itself become 'unacceptable' to some of our over-sensitive souls ... ?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

According to my trusty Collins dictionary 'deviant' means .. 'deviating from what is considered to be acceptable'.

Does Mr Murdoch's dictionary suggest who does the "considering" and/or to whom it might not be "acceptable"?

[scottycelt]

Does Mr Murdoch's dictionary suggest who does the "considering" and/or to whom it might not be "acceptable"?

In much the same way as you may well ask Flossie why he considers the dictionary word itself to be 'unacceptable' and/or to whom, you mean?

[french frank]

I see no reason why the invectic can't be turned upon our beardy chums in the Liberal Party

Oi!

[Flosshilde]

Flosshilde

Don't understand how you can be offended by my comment as given the recent record of that political party even if you are of a sandals & sock-wearing persuassion. It's a pretty opaque statement and could infer all sorts of permutations, many of which, I woud suggest, are probably pretty relevany considering the recent news post-Saville.

It's perfectly acceptable to be ironic or "post-modern" and I see no reason why the invectic can't be turned upon our beardy chums in the Liberal Party as it has, quite correctly, been directed at Margaret Thatcher.

I don't understand how you could possibly not understand why I, & others, would be offended. However, it doesn't matter whether you understand or not; I consider it to be offensive & contrary to the board rules.

I assume by your comment that you are probably a school teacher.

How? Why?

[jean]

...given the recent record of that political party even if you are of a sandals & sock-wearing persuasion. It's a pretty opaque statement and could infer all sorts of permutations...

A pedant wrtes: Your statement is even more opaque than you intended.

...the Liberal Party...

exists only as a tiny rump of those who refused to join the Social Democrats to form the Liberal Democrat party.

(You might have thought they'd have been able to capitalise on the record of the Liberal Democrats as members of the coalition government, but that doesn't seem to have happened.)

[french frank]

A pedant wrtes: Your statement is even more opaque than you intended.

exists only as a tiny rump of those who refused to join the Social Democrats to form the Liberal Democrat party.

Another pedant writes that more correct would be to say, "who refused to join with the Social Democrats to form the LDs". They were old Liberal Party, and the equivalent of the Owenite faction of the SDP who likewise refused to join. On reflection, I have no idea whether they are 'beardy' or not.

Floss, I'll contact you.

[jean]

Another pedant writes that more correct would be to say, "who refused to join with the Social Democrats to form the LDs".

True. Consider my wording amended.

...On reflection, I have no idea whether they are 'beardy' or not...

The one I have most to do with isn't beardy at all:



(Whatever happened to the Owenites, I wonder?)

[burning dog]

(Whatever happened to the Owenites, I wonder?)

They took over the bodies of Peter Mandelson and Tony Blair?

Owen is definitely New Labour/Thatcher in trousers

[Sydney Grew]

Does Mr Murdoch's dictionary suggest who does the "considering" and/or to whom it might not be "acceptable"?

Answer: the mob.

[ahinton]

Another pedant writes that more correct would be to say, "who refused to join with the Social Democrats to form the LDs". They were old Liberal Party, and the equivalent of the Owenite faction of the SDP who likewise refused to join. On reflection, I have no idea whether they are 'beardy' or not.

Nor do I; indeed, I don't even have any idea who might care and/or why it matters one way of the other.

[ahinton]

Answer: the mob.

But does the said dictionary suggest who might have determined whom it may be that constitutes "the mob" and on what grounds?

[eighthobstruction]

I'm a bit worried some of these beardy people (men mostly I suggest) might shave off their face hair and go incogntito....who knows what a mob of them might do......??

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

But does the said dictionary suggest who might have determined whom it may be that constitutes "the mob" and on what grounds?

I wondered if there were any suggestion of a connection between the owners of the Collins Publishing firm and the Mafia?