Words and phrases

There are a few words you should know before they nail the lid down - "LET ME OUT - I'M NOT DEAD"

pompa

Anyone remember taking this test to estimate your vocabulary? It was doing the rounds a few years ago.

pompa thanks!

pompa . I don't know what's going on here. soon writes perfectly good, accurate English with a variety of words appropriate to the sentiment so I'm at a loss to understand why she's having a problem. Unless it's that traditional English thing of having a go at any enjoyment of education. Funny, that. I wonder why we come so low in international comparisons of educational achievement?

Lilygran The so-called problem is not how soontobe writes but how some – or, maybe, all – of the rest of us write.

Ashtree that was fun! Now I shall look up the words I didn't know.

I have just come from reading Joycie's uplifting and truly humbling thread about her MND and how positively she and her lovely husband are facing life, and frankly I am feeling a bit sickened that we have reached 6 pages of posts (I know, mine included) about the moans of someone who wants threads on GN to be dumbed down because somebody CBA to understand accurate English words of more than one syllable, current idioms and normal grammar. Is this really the depths we have sunk to? For someone who says they are not going to post on threads such as these, OP seems to still be going strong, adding to my theory that it ain't over until the fat lady sings,
Can someone please let me know when she has done so?

According to that, Ashtree, I still know more words than is good for me.
I am sure lots of the ones I did not know are made up!

durhamjen

soutra you are so right. Thank you for reminding us of the real problems people face in life - I read that post too and was so uplifted and saddened all at the same time. Difficult words? Get a grip! Try living Joyce's life.

Soutra I'm not fat and I can't sing so the only way I can help is not to bother any more with this thread. So here I go…

Tralala?

For those that would like to expand their knowledge, I have started this thread. If you don't wish to learn, this will not be the thread for you.

www.gransnet.com/forums/writers_room/1215226-Increase-your-word-power

That word list link is very interesting, but if we were to do it and post our "scores" would that be elitist? There been other, similar quizzes which a lot of people have done and posted about without being thought to be boasting about their personalities etc and being elitist, but I suspect that the OP would think so.

There are hundreds of topics discussed on GN at any one time. Only a few of them are on the kind of thing where there are facts and concepts to be seriously put forward and debated. Only a few regular posters take part in these. Does it make Gransnet elitist that they use their knowledge and experience in their discussion? How about the posters who post elsewhere on other things? Is it elitist to chat about gardening or knitting?

Elegran

There are about 100 topics discussed in any one day on gransnet. I would have said that most of them are serious.
[Only about 1 in 7 are grandchild related].
I dont think that the thread that pompa has started is elitist at all. In the slightest.
And I also have no problem wiht people learning throughout their lives. If you were to say look at the thread about colleges closing, you can see that.

There is a place for all types and levels of subject here. No way should we dumb down threads to satisfy a minority, threads would be boring for the majority.

My point was, and still is[though I dont think I will repeat it again], is that some threads are rather incomprehensible in my opinion. Not all of them by a long way.
I think I have made my point to most, so I will try and leave it at that.

You still don't get it soontobe do you?
Pompa ( bless him) was I suspect being slightly ironic, but it might be a fun thing to do. I really don't believe there is a fear of perceived elitism!

Nobody has accused you of opposing lifelong learning, you just seem to rule it out for yourself and moan at those who enjoy stimulating discussion and express themselves using language or concepts you appear to find over your head.

It may be that the majority of threads do not revolve exclusively around grandchild -related topics, but they do feature issues which we feel interest and apply to us as a community. Many (whew!) are lighthearted, some are ( ) very funny , and some posts downright silly. Horses for courses as they say..

Anyway, I see you are still here despite your threats to abandon this thread.

indeed Pompa well said. I dip in and out of GN to learn,enjoy,empathise,rage,discuss......all sorts of things. I am not a grandmother or remotely near to being one, I am working full time. I do not, and have not ever felt that this site is elitist in any way, it is informative, funny, and sad sometimes, just like life really.

As not many people post on the knitting threads and use terms incomprehensible to many others I would say that yes, we knitters are an elite group.

But are we 'elitist'?

That was meant to be btw!

If people bring things up and ask me questions, which Elegran did, then I feel obliged to answer. I feel awfully rude not doing so.

I wouldnt get irony if it slapped me in my face. I never have done. I dont get a lot of jokes either. Or a lot of films . I couldnt be a spy. I dont get bluff, never mind double bluff.
I am beginning to see that some problems are uniquely mine!

I looked up the word elitist just now. It didnt mean exactly what I thought it meant.

I have long since abandoned the idea of people bearing in mind a minority of people [probably many others who would love to join this site also, but dont because of many big words being used].

I am beginning to slightly creep myself out with this thread actually.
I am beginning to see that I am not usual! Hence why so many posters seem not to be able to understand me and how I come across. I can see why they find me confusing. And assume I can do things that I cannot.
I have always known that I am good at some things and not others.
Now I can see that my characteristics probably dont follow a normal pattern.
I can for instance debate I think. I dont find thinking hard work at all. In fact I find it easy. But I dont find language in itself enjoyable. I just use it as a toll, nothing else.
I cant abide jargon.
But I do enjoy research. So long as the words are easy to follow.