# And the winner of the stupidest , PC, back-to-school trend of the day is... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 23, 2004, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-winner-of-the-stupidest-pc-back-to-school-trend-of-the-day-is/261171 "2004-08-23T23:42:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-winner-of-the-stupidest-pc-back-to-school-trend-of-the-day-is/261171/41 "2004-08-24T04:23:06Z")
> [@MsRobyn](#): > > Because, instead of finding a solution to the problem of lousy writing, teachers are being told to substitute pen colors so as to reduce the stigma of so much red ink on papers. > > Robin Which is what political correctness is about, of course… :rolleyes: The red ink idea is silly. Red, purple, green, whatever. Used enough _that_ color will become the new intimidating color and then we’re left with what? Back to red? Anyhow, if the teachers want to use purple, let them use purple. As long as the corrections are made and the students read and learn from them, I can care fuck all about what tint of ink is being used. It’s to the teacher’s discretion. I don’t see the big deal. ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-winner-of-the-stupidest-pc-back-to-school-trend-of-the-day-is/261171/42 "2004-08-24T04:57:11Z")
> [@World Eater](#): > > I’ve always found teal non-threatening. Sez you! Back in the day, teal and red palled around together and made life quite uncomfortable for me and the other children in my neighborhood. Many times I arrived at school in tears, minus my lunch money, and literally covered in red and teal slurs regarding my ethnicity (“whitey” being their favorite epithet… bastards.). Eventually I learned to carry a mirror for self-defense; but the scars still remain. ---
**Author:** ![Chairman\_Pow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-winner-of-the-stupidest-pc-back-to-school-trend-of-the-day-is/261171/43 "2004-08-24T05:00:30Z")
I was always told that Twain wrote his manuscripts in purple pen. Maybe there’s supposed to be a connection there. “If I’m paid by the word, there’s no reason for me to use “metropolis” when “city” will do” could translate to, “if I’m moved up to the next grade no matter how much of an idiot I am, there’s no reason to make me feel bad about failing.” ---
**Author:** ![Ilsa\_Lund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a6a055/32.png) [@Ilsa\_Lund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ilsa_Lund)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-winner-of-the-stupidest-pc-back-to-school-trend-of-the-day-is/261171/44 "2004-08-24T05:02:30Z")
> [@Incubus](#): > > Sigh. Why can I only surmise the whole premise was cooked up by none other than the Grapist? \*\*D- Blatant plagiarism of the ideas of others. Laziness evident in lack of attempts to hide it. This student will fail. YOU WILL GO NOWHERE IN LIFE! [color=red]EVERYBODY HATES YOU!\*\*[/color] ---
**Author:** ![Chairman\_Pow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-winner-of-the-stupidest-pc-back-to-school-trend-of-the-day-is/261171/45 "2004-08-24T05:06:39Z")
> [@Incubus](#): > > Sigh. Why can I only surmise the whole premise was cooked up by none other than the Grapist? OK, I’ll bite. Who was/is the Grapist. I’m assuming that it’s simply a poster who used purple, but search fails me now. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-winner-of-the-stupidest-pc-back-to-school-trend-of-the-day-is/261171/46 "2004-08-24T05:11:21Z")
They are a former member who was banned. Their single trick was to go through threads, and quote someone, making their text purple, with the words “This post has been graped by the grapist.” at the end. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-winner-of-the-stupidest-pc-back-to-school-trend-of-the-day-is/261171/47 "2004-08-24T05:24:00Z")
[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/search.php?searchid=381111](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/search.php?searchid=381111) - **Aesiron** : Grape Survivor[/COLOR]]([http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=3390170&postcount=14](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=3390170&postcount=14)[COLOR=Purple) ---
**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 24, 2004, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-winner-of-the-stupidest-pc-back-to-school-trend-of-the-day-is/261171/48 "2004-08-24T06:18:56Z")
Well, let’s try a little experiment, shall we? Tiffany - C + This was a good effort: your grammar has really improved, and you’ve done a much better job of explaining your pont. However, your spelling still needs a lot of improvement. Study chapter five before next month’s test, and let’s see if we can’t bring these C’s up to B’s. Tiffany - F How many times do I have to tell you, I before E! I before E! Good Christ, I’ve met baboons who have better spelling than you! You better get your shit together pronto, because so help me, I see one damn “teh” on the test next month, I’m going to go upside your head with this chalkboard eraser so hard I’ll knock you straight into the special needs class! Yeah, purple is _much_ better. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-winner-of-the-stupidest-pc-back-to-school-trend-of-the-day-is/261171/49 "2004-08-24T06:36:43Z")
I was thinking that teachers should use a color that closely matches each student’s skin tone to correct assignments to embrace diversity and all that. Then I got concerned that this might be racist by forcing students into a category defined only by an artificial construct. Most of the other options have huge flaws too. Red has aggressive overtones. Blue and black blend in with regular pens. Yellow is too hard to see. Orange and teal are just tacky. Brown might give a subtle message to the African-Americans that their skin tone is one of negative messages. The mind spins at the complexity of the problem. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-winner-of-the-stupidest-pc-back-to-school-trend-of-the-day-is/261171/50 "2004-08-24T06:39:56Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Tiffany - F > How many times do I have to tell you, I before E! I before E! Good Christ, I’ve met baboons who have better spelling than you! You better get your shit together pronto, because so help me, I see one damn “teh” on the test next month, I’m going to go upside your head with this chalkboard eraser so hard I’ll knock you straight into the special needs class! > > Yeah, purple is _much_ better. I had no idea we both had Mr Messich for 9th grade Comp. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![PaulFitzroy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/2acd7d/32.png) [@PaulFitzroy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulFitzroy)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-winner-of-the-stupidest-pc-back-to-school-trend-of-the-day-is/261171/51 "2004-08-24T07:17:59Z")
> [@](#): > > I was thinking that teachers should use a color that closely matches each student’s skin tone to correct assignments to embrace diversity and all that. Then I got concerned that this might be racist by forcing students into a category defined only by an artificial construct. Most of the other options have huge flaws too. Red has aggressive overtones. Blue and black blend in with regular pens. Yellow is too hard to see. Orange and teal are just tacky. Brown might give a subtle message to the African-Americans that their skin tone is one of negative messages. And if you’re white, you won’t be able to read a damn thing! ---
**Author:** ![TJdude825](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@TJdude825](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJdude825)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-winner-of-the-stupidest-pc-back-to-school-trend-of-the-day-is/261171/52 "2004-08-24T07:23:26Z")
Oh dear God no! It’s the [attack of the gay agenda!!!](http://www.brainthink.com/view_article.php?articleid=959#) Now they’re taking over our schools too? Will it never end? You know, hearing the word “ESLRs” two weeks before school starts makes it really easy to enjoy these last fleeting moments of summer. I can almost taste the cafeteria food now. Yum. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-winner-of-the-stupidest-pc-back-to-school-trend-of-the-day-is/261171/53 "2004-08-24T07:23:33Z")
Unless we start giving out black paper with white lettering! ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-winner-of-the-stupidest-pc-back-to-school-trend-of-the-day-is/261171/54 "2004-08-24T07:27:44Z")
Sheesh. All of a sudden, Ebonics doesn’t look so bad. This guy uses red grades: [Crappy Children’s Artwork](http://maddox.xmission.com/irule.html) ---
**Author:** ![Dancer\_Flight](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dancer_flight/32/7601_2.png) [@Dancer\_Flight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dancer_Flight)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-winner-of-the-stupidest-pc-back-to-school-trend-of-the-day-is/261171/55 "2004-08-24T11:02:14Z")
I T.A. Undergraduate Astronomy classes and I use green ink. Why? A) I was told it is less agressive (not that I care, but some others might) and B) I mark portions of assignments and tests because we split the work across several T.A.s so we can balance hours and maintain consistancy. By using green ink, I can tell whether I need to pass the buck or actually deal with a student’s marking complaints. “If it ain’t in green, it ain’t my job. Go talk to so-and-so she marked that section.” Additionally it allows for the course instuctor to get into the act. I marked one awful essay where I nit-picked grammar and spelling for the first two pages (of 15) in green ink and then just made comments about content throughout the paper. Student complained about the low mark and submitted it to the instructor for appeal. Instructor used a different coloured ink and corrected _ **everything** _ on the essay. Pretty funky looking paper at the end of all of this: Black and green and read all over. 😃 -DF ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-winner-of-the-stupidest-pc-back-to-school-trend-of-the-day-is/261171/56 "2004-08-24T12:24:08Z")
This topic is being discussed in copyediting circles as well, with regard to how authors react to the color used to edit their work. I’ve been using either purple or green for years, unless the client asks for red. (Or blue. Here’s an odd thing: One client wants red because “blue doesn’t photocopy well,” and another wants blue because “red doesn’t photocopy well.” 😕 ) And among editors, I don’t seem to be alone in my choice. (We’re currently lamenting the demise of Col-Erase Violet pencils, recently discontinued in bulk packaging by Sanford. Now what will we use??) Purple and green _are_ fun colors, they’re just easier on my eyes, and I’m sure that red is as jarring to the author’s eyes as it is to mine. And (though I’ll admit I haven’t read the story) I don’t think anyone is advocating changing pen colors INSTEAD OF finding a solution for lousy writing. I’m with **pulykamell** on that point. Teachers write their comments in the color of their choice, students learn, everybody wins. ---
**Author:** ![Licentious\_Ectomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5e9695/32.png) [@Licentious\_Ectomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Licentious_Ectomorph)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-winner-of-the-stupidest-pc-back-to-school-trend-of-the-day-is/261171/57 "2004-08-24T13:06:08Z")
[QUOTE=Kallessa] **Diogenes** , a very good effort, very descriptive. Next time, try not to quote from someone else so much, it’s your work that I’m interested in reading! You need to work on your paragraph structure (remember, more than one sentence), and **“bad” is an adjective, you should have used the adverb form “badly.”** Keep up the good work!!! I’m sorry, but this is absolutely incorrect. “Feel bad” _is_ the gramatically correct construction. “Feel badly” is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me. An adverb indicates the manner in which you do something, e.g. “run quickly,” “talk loudly,” etc. Saying you feel badly means you’re not very good at feeling. The adjective “bad” is perfectly appropriate to describe how you feel. Do you say you feel good, or feel goodly? Feel sick, or feel sickly? Feel warm, or feel warmly? Also, multiple exclamation points are superfluous; they do not add extra emphasis to the sentence. One is quite sufficient. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-winner-of-the-stupidest-pc-back-to-school-trend-of-the-day-is/261171/58 "2004-08-24T13:40:10Z")
> [@Nordic](#): > > Also, multiple exclamation points are superfluous; they do not add extra emphasis to the sentence. One is quite sufficient. Sorry, that was Kahlua. By George, there is a Simpson’s quote for _everything_! ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-winner-of-the-stupidest-pc-back-to-school-trend-of-the-day-is/261171/59 "2004-08-24T13:55:42Z")
Wow. Just wow. On a message board devoted to fighting ignorance, this thread is certainly wallowing in it. There is so much illogic and ignorance and hatred going on here, it’s hard to know where to begin. Let’s start with the pens: Some teachers expressed a desire to buy purple pens. Staples and a few other suppliers met that demand. In a free market economy, these things happen. Get the fuck over it. The government is not forcing teachers to use these pens. They are doing it of their own free will. Listen, asswipes, in America, this is allowed. Get the fuck over it. Next, let’s talk about purple vs red: From the linked article, it seems that purple produces a better attitude, which may increase learning. If a less intimidating environment results in smarter kids, I say go for it. It’s small advances like this that will improve us as a whole. If we find methods that help kids learn, why shouldn’t we emply them? But fuck no, you assholes want to stay mired in the fucking Dark Ages, teaching kids via intimidation. When your backwater, inquisition-like methods are shown to be ineffective, you cry “PC gone mad!” like a bunch of whiny little bitches. Get the fuck over it. Lastly, let’s talk self-esteem: Learn the fuck what it means. It surprises me that on a message board full of people I considered, up until this morning, to be relatively smart, not a fucking one of you seems to know what the term means. It does _not_ mean lying to kids to make the feel better. It does _not_ mean coddling kids. It does _not_ mean passing the illiterate on to advanced grades. What it _does_ mean is enabling kids to feel a sense of worth and belonging. Contrary to your hayseed notions, you ignorant podunk-dwellers, this does not mean kids get a free ride. Instead, it often motivates them to work harder and achieve more. I’m surpised that not a single fucking one of you knew that. Fighting ignorance, indeed. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-winner-of-the-stupidest-pc-back-to-school-trend-of-the-day-is/261171/60 "2004-08-24T14:29:57Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Wow. Just wow. > > On a message board devoted to fighting ignorance, this thread is certainly wallowing in it. There is so much illogic and ignorance and hatred going on here, it’s hard to know where to begin. > > Let’s start with the pens: Some teachers expressed a desire to buy purple pens. Staples and a few other suppliers met that demand. In a free market economy, these things happen. Get the fuck over it. The government is not forcing teachers to use these pens. They are doing it of their own free will. Listen, asswipes, in America, this is allowed. Get the fuck over it. > > Next, let’s talk about purple vs red: From the linked article, it seems that purple produces a better attitude, which may increase learning. If a less intimidating environment results in smarter kids, I say go for it. It’s small advances like this that will improve us as a whole. If we find methods that help kids learn, why shouldn’t we emply them? But fuck no, you assholes want to stay mired in the fucking Dark Ages, teaching kids via intimidation. When your backwater, inquisition-like methods are shown to be ineffective, you cry “PC gone mad!” like a bunch of whiny little bitches. Get the fuck over it. > > Lastly, let’s talk self-esteem: Learn the fuck what it means. It surprises me that on a message board full of people I considered, up until this morning, to be relatively smart, not a fucking one of you seems to know what the term means. It does _not_ mean lying to kids to make the feel better. It does _not_ mean coddling kids. It does _not_ mean passing the illiterate on to advanced grades. What it _does_ mean is enabling kids to feel a sense of worth and belonging. Contrary to your hayseed notions, you ignorant podunk-dwellers, this does not mean kids get a free ride. Instead, it often motivates them to work harder and achieve more. I’m surpised that not a single fucking one of you knew that. > > Fighting ignorance, indeed. Well, thank you for that editorial **tdh.** Now back to our coverage. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-winner-of-the-stupidest-pc-back-to-school-trend-of-the-day-is/261171.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-the-winner-of-the-stupidest-pc-back-to-school-trend-of-the-day-is/261171.md?page=4)