superafropenguin
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- Posted: Tue, 22 Mar 2005 03:56:53 +0000
This is the paper i had to write for my english class. We chose a word and had to do a definition paper on it. Tell me what you think of it!
Also, we have this thing where we cant write in passive voice, cant use contractions, etc. etc. etc. In my opinion, some works are just better in passive voice, with contractions, and all the other stuff we shouldnt have. i'd like to know your opinion on which is better...the original or revised.
Thanks much!
(the original is first, followed by the revised)
----------------------------------------------------------------
Lard Arm!
People in the world today have such general relationships with others. There's a cut-and-paste model for conversation, independent of the individual at the other end - "How's it going?", "Did you hear about so-and-so?", "Oh, My, GOD! I did blah blah blah!!!!" Frankly, it gets old. Yet, today's society, in its grand wisdom, conforms to the majority. So, when I point and yell "LARD ARM!" across the hall to Lindsey, or when Stephanie says, "See you, my PBFBHSJWBBB squared NMG," as we leave teenage prison and emerge into the civilized culture every weekday at 1:55 PM, I get looks, and even the occasional shout out from the Peanut Gallery, "...that was random...," uttered with complete contempt, confusion, and possible disgust.
Random is looked down upon. It's disorganized, unplanned, unscheduled, unpredictable, and haphazard; the exact opposite of the characteristics valued by the American public. One must face the facts; we don't spend millions of dollars every year, as a nation, on tools such as computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and the like, because we value disorganization and haphazardness. We strive for progress and, in the process, random must be avoided.
When the word random first appeared in the English language, it meant "impetuous headlong rush," from old French randon, or "great speed." Although different from the contemporary meaning, the original definition still fits. For instance, in calculus, Erica started talking about the French word chameau and how it means camel, not an oversized whale used for public satisfaction. Within a few minutes, she was doing imitations of "llamels" (camels and llamas mixed). It was an undeniably random experience - fast and without purpose or pattern.
So then, back to relationships. Why does it matter if what we say is random, in the eyes of others? We know what we mean, we know it came from some obscure source, without true logic, and we know that others don't "get it." That is what makes it great. The difference between friend X and friend Y isn't determined by how they dress, or the best answers they create to the fill-in-the-blank conversation model, but the special something you share with them. Random creates that; it insures uniqueness and originality, and is almost never repeated. Do you think I would go around calling everyone "Lard Arm?" I'm random, not retarded. However odd, obscure, and random it may be, it's something only Lindsey and I share.
The best things in life are random. People win the lottery randomly. People meet their soulmates randomly. People have unique relationships randomly. Society needs to realize the true use of random. If it can't keep up to speed, let it squabble and protest in its confusion; I'll continue the rush.
Lard Arm!
People in the world today maintain such general relationships with others. They use a cut-and-paste model for conversation, independent of the individual at the other end - "How's it going?", "Did you hear about so-and-so?", "Oh, My, GOD! I did blah blah blah!!!!" Frankly, it grows old. Yet, today's society, in its grand wisdom, conforms to the majority. So, when I point and yell "LARD ARM!" across the hall to Lindsey, or when Stephanie says, "See you, my PBFBHSJWBBB squared NMG," as we leave teenage prison and emerge into the civilized culture every weekday at 1:55 PM, I receive looks, and even the occasional shout out from the Peanut Gallery, "...that was random...," uttered with complete contempt, confusion, and possible disgust.
We tend to disregard random. When one thinks about it, the words "disorganized," "unplanned," " unscheduled," "unpredictable," and "haphazard" come to mind; the exact opposite of the characteristics valued by the American public. One must face the facts; we do not spend millions of dollars every year, as a nation, on tools such as computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and the like, because we value disorganization and haphazardness. We strive for progress and, in the process, random must be avoided.
When the word random first appeared in the English language, it meant "impetuous headlong rush," from old French randon, or "great speed." Although different from the contemporary meaning, the original definition still fits. For instance, in calculus, Erica started talking about the French word chameau and how it means camel, rather than an oversized whale used for public satisfaction. Within a few minutes, she started doing imitations of "llamels" (camels and llamas mixed). It was an undeniably random experience - fast and without purpose or pattern.
So then, back to relationships. Why does it matter if we say random things, in the eyes of others? We know what we mean, we know it came from some obscure source, without true logic, and we know that others do not "get it." That is what makes it great. The difference between friend X and friend Y is independent of how they dress, or the best answers they create to the fill-in-the-blank conversation model, but rather dependent on the special something you share with them. Random creates this; it insures uniqueness and originality, and almost never repeats. Do you think I would go around calling everyone "Lard Arm?" However odd, obscure, and random it may be, it exists as something only Lindsey and I share.
The best things in life happen randomly. People win the lottery randomly. People meet their soulmates randomly. People have unique relationships randomly. Society needs to realize the true use of random. If it lacks the speed, let it squabble and protest in its confusion; I will continue the rush.
Also, we have this thing where we cant write in passive voice, cant use contractions, etc. etc. etc. In my opinion, some works are just better in passive voice, with contractions, and all the other stuff we shouldnt have. i'd like to know your opinion on which is better...the original or revised.
Thanks much!
(the original is first, followed by the revised)
----------------------------------------------------------------
Lard Arm!
People in the world today have such general relationships with others. There's a cut-and-paste model for conversation, independent of the individual at the other end - "How's it going?", "Did you hear about so-and-so?", "Oh, My, GOD! I did blah blah blah!!!!" Frankly, it gets old. Yet, today's society, in its grand wisdom, conforms to the majority. So, when I point and yell "LARD ARM!" across the hall to Lindsey, or when Stephanie says, "See you, my PBFBHSJWBBB squared NMG," as we leave teenage prison and emerge into the civilized culture every weekday at 1:55 PM, I get looks, and even the occasional shout out from the Peanut Gallery, "...that was random...," uttered with complete contempt, confusion, and possible disgust.
Random is looked down upon. It's disorganized, unplanned, unscheduled, unpredictable, and haphazard; the exact opposite of the characteristics valued by the American public. One must face the facts; we don't spend millions of dollars every year, as a nation, on tools such as computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and the like, because we value disorganization and haphazardness. We strive for progress and, in the process, random must be avoided.
When the word random first appeared in the English language, it meant "impetuous headlong rush," from old French randon, or "great speed." Although different from the contemporary meaning, the original definition still fits. For instance, in calculus, Erica started talking about the French word chameau and how it means camel, not an oversized whale used for public satisfaction. Within a few minutes, she was doing imitations of "llamels" (camels and llamas mixed). It was an undeniably random experience - fast and without purpose or pattern.
So then, back to relationships. Why does it matter if what we say is random, in the eyes of others? We know what we mean, we know it came from some obscure source, without true logic, and we know that others don't "get it." That is what makes it great. The difference between friend X and friend Y isn't determined by how they dress, or the best answers they create to the fill-in-the-blank conversation model, but the special something you share with them. Random creates that; it insures uniqueness and originality, and is almost never repeated. Do you think I would go around calling everyone "Lard Arm?" I'm random, not retarded. However odd, obscure, and random it may be, it's something only Lindsey and I share.
The best things in life are random. People win the lottery randomly. People meet their soulmates randomly. People have unique relationships randomly. Society needs to realize the true use of random. If it can't keep up to speed, let it squabble and protest in its confusion; I'll continue the rush.
Lard Arm!
People in the world today maintain such general relationships with others. They use a cut-and-paste model for conversation, independent of the individual at the other end - "How's it going?", "Did you hear about so-and-so?", "Oh, My, GOD! I did blah blah blah!!!!" Frankly, it grows old. Yet, today's society, in its grand wisdom, conforms to the majority. So, when I point and yell "LARD ARM!" across the hall to Lindsey, or when Stephanie says, "See you, my PBFBHSJWBBB squared NMG," as we leave teenage prison and emerge into the civilized culture every weekday at 1:55 PM, I receive looks, and even the occasional shout out from the Peanut Gallery, "...that was random...," uttered with complete contempt, confusion, and possible disgust.
We tend to disregard random. When one thinks about it, the words "disorganized," "unplanned," " unscheduled," "unpredictable," and "haphazard" come to mind; the exact opposite of the characteristics valued by the American public. One must face the facts; we do not spend millions of dollars every year, as a nation, on tools such as computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and the like, because we value disorganization and haphazardness. We strive for progress and, in the process, random must be avoided.
When the word random first appeared in the English language, it meant "impetuous headlong rush," from old French randon, or "great speed." Although different from the contemporary meaning, the original definition still fits. For instance, in calculus, Erica started talking about the French word chameau and how it means camel, rather than an oversized whale used for public satisfaction. Within a few minutes, she started doing imitations of "llamels" (camels and llamas mixed). It was an undeniably random experience - fast and without purpose or pattern.
So then, back to relationships. Why does it matter if we say random things, in the eyes of others? We know what we mean, we know it came from some obscure source, without true logic, and we know that others do not "get it." That is what makes it great. The difference between friend X and friend Y is independent of how they dress, or the best answers they create to the fill-in-the-blank conversation model, but rather dependent on the special something you share with them. Random creates this; it insures uniqueness and originality, and almost never repeats. Do you think I would go around calling everyone "Lard Arm?" However odd, obscure, and random it may be, it exists as something only Lindsey and I share.
The best things in life happen randomly. People win the lottery randomly. People meet their soulmates randomly. People have unique relationships randomly. Society needs to realize the true use of random. If it lacks the speed, let it squabble and protest in its confusion; I will continue the rush.
