Joel Brown's recent posts
Recent public discussion board posts (showing 1-3 of 3).
Ok, I have to throw my two cents in on this one. There are a number of words/phrases that make me grind my teeth and make me want to punch something. Many of these words that stoke my ire are words conceived in corporate America to make things sound less abusive, more exciting, and generally distort the world into bland, easy morsels of crap to feed to the public. Words like "verbage" & "signage" make absolutely no sense. These aren't even words! These aren't even pretend words! ASAP, pronounce as one word or as individual letters drive me nuts. My boss uses it about 125 times a day. Yes, I know you want it done quickly. Oh, ASAP? Well, why didn't you say so? I'll get right on it!"Get right on it". Get right on what? Could you be a bit more specific please? "Input". As in, "can I get your input on this presentation?" or "What's your input on this situation?" I'm not saying it's not a valid word to use some of the time, but the incessant overuse of this word makes me want to beat my head against a wall. "Shoot me an email". Yes, it is irritating. And yes, sadly, I even use it on a near-daily basis. I can't help it, it just comes out. But what was ever wrong with the word "send"? Does saying "shoot" mean that it is going to make it to me faster? Or that it could harm me in some way if I am not careful? In fact, "my two cents" needs to be laid to rest as well. I don't know who thought these phrases would be helpful, but they only help to make us sound like driveling idiots.
On the topic of offensive words, including the "c" and "p" words, I only take offense to them if they are used excessively and without a good purpose. But that goes for any curse word. Overuse of strong language like that make the word lose its meaning and make the writer/speaker sound grandly unimaginative. Granted, there are not many good reasons to use "c" or "p", but they are there, and those reasons usually stem from British slang. As a guy, I understand the value of potty humor. Jokes and phrases involving genitalia will always be amusing to men. Nothing you can do about it. Get used to it.
Strangely enough... I was raised in a Presbyterian Church too... With my father as the Pastor. No, I am not a bible thumper either, but I do find value in faith-based literature, whatever the faith. Writings that can expand and illuminate someone elses faith or system of beliefs can be very enlightening. I also find alot of historical and literary value in the Bible, however distorted and misinterpreted it has become.
Books like Gilead are very interesting to someone like me who spent his childhood in the church and who's father is a minister. It is a beautifully written book with a lot of very relatable situations and emotions, however it may not be particularly relatable to everyone, which is why I think that book has shown up on this list.
If you really want to read something by CS Lewis that is NOT the Narnia chronicles, try "The Screwtape Letters." It is the correspondence between a lesser demon and his nephew, Screwtape. Funny, witty, and ultimately uplifting, even for a godless heathen.
