# An Earnest Sermon Concerning A Dreadful Moral Peril, by A Stern Victorian Moralist **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 18, 2001, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-earnest-sermon-concerning-a-dreadful-moral-peril-by-a-stern-victorian-moralist/76841 "2001-08-18T01:30:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2001, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-earnest-sermon-concerning-a-dreadful-moral-peril-by-a-stern-victorian-moralist/76841/21 "2001-08-18T19:51:18Z")
Apart from the adverbs, I also enjoyed the “pale and blackened” hand. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2001, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-earnest-sermon-concerning-a-dreadful-moral-peril-by-a-stern-victorian-moralist/76841/22 "2001-08-18T21:36:45Z")
**DDG** : Shane MacGowan was the lead singer for the Irish folk-punk group, [The Pogues.](http://pogues.dzm.com/) Simply put, The Pogues were the greatest musical group ever. (I’m kinda a fan. Could you guess?) ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2001, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-earnest-sermon-concerning-a-dreadful-moral-peril-by-a-stern-victorian-moralist/76841/23 "2001-08-18T23:15:03Z")
Brother Miller, would you also address you august self to the the use of commas, egregiously? Even if one were to contemplate contemplitavely, why would one contemplate (comma) contemplitavely? Jodi, typing expertly – NOT “typing, expertly” ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2001, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-earnest-sermon-concerning-a-dreadful-moral-peril-by-a-stern-victorian-moralist/76841/24 "2001-08-18T23:21:56Z")
Lolly, lolly, lo… OUCH! ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2001, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-earnest-sermon-concerning-a-dreadful-moral-peril-by-a-stern-victorian-moralist/76841/25 "2001-08-18T23:32:32Z")
Tragically, our society has slid so far into perdition that the proper use of commas and apostrophes is simply a lost cause. As well try to bail out the ocean with a thimble as teach someone the difference between “its” and “it’s”. ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2001, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-earnest-sermon-concerning-a-dreadful-moral-peril-by-a-stern-victorian-moralist/76841/26 "2001-08-18T23:40:53Z")
Jodi considers the point, consideringly. She gazes out the window, distractedly, and wonders, sadly, if the cause is truly lost. No! she cries, emotionally. We must rage against the tide, grimly! We must hold the line, steadfastly! We must ne’er cede the battle, tiredly. Let us combat written idiocy, consistently, and pray for a better day, devotedly. And hopefully. And reverently. (And thriftily and cleanly and generally Boy-Scoutedly.) ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2001, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-earnest-sermon-concerning-a-dreadful-moral-peril-by-a-stern-victorian-moralist/76841/27 "2001-08-19T00:15:11Z")
No offense, **jodi** , but even as hard as you’re trying you can’t write as bad as Victoria Mary Clarke. Dear God, that sort of crap would be inexcusable in high school. Reads more like a collection of atrocious quotes left on the cutting room floor at a bad high school literary journal’s office than anything which could possibly get published. ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angel_of_the_lord/32/2949_2.png) [@Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_the_Lord)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2001, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-earnest-sermon-concerning-a-dreadful-moral-peril-by-a-stern-victorian-moralist/76841/28 "2001-08-19T04:00:44Z")
Greatest Gods of Writing, smite this accursed author, mightily! ---
**Author:** ![djf750](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ea666f/32.png) [@djf750](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/djf750)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2001, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-earnest-sermon-concerning-a-dreadful-moral-peril-by-a-stern-victorian-moralist/76841/29 "2001-08-19T05:15:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Miller \* > Now, I know that some libertines might defend this filth, claiming that it if an adult wants to pollute his mind than that is his buisness, and we have no right to dictate his behavior. \*\* WHAT IS BUISNESS??? AND WHAT IS “IT IF”??? To me, it comes down to simple politeness. The people who take the time to read what you write are basically doing you a favor. They’re taking the time out of their day to give thought and attention to your opinions. It just seems polite to me to make it as easy as possible for your audience to follow what you’re saying. AND THAT GOES FOR SPELLING AND EDITING, DON’T YOU THINK? AND BACK TO THE OP, I DOUBT IF THEY WERE SERIOUS. ---
**Author:** ![djf750](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ea666f/32.png) [@djf750](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/djf750)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2001, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-earnest-sermon-concerning-a-dreadful-moral-peril-by-a-stern-victorian-moralist/76841/30 "2001-08-19T05:39:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Miller \* > \*\*Tragically, our society has slid so far into perdition that the proper use of commas and apostrophes is simply a lost cause. As well try to bail out the ocean with a thimble as teach someone the difference between “its” and “it’s”. \*\* EXACTLY! LOOK WHAT THIS GUY WROTE IN ONE OF MY POSTS… SHOULD IT NOT HAVE BEEN “IT’S A GOOD IDEA”??? “Also, from a practical standpoint, its a good idea to practice good writing skills now, before you learn a bunch of bad habits.” YOU ARE SO RIGHT. OUR SOCIETY IS DOOMED! ---
**Author:** ![Atreyu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@Atreyu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atreyu)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2001, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-earnest-sermon-concerning-a-dreadful-moral-peril-by-a-stern-victorian-moralist/76841/31 "2001-08-19T05:49:44Z")
::covers ears:: Yeesh. All right, who is shouting his head off in here? ---
**Author:** ![Persephone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Persephone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persephone)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2001, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-earnest-sermon-concerning-a-dreadful-moral-peril-by-a-stern-victorian-moralist/76841/32 "2001-08-19T15:20:27Z")
I woke up this morning in a very good mood. Yesterday, I had my final fitting for a bridesmaid’s dress, and it looks great on me. My children behaved very well all day, even at the bridal shop. My four-year-old daughter has been noodling on her electric keyboard, and taught herself how to play “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” in octaves. My 19-month-old son didn’t break anything. All in all, a darn good day. So I get up this morning, get the coffee started, turn on the computer, come to the message board…and find this. This…this…_filth_ polluting my screen! I didn’t even have a chance to put up a barrier of caffeine as protection before that flaming shit could rip a jagged, gaping hole into my brain! Now my poor children are terified, wondering why Mommy is curled up in a fetal position, banging her head into the monitor and flinging the contents of the baby’s diaper against the wall. I’ll get you for this, **Miller** , if it’s the last thing I do! ---
**Author:** ![djf750](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ea666f/32.png) [@djf750](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/djf750)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2001, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-earnest-sermon-concerning-a-dreadful-moral-peril-by-a-stern-victorian-moralist/76841/33 "2001-08-19T16:12:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Atreyu \* > \*\*::covers ears:: > > Yeesh. > > All right, who is shouting his head off in here? \*\* I AM, BECAUSE IT IS (IT’S) EASIER FOR EVERYONE TO READ ALL LARGE LETTERS. ---
**Author:** ![Atreyu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@Atreyu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atreyu)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2001, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-earnest-sermon-concerning-a-dreadful-moral-peril-by-a-stern-victorian-moralist/76841/34 "2001-08-19T16:36:53Z")
Think again, **djf750**. Check out my message to you in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=82275). Contrary to what you seem to believe, typing in all caps does not make your message easier to read. Your response indicates that you are aware that typing in all caps is Internet shorthand for shouting. It really doesn’t make your posts easier to read. It just makes them obnoxious. Since people tend to judge other board members by what they write, this means that if you post messages written in an obnoxious fashion, you will likely be regarded as an obnoxious manner. Plus, hijacking **Miller** ’s thread was in extremely poor taste. ---
**Author:** ![Atreyu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@Atreyu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atreyu)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2001, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-earnest-sermon-concerning-a-dreadful-moral-peril-by-a-stern-victorian-moralist/76841/35 "2001-08-19T16:38:44Z")
Convert “obnoxious manner” to “obnoxious member” in that sentence. I was re-typing that whole last sentence, and some parts got left behind. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2001, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-earnest-sermon-concerning-a-dreadful-moral-peril-by-a-stern-victorian-moralist/76841/36 "2001-08-19T17:01:46Z")
**Persephone** : Oh, sure. Shoot the messenger. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-earnest-sermon-concerning-a-dreadful-moral-peril-by-a-stern-victorian-moralist/76841/37 "2001-08-20T01:59:25Z")
I must simply observe that that was easily one of the funniest OP rants I’ve seen recently. Certainly all the funnier for its avoidance of profanity. Who says the Pit cannot be literate? I applaud, fuckily. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-earnest-sermon-concerning-a-dreadful-moral-peril-by-a-stern-victorian-moralist/76841/38 "2001-08-20T02:20:32Z")
🙂 Thanks, Cervaise. That made my day. Although, in all fairness, my days are easily made. ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-earnest-sermon-concerning-a-dreadful-moral-peril-by-a-stern-victorian-moralist/76841/39 "2001-08-20T03:10:42Z")
**Miller** , you owe me a new pair of glasses. Those… _quotes_… hit my eyes like 50-grit Angular Steel Blasting Abrasive. Good thing I was wearing my safety glasses at the time. I’ll miss them much less than I would’ve missed my eyes, had I not been protected. ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2001, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-earnest-sermon-concerning-a-dreadful-moral-peril-by-a-stern-victorian-moralist/76841/40 "2001-08-20T03:25:10Z")
I read, intently, the OP, and I laughed, snortingly, cried, abundantly, and it became part of me, verily. Who writes, actually, like that? The mind staggers, hopelessly and with great sorrow. It is with great fright that I realize, fretfully, that this is addictive. O **Miller** , what hath thou wrought, inadvertly? Think, ponderously, of the children! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-earnest-sermon-concerning-a-dreadful-moral-peril-by-a-stern-victorian-moralist/76841.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-earnest-sermon-concerning-a-dreadful-moral-peril-by-a-stern-victorian-moralist/76841.md?page=3)