Even high profile black people butcher the English language

[Purple Aki]

Every school should teach kids proper English.  We've actually had a debate here about whether it is appropriate to condone or even teach pidgin in the public schools.  I do a lot of volunteer work in elementary schools (going this evening in fact to read to second graders) and there are stark differences in the language among our kids here.  Pidgin is much more prevalent in more remote and poorer sections of the island. 

I also do a lot of interviews and I'll tell you speech is really important.  I would not hire anyone who cannot speak proper English, unless their language problems were related to a disability. 

That said, the whole point of this thread is silly.  Criticizing an educated person who mispronounces a word tells me someone probably has race issues. 

Its good to see that others also like to volanteer and help the youth.

I used to help the lads in my area improve there fitness and strength. but ive had to stop it recently.

[Truman]

what english language did he butcher? i was unaware that there is an "ideal" english language in existence. 

There is, it's called the Queens English.

[Al Doggity]

Well said Al. 

BTW, my closest friend is a black man who grew up in Harlem.  Nicest guy I know (next to me).    

Kumbayaaaaa, 

[youandme]

Its good to see that others also like to volanteer and help the youth.

I used to help the lads in my area improve there fitness and strength. but ive had to stop it recently.

I'm doing my part....I'm going to build a camp jail.

[24KT]

No, I'm not missing the point. I addressed the point.

Al, ...there you go again, ...another slam dunk from the 3 point zone.

If everyone could remain as calm and as articulate as you in the face of absolute ridiculousness,
...we will have accomplished something. Personally, I just walk away and can't be bothered.
For those without understanding, you can bring it. For those who want to remain set in their ignorance...
...I suppose that's their right to remain ignorant if they want.

[Camel Jockey]

I don't live in a black majority neighborhood right now, but I did live in Harlem when I was in college and  a few years afterwards. I'm not claiming there weren't any rude people there. Yes, it was definitely rowdier than the UES, but I loved my old neighborhood. There were some trashy people there, but there were some great people there, too. I can honestly and 100% truthfully say I don't recall having one argument with someone I interacted with in passing during the 4 and a half years I lived in Harlem.

What's your ethnic background? Your experiences could be directly related to your own background. Meaning attitude and acceptence of certain kinds of behavior.

I hate anyone who gives me an excuse to do so, including my own people. I was not always this way, but I've found that being tolerant all the time leads you down the gutter. Thank heavens this was in my youth. Now I am an adult and my opinions are pretty much solid and wont budge unless I realize some great fault of my own.

You live in the City. Now, comparing Harlem to lets say Bed Sty or Jamaica, is like comparing apples to oranges. Harlem is different. Get yourself a place in a rowdy place somewhere in Queens or Brooklyn and then compare and contrast your experience with Harlem, and the places I've just told you about.

Not to generalize, but you live in the UES. Millionaires row, yuppie heaven, close acess to a great park. The whole package. If we were taking social caste, you'd be miles ahead of me. What my point is that you obviously are very well off financially, as opposed to a middle class, under 21, college kid like myself. You can shake off rudeness, unofficial crimes, I can't. Why? Well, for one I don't live in a yuppie place where there's no adversity. A yuppie place that's full of people who's very nature is tolerance to the extreme, which is not a good thing always.

Have a nice day.

[Dos Equis]

Al, ...there you go again, ...another slam dunk from the 3 point zone.

That's pretty painful.  If you're going to use sports phrases, please use them properly.  This is like nails on the chalkboard. 

You would just say "slam dunk" (a phrase coined by the late great Chick Hearn.  I miss Chick.).  There is no three point "zone."  It's the three point "line."  Draining a three pointer would be more appropriate with the picture of a ball going in the hoop. 

I would just stay away from sports phrases.   

[w8tlftr]

That's pretty painful.  If you're going to use sports phrases, please use them properly.  This is like nails on the chalkboard. 

You would just say "slam dunk" (a phrase coined by the late great Chick Hearn.  I miss Chick.).  There is no three point "zone."  It's the three point "line."  Draining a three pointer would be more appropriate with the picture of a ball going in the hoop. 

I would just stay away from sports phrases.   

LOL.... ouch!

[Al-Gebra]

That's pretty painful.  If you're going to use sports phrases, please use them properly.  This is like nails on the chalkboard. 

You would just say "slam dunk" (a phrase coined by the late great Chick Hearn.  I miss Chick.).  There is no three point "zone."  It's the three point "line."  Draining a three pointer would be more appropriate with the picture of a ball going in the hoop. 

I would just stay away from sports phrases.   

how about she just stays away from the politics board instead?

[Al Doggity]

What's your ethnic background? Your experiences could be directly related to your own background. Meaning attitude and acceptence of certain kinds of behavior...

I'm black, I'm 27 and, if I put in enough overtime, I will be lucky to make $50,000 this year (that's not a bad income, but this is New York) I live on Second Avenue, which is hardly millionaire's row. The most common apartment type east of Lexington is a studio or one bedroom walk up. Even from  Lexington westward, there are a lot of studios and rent stabilized apartments occupied by lower-middle class types.  I say all of this to point out you can't always judge a book by it's cover, and you often judge incorrectly.

Incidentally, why do you think my background is relevant when it comes to accepting certain kinds of behavior, but you feel that something about your background renders your point of view unassailable?


Also this:

but I've found that being tolerant all the time leads you down the gutter.

What does this mean? Seriously, how has being tolerant led you down the gutter?

[Al Doggity]

how about she just stays away from the politics board instead?

Naw, she's a great addition to the board (when she's not hawking those pills).
I appreciate her comments earlier, but all of those points more accurately apply to her. Even if you don't agree with her points, she's probably the most articulate political board regular and she doesn't lower the tone of debates too often. She usually remains pretty level headed and diplomatic, something I fail at quite often but still find admirable.

[Colossus_500]

That's pretty painful.  If you're going to use sports phrases, please use them properly.  This is like nails on the chalkboard. 

You would just say "slam dunk" (a phrase coined by the late great Chick Hearn.  I miss Chick.).  There is no three point "zone."  It's the three point "line."  Draining a three pointer would be more appropriate with the picture of a ball going in the hoop. 

I would just stay away from sports phrases.   

Ouch! 

[Al-Gebra]

Naw, she's a great addition to the board (when she's not hawking those pills).
I appreciate her comments earlier, but all of those points more accurately apply to her. Even if you don't agree with her points, she's probably the most articulate political board regular and she doesn't lower the tone of debates too often. She usually remains pretty level headed and diplomatic, something I fail at quite often but still find admirable.

what are you talking about?  she's one of the biggest retailers of bullshit on getbig. and she's probably the most condescending poster on top of that . . . one of those things would be tolerable, but she's got them together.

[Al Doggity]

I have never found her to be condescending.

I think she has a lot of controversial opinions, but from the posts I've read, she remains pretty diplomatic when defending her beliefs. I don't read too many of the other boards, but when she's not posting about her pills on this one, she's a solid contributor.

[Dos Equis]

how about she just stays away from the politics board instead?

       Better to have a broad range of opinions. 

[Dos Equis]

I have never found her to be condescending.

I think she has a lot of controversial opinions, but from the posts I've read, she remains pretty diplomatic when defending her beliefs. I don't read too many of the other boards, but when she's not posting about her pills on this one, she's a solid contributor.

You just haven't been around long enough. 

[youandme]

hahaha "slam dunk from the 3 point zone"


CLASSIC

[Cap]

Naw, she's a great addition to the board (when she's not hawking those pills).
I appreciate her comments earlier, but all of those points more accurately apply to her. Even if you don't agree with her points, she's probably the most articulate political board regular and she doesn't lower the tone of debates too often. She usually remains pretty level headed and diplomatic, something I fail at quite often but still find admirable.

Search more posts, wrong person bud.  She is very condescending unless you buy into her BS or buy her BS products like those shit pills for your car.  She adds nothing of value except childish pictures and snide remarks for those that disagree, not to mention all her comments about country in which she does not reside.  Good addition to the board.   

As far as THIS topic, there is much truth to the notion and saying so does not make one racist, just someone with a correct observation.

[24KT]

That's pretty painful.  If you're going to use sports phrases, please use them properly.  This is like nails on the chalkboard. 

You would just say "slam dunk" (a phrase coined by the late great Chick Hearn.  I miss Chick.).  There is no three point "zone."  It's the three point "line."  Draining a three pointer would be more appropriate with the picture of a ball going in the hoop.

{blush} Ouch!     ...anyone got a bandaid... I seem to be bleeding here. 

At least give me credit for knowing the Boston Red Sox finally won the Superbowl. 
.  

I would just stay away from sports phrases.   

Troy Polamalu is a hottie!  

[24KT]

LOL.... ouch!

Stop laughing you! The man just insulted me.   
There is no humour in that. No pizza for you!        

[24KT]

Naw, she's a great addition to the board (when she's not hawking those pills).
I appreciate her comments earlier, but all of those points more accurately apply to her. Even if you don't agree with her points, she's probably the most articulate political board regular and she doesn't lower the tone of debates too often. She usually remains pretty level headed and diplomatic, something I fail at quite often but still find admirable.

Thanks Al, I'm blushing. 

[24KT]

Search more posts, wrong person bud.  She is very condescending unless you buy into her BS or buy her BS products like those shit pills for your car.  She adds nothing of value except childish pictures and snide remarks for those that disagree, not to mention all her comments about country in which she does not reside.  Good addition to the board.   

As far as THIS topic, there is much truth to the notion and saying so does not make one racist, just someone with a correct observation.

Isn't it past your bedtime?

[Dos Equis]

Isn't it past your bedtime?

Yeah cap.  Listen to tutu.  She is concerned about you.   

[Cap]

Yeah cap.  Listen to tutu.  She is concerned about you.   

Yeah, same old comments from the same old woman. 

[Al Doggity]

Now, comparing Harlem to lets say Bed Sty or Jamaica, is like comparing apples to oranges. Harlem is different. Get yourself a place in a rowdy place somewhere in Queens or Brooklyn and then compare and contrast your experience with Harlem, and the places I've just told you about.

Wow. I can't believe I missed this the first time. I guess I was preoccupied with trying to make some other point.

You do realize that this post confirms my suspicions, right? You DO take the worst of what you see and use that to form opinions about the black community, even when you know full well that it isn't an accurate representation.

You don't dispute that I probably had a relatively decent experience living in Harlem. You just assert that my experience would be different in a different setting.

Harlem isn't some gilded community of artificially selected, mega-rich blacks that exist exclusively between 110th and 155th. It's a pretty accurate cross section of what the New York black population looks like. There is a healthy mix of poor people and financially secure people, all with different temperaments and educational backgrounds. There are areas that are very nice, but it is not, by any means, an exclusive or exclusionary neighborhood. Convincing yourself that largely uneventful life in Harlem is tantamount to some type of unexplained, 1-in-a-million cultural aberration proves to me you're looking for trouble.


 I haven't spent much time in Jamaica, but I don't know what you're going on about in reference to Bed-Stuy. It's almost a mirror of Harlem, right down to the rapidly diversifying community. One of my former co-workers bought a brownstone there and it's a pretty decent area. The crime is pretty localized around the projects.