Idiots hijack thread. Useless brains.

[Pasante]

Fuck the three of you.

[sunnyp]

Scam.

Name: Michael Mouse
Place: Florida, USA
Age: 90
Occupation: Entertainer

"You haven't asked for our opinions on anything. If you want my personal details for identity fraud, you're going to have to try a lot harder than that".

[Pasante]

I actually got excited when I saw the first reply, but I should have know when I saw it was Sunny P. Well, anyone who wants to comment is welcome, if you don't feel comfortable sharing that info, you don't have too, opinions is what we need.

By the way, I used to be a member, Bach&Roses they used to call me, if that helps.

[2NaFish]

I actually got excited when I saw the first reply, but I should have know when I saw it was Sunny P.

Ha.

I know nothing about Jaurez, Mexico. Any info i have published on the net you are welcome to use, but sunny's concerns are kinda valid.

If you are genuinely doing some research in to this topic, you shouldn't have such a leading example including a line such as "I believe human rights as a whole are being violated every day in Juárez, México, etc.". If you want honest replies you can't lead people in such a way.

Notice to all members, please do not put down any personal information you are not comfortable with.

[King bumb.l.foot II]

B&R  please explain more about what the data will be used for and why personal details are relevant

[Bach&Roses]

What? I clearly stated it was an example, I made that up. I have some opinions I've gathered, they're in spanish. Look, I just thought people concerned about Chile, Haiti, Obama etc... Were good choices for opinions.

Let's see, I'll try being objective. I am compiling opinions for my research, you don't even have to give me your details, I stated that. But if anyone here has ever done a study before, you will know, you have to do a demographic research. It's simple. I want to have at least a thousand opinions, so I can start working on my documentary. So your info, which I don't even think I am asking for anything out of line, will just be compiled in my research, id you desire that, but if you don't, it's still ok. I am just working to know what people think about the situation.

I am gathering information from several people, I am not interested in your personal information, it's just research. Whoever feel comfortable and has something to say about this subject, please do. If you want to help even more, put your information, if you do not feel comfortable do not.

Thanks

[2NaFish]

What? I clearly stated it was an example, I made that up.

]

I know dood, but it was a pretty leading example. Anyone who reads it will then perceive there to be human rights issues even if they know nothing about it. This makes the info gathered contaminated and impure.

[Pasante]

Done, whoever wants to comment is welcomed, thank you.

[polar]

human rights in mexico?  you're way off.  Sounds like a job for PETA

[sunnyp]

I actually got excited when I saw the first reply, but I should have know when I saw it was Sunny P. Well, anyone who wants to comment is welcome, if you don't feel comfortable sharing that info, you don't have too, opinions is what we need.

By the way, I used to be a member, Bach&Roses they used to call me, if that helps.

How about you tell us your name, place, age, and occupation first. You can't expect others to do the same unless you've done it yourself.

[nemo]

I think the situation in Ciudad Juarez is all fine and dandy.  In fact, I'd say it's a model to aspire to for every other developed city on the globe.  A truly utopian beacon of enlightened cohabitation between the law-makers and the narcotics trade. 

Um, Surely this research is only gonna give rise to 'it's shit' or 'I know nothing about it' responses?  I'm certain anyone who's actually aware of what's going on there thinks it's a bit shitty.  I'm not sure what you're going to learn from this exercise really. 

By the way, I didn't really want to type 'truly' before utopian, it's unnecessary, other than that it prevented me from having to work out whether to use 'a utopian' which looks bad, or 'an utopian' which sounds even worse.  I was leaning in the direction of 'a', but seeing as I'm an idiot who can't remember how to use English properly, can someone tell me which is correct, or if there is actually a definite correct answer?

[2NaFish]

the use of a- or an- depends on the sound an not the letter itself. Y sounds usually take an A and thats what i'd plump for this time.

whilst i'm sure french is perfect and all, english is quirky and sometimes it sounds clumsy. it's up to pedants to look down on folk who are needlessly clumsy.

(i am alot more confused than i was at first. plus, having read thomas more, i can confirm that Utopia is utterly shit)

[sunnyp]

I think the situation in Ciudad Juarez is all fine and dandy.  In fact, I'd say it's a model to aspire to for every other developed city on the globe.  A truly utopian beacon of enlightened cohabitation between the law-makers and the narcotics trade. 

Um, Surely this research is only gonna give rise to 'it's shit' or 'I know nothing about it' responses?  I'm certain anyone who's actually aware of what's going on there thinks it's a bit shitty.  I'm not sure what you're going to learn from this exercise really. 

By the way, I didn't really want to type 'truly' before utopian, it's unnecessary, other than that it prevented me from having to work out whether to use 'a utopian' which looks bad, or 'an utopian' which sounds even worse.  I was leaning in the direction of 'a', but seeing as I'm an idiot who can't remember how to use English properly, can someone tell me which is correct, or if there is actually a definite correct answer?

Grammatically, using an adverb before an adjective is 'perfectly acceptable'. However, there are certain exceptions: For example, 'very freezing' [sic] is grammatically incorrect.

The article 'a' or 'the' must be used before 'utopian' as the 'u' in utopian, university, unicorn etc. This is because the use of articles a/an is governed by pronunciation and not spelling. The 'u' in these words is considered to be a harder consonant sound, apparently.

[nemo]

having read thomas more, i can confirm that Utopia is utterly shit

kinda like ciudad juarez then I guess.

Yeah, it wasn't exactly the greatest thing I've ever read either.

The French love a grammar rule actually, it's terrifying, most of them can look at a piece of writing and point out tenses and grammatical formations I've never heard of (mandative subjunctive, anyone?) because it's all they do at school, ask them to actually form a sentence using one though and they go into a blind panic.  And yes, the French Academy has actually decided upon what is perfect French and rather than letting the language evolve, has just declared that any uses outside of those they permit are wrong.  It's kinda ridiculous.  Nice to be reminded that you can choose what you want to do with English a lot of the time.

[2NaFish]

Nice to be reminded that you can choose what you want to do with English a lot of the time.

Provided you dont lose that ability whilst having a jolly in frogville.

Still, atleast you could get someone to teach you the patter when you return. Having endured loads of old firm pish lately, may i recommend..

James and Walter - Superstars of Banter Booth

[sunnyp]

I love English grammar. I don't care if I'm a geek, but in English it's possible to express things which other languages simply cannot.

We've used the mandative subjunctive without knowing it. It's when you say for example,

"I demand that he be left alone"

Basically, some verbs (eg demand) are followed by 'that' + clause, often in passive voice. This is the mandative subjunctive. Subjunctive refers to a hypothetical situation like "God save the Queen". She doesn't need saving, but 'if she did, then God would save her'.

I've just returned from Russia where I was an English teacher, and there they don't have a difference between:

If I knew the answer, I would tell you" and "If I had known the answer, I would have told you". For them, it's the same. Also, in Russian and other Slavic languages, it's not grammatically possible to say "If I'd joined the army, I would be in Afghanistan now".

[2NaFish]

I love English grammar. I don't care if I'm a geek, but in English express things which other languages simply cannot.

wahey!!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muphry's_law

[sunnyp]

^ Haha, you were on that in a flash. I wrote something, deleted it, and then reformed the idea. Unfortunately, the duty free whisky has made me careless, and I'd forgotten to complete the sentence correctly.

Guilty as charged.

Be it as it may, the effort was there.... Do I get marks for effort?!

[2NaFish]

you get marks for showing your working, effort is worth jack shit though m'boy.

[sunnyp]

That'd surely get me GCSE nowadays!! I've tied my shoelaces... have a GCSE.

2na is a stingy miser.

[2NaFish]

pah, GCSE.


Scotch educashun siztem is myles betta.

[sunnyp]

Britain's finest at work.

I heard a story about a young lad in Manchester, who got a diploma for catching a bus..... a fucking bus!!!!

No word of a lie.

[nemo]

Britain's finest at work.

I heard a story about a young lad in Manchester, who got a diploma for catching a bus..... a fucking bus!!!!

No word of a lie.

That's not true... I won't have it.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/AQA-Certificate-For-Catching-Bus-Given-To-Bobby-McHale-In-Bury-Manchester/Article/200908215361010

I stand corrected.

If I knew the answer, I would tell you" and "If I had known the answer, I would have told you". For them, it's the same. Also, in Russian and other Slavic languages, it's not grammatically possible to say "If I'd joined the army, I would be in Afghanistan now".

Yeah, quite a few languages don't distinguish between conditionals in the way we do, and most of them don't have 4 different conditional forms, quite often it's the 3rd conditional that gets dropped.

Similarly to the first example you gave, in French there's no difference between 'I play' and 'I am playing' as there's no such thing as a continuous tense.  They also use the present perfect tense to express what is essentially the past simple.

[nemo]

Fuck the three of you.

Well I still don't really see what you were trying to achieve with your research question.  'Some people on the internet think drug dealers and cops shooting the shit out of each other is probably not a great thing.  Some other people on the internet knew nothing about it, but from what they hear others say, it doesn't sound ideal.'

No matter how well i dressed that up, I'm not really sure I could get that sort of work published anywhere. 

[Sean]

o yay we are on topic...     I think,  I missed the original post