posted
To me, it looks like he took an actual AP article and changed a few details. The AP comes out looking anti-war; I doubt AP staff consider that an insult.
Posts: 1877 | Registered: Apr 2005
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That Bonzo from Battle School is so corny, trying to give Petra the time; I hate those people. And after I socked the sonuvabitch they kicked me out on account of I was socking Bonzo. They're such phoneys.
Posts: 2978 | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
Well ... I could back myself by pointing to the numerous studies which clearly show that those MOST depressed about the current war and the economy are they who get their news predominately from newspapers, but I don't think that was the point.
Will B hit exactly what I was shooting for, though of course I didn't actually take a real article and change details, but that's the look I was after.
It was no my intent to offend anyone, and if I had realized Tom was a former reporter, I might have been more careful. So I really do apologize for any offense given.
But if you don't think the media present information about war or politics in the manner I displayed, then you're not looking at reality....
...GAH!! This was not my intent. SORRY. I thought i was just poking a little fun. BAck to OSC AS.....
Okay, Ender as John Madden:
"Well you know, there's that war thing out there in space ... and....and if you get all of our ships together and you get all of their ships together, well ... well that's what we call War, see? And if you get all their ships together and then launch the doomsday device and ... well ... BOOM! He, he...then that's the end of the buggers, see? And this little boy they call him Ender and he's in charge of the whole thing, well ... that makes him the one who beat them ... becuase he's in charge, see? And...and...and and that's how we beat the enemy, by getting a little boy who's not afraid to...you know...BOOM!
"I think I'm hungry...I could go for a turduckten..."
Posts: 25 | Registered: Aug 2005
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posted
"But if you don't think the media present information about war or politics in the manner I displayed, then you're not looking at reality...."
*polite cough* I know this is your basic assumption. That's why I found it insulting in the first place. Telling me that I'm not looking at reality in addition to the previous insult will not mollify. Posts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
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posted
well...I guess perception truly is 9/10 of reality.
"Polite cough" apparently intended to imply that my "assumption" is flawed. Well, if it is, then the joke was nothing more than that -- a joke, and what reason have you to be insulted, since it clearly wouldn't apply to you. And if it IS true...well then...I guess you would be insulted.
Tell me how my "assumption" differs from reality.
If your interpretation of my attempt to poke fun at modern media treatment of international and political affairs is that of a direct insult to you as a person, and then to later take my point about the reality of media treatment as being additionaly insulting, well, I guess I really shouldn't bother to soothe or mollify.
And how, exactly, would you have preferred that I recast that post? It's not as if someone didn't already indicate they could practically hear Wolf Blizter reading it himself.
Apparently by my horribly insulting attempt at levity and generalization of media reports, one person at least has interpreted that to mean that I think ALL reporters would write the same thing.
Because apparently by my words it must be that EVERY reporter (past or present) at the AP and EVERY reporter for major newspapers and EVERY reporter for any other major news service would write the exact same thing, and therefor you should take offense because it cannot possibly be that maybe people would understand that it's entirely likely that SOME reporters MIGHT submit such an article.
Apparently when you worked as a reporter the media always sought the happiest outlook on things and never tried to find negatives in the news -- because today's news is just chock full of happy endings and peachy information.
So I make what is clearly intoned as a joke and I'm accused of "tactlessly politicizing" an otherwise fun thread. Dang. And here it is I who am expected to mollify and soothe the feelings of someone who was so inadvertantly insulted.
Well, methinks perhaps someone needs to lighten up a bit.
Okay, so be it. Here is the revised "Ender's Game as covered by the mass media" version.
A.P. Wire -
CHEERS AND CELBRATION! wONDER KID SAVES PLANET!
Reports just released confirm that Ender the Great has saved all of mankind with his daring and fearless charge to victory over the hated buggars.
Having rid the universe of such a great threat, people everywhere are partying in the streets! Democrats and Republicans and Administration officials are hugging and celebrating.
"Kumbaya My Lord" can be heard echoing from rooftops and mountain peaks!
Fellowship among mankind has exploded to new heights of cooperation and joy. The sheer genius in planning by officials leading the war is unparalleled in modern times!
Insects everywhere have gone underground in hopes of avoiding further acts of retribution by the brilliant minds involved in the defeat of the buggars!
It is truly a heroic day for mankind! Said one member of Ender's jeesh after the final spectacular victory, "wow."
This reporter, for one, just can't help feeling all flowery and pink with joy!
And that about sums it up.
Posts: 25 | Registered: Aug 2005
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quote: Because apparently by my words it must be that EVERY reporter (past or present) at the AP and EVERY reporter for major newspapers and EVERY reporter for any other major news service would write the exact same thing...
I point you to your use of "the media," which certainly implies that you are speaking of the media here as a collective. While individual exceptions may of course exist, you do not speak to their existence in your generalization.
Posts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
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posted
Guys, please!! While we all respect your opinions, this was such a fun thread to read until you started an argument on it. I respectfully request that you take it elsewhere.
Posts: 26 | Registered: Aug 2005
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posted
You're just looking to get insulted, aren't ya?
I thought that AP article was very funny. It has that whole socialist "Starship Troopers" kind of vibe, but in reverse.
Posts: 325 | Registered: Dec 2004
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Ender complained to the teachers that they were pushing him too hard and it wasn't fair. "Hmmm, so by those standards of fair, I guess we pushed Mazer Rackham to hard when he saved the world?" said Graff.
(Did I get the TomD's insightful parable down right?) Posts: 853 | Registered: Feb 2004
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"I know what you're doing Ender and you better stop it," said Bean, "Don't treat me like I'm a dumb baby."
"I'm sorry Bean, I realize it's not your fault that your dumb and your small," said Ender.
I'm sorry, if this offends you just let me know if it does. I didn't even read all of your posts, just the one the exchange between you and Tom right above this one. I was trying to parody the way you casually called TomD's post an outburst as if it is accepted as true, like Ender is casually calling Bean dumb as if it is true. Yeah, so I just killed any remote chance my post had of being amusing by explaining it...
Posts: 853 | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
We'll see how many not of the faith catch this one...
"I, Ender, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was sent to battle school to be taught somewhat in the learning of the great commanders, and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of Graff in all my days, yea having had a great knowledge of the goodness and mysteries of the battle room, therefore I make a record of my proceedings in these days.
Yea I make a record in the language of my father, because they did not teach spanish in battle school.
And I know that the record which I make is true; and I make it in mine own hand; and I make it according to my knowledge (with no small help from Bean)...."
Posts: 25 | Registered: Aug 2005
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The simulator glows green with little pixel spaceships, swarming insect bastards crawling toward us across the galaxy, the migrating flock from hell, millions and millions of ships inevitably filled with millions and millions of bugger memories.
Jump to two years ago. Jump to a shoddy little raft floating on the lake. Jump to Valentine's hesitant touch confirming that in some small way, I'm not her brother anymore.
Jump to Valentine's charred corpse. Jump to the irradiated mass formerly known as North Carolina, with the fields of skeletons cradling each other, two big skeletons cradling a couple kid-size skeletons and a little pile of white fragments that probably used to be a baby skull, but now looks so much like talcum you could use it on a baby's ass by accident.
Bean's breathing comes in over my headset. Just say it, Bean. Remind me they'll kick me out for this, they'll lock me in the loony bin and shoot me up full of cafeteria cocaine until I can't feel feelings anymore. Remind me that Mazer is a bastard anyway for putting me here. Graff's a bastard. God's a bastard.
Sorry Bean, Mazer, Graff, God.
So sorry, little bugger boys and girls.
I push the button. Game over.
Posts: 4313 | Registered: Sep 2004
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"Yeah, I believe that Pet and Bean did a fan-tastic job and even though the opposition playd well we showd them that we're able to do, and that's very good for the character of our Jeesh."
Posts: 2978 | Registered: Oct 2004
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The-é-é-é-ére is no place where I can go When I feel low, when I feel blue, And it's my mind, there's shortage of time When I'm alone.
I-I-I-I-I think of truth, The buggers few. You own my head, oh, The things you said! Like I'll kill only for you.
In my mind there is sorrow, Don't you know that it's so? There will be no tomorrow, Don't you know that it's so?
The-é-é-é-ére is no place where I can go When I feel low, when I feel blue, And it's my mind, there's shortage of time When I'm alone. There's no place, There's no place.
Posts: 2978 | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
Oh, and regarding "ignorant Americans," I offer this quote from the New York Times:
"Dr. Miller's data reveal some yawning gaps in basic knowledge. American adults in general do not understand what molecules are (other than that they are really small). Fewer than a third can identify DNA as a key to heredity. Only about 10 percent know what radiation is. One adult American in five thinks the Sun revolves around the Earth, an idea science had abandoned by the 17th century."
I make no claims about how accurate the study is, how the questions were phrased, how biased Dr. Miller is, how accurate the NY Times is in reporting, or whether other countries have similar standards or not, but it really disturbs me that such a significant portion of adult Americans don't know things that are taught as part of a middle school curriculum.
Posts: 4313 | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
I heard that a university found out that 35% of first year college students couldn't find the US on a map without labels.
Posts: 2978 | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
But even better was the kids' channel in Israel, where the kids needed to compete in their competence as weathermen. None of them got it right: they confused the Dead Sea with Lake Galilee, they couldn't detect different mountain-ranges, not to mention desert-locations.
Half of them know that Israel is the centre of the world. So they locate it in Kenya.
Posts: 2978 | Registered: Oct 2004
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I'm sorry, if this offends you just let me know if it does. I didn't even read all of your posts, just the one the exchange between you and Tom right above this one. I was trying to parody the way you casually called TomD's post an outburst as if it is accepted as true, like Ender is casually calling Bean dumb as if it is true. Yeah, so I just killed any remote chance my post had of being amusing by explaining it...
