Comments on: Fun with crackpots and lunatics

By: Jenn

Jenn — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 03:38:25 +0000

Reading the letters to the editor of the Daily Herald, is the highlight of my day!!! We definitely grow em weird here in the valley, & they can get downright hilarious! You can always tell when a letter is written by an old person. I just always have a vision of them spreading out the paper, checking every story just so they can write a letter. I think my favorites are when they rail on politicians.

By: Savvy Veteran

Savvy Veteran — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 22:35:44 +0000

@ Calidaho:

Don’t fret. I recognized this and thought it was funny. No, literally. I really did.

By: Calidaho

Calidaho — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 21:52:10 +0000

It was my attempt at a little joke…

By: Bryon

Bryon — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 21:13:59 +0000

Calidaho,

When commenting on usage, it’s probably best to avoid the word “irregardless.”

By: Calidaho

Calidaho — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 20:35:53 +0000

I think Obama has taken money from the archives climate control budget to pay for some commie-pinko program like inner city after school programs or something. This is slowly destroying the Constitution.

From Dictionary.com:
Usage note:
Since the early 20th century, literally has been widely used as an intensifier meaning �in effect, virtually,� a sense that contradicts the earlier meaning �actually, without exaggeration�: The senator was literally buried alive in the Iowa primaries. The parties were literally trading horses in an effort to reach a compromise. The use is often criticized; nevertheless, it appears in all but the most carefully edited writing. Although this use of literally irritates some, it probably neither distorts nor enhances the intended meaning of the sentences in which it occurs. The same might often be said of the use of literally in its earlier sense �actually�: The garrison was literally wiped out: no one survived.

Just because “all but the most carefully edited writing” is doing it, doesn’t make it right! Irregardless of what Dictionary.com says, I refuse to let it slide.

By: Christina D

Christina D — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 18:00:06 +0000

@matt

I totally agree. I have to stay away from the comments on KSL news stories because it makes me want to go on a rampage and beat all the stupid out of the commenters. Gah!

By: matt

matt — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:21:05 +0000

I’m with Michael. There are no worse people on the earth than those who comment regularly on KSL.com.

I would laugh it wasn’t so horrifying.

By: Casey

Casey — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 06:37:10 +0000

Not so fast, folks – one proper use of “literally” is as a hyperbolic intensifier. Really! Look it up! Let us confine our mockery of Mr. Bender’s wingnuttery to his bizarre paranoia, but leave alone his use of English. The man’s literally insane, but he’s violated no rules of grammar.
Still, I giggled when I read about Obama “pile-driving the protective glass, and ripping the Constitution into shreds, in full view of bewildered, fanny-packed tourists.”

By: mommy

mommy — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 01:46:26 +0000

Maybe Obama’s tearing off one little tiny bit of the constitution and swallowing it so no one will know…but this amazing Russell has caught it on video and we’ll see it on you tube soon.

perhaps Barbara’s crap really is special so in her case it isn’t vulgar it is profane? even while it is being beaten out of her?

By: dave

dave — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:23:16 +0000

I don’t know: the comment posters at most periodicals these days seem to be far more insane than any of the examples given heretofore.

I mean, if you want to see craziness, go to an alternative periodicals’ comment section and be amazed.

However, the editors chose these letters of the literally dozens received to be published, so I suppose that is more disturbing. I mean, any fool with access to a computer and the internet can go to some website and post a …

never mind. good post!