Category Archives: Language

Petition to Ban the Word “Amusing”…

Posted on October 15, 2016 by bsixsmith

This is not important. This is a pet hate. But it is a pet hate of pitbull proportions. The word “amusing” is used in two senses: to damn with faint praise, in which case it is slimily passive aggressive, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Language, Rhetoric | 2 Comments

Platitudes and Poetitudes…

Posted on July 6, 2016 by bsixsmith

A platitude is an assertion of limited truth content but great emotional appeal. A poetitude is an assertion of limited truth content but great aesthetic appeal. Consider this, from a Paris Review interview with Auden… INTERVIEWER You’ve insisted we do … Continue reading →

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A Concise Lexicon of Commentariana…

Posted on October 9, 2015 by bsixsmith

Alternative – Fashionable Awesome – Diverting Beautiful – Pleasant Bigot – Outgroup Brave – Opportunistic Common sense – Illogic Content – Navel lint Crank – Outgroup Democratic – Agreeable Even – Well, of course Extremist – Outgroup Hate – Irreverence … Continue reading →

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