# Hey Twickster...How Was This Warning Justified? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [December 16, 2009, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-twickster-how-was-this-warning-justified/521549 "2009-12-16T23:26:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-twickster-how-was-this-warning-justified/521549/61 "2009-12-19T16:33:15Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > If **hajario** had been directing his comment at Americans in general, he would have written: “…_I_ am not one who needs more of it.” > > If his comment was intended to be directed toward one person, he would have written: …_I_ am not the one who needs more of it." > > That last sentence is what he wrote and it leaves the question in the mind of the reader: Well then, who _is_ THE one who needs more of it?" > > I don’t know what was on **hajario’s** mind when he wrote the statement. But from the principles of composition and syntax, that is what he should have considered for reasonable communication. Your contention that the word “the” completely changes the context is ridiculous. I still say this was a “Everyone cool down” moment not a “protect Lynn from the big meanie” moment. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2009, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-twickster-how-was-this-warning-justified/521549/62 "2009-12-20T05:01:54Z")
> [@](#): > > **CarnalK** : Your contention that the word “the” completely changes the context is ridiculous. I was an editorial assistant for the United Methodist Publishing House. The materials that I was responsible for editing and proofing were circulated all over the world. I became a professional writer in the 1960s. (Pieces that I wrote were purchased and copyrighted by magazines.) I stopped writing for the public for remuneration in the 1980s. I have a B.A. from Vanderbilt University with majors in Language Arts and Drama, Speech and Communication. That included a year’s study of upper level courses in linguistics. I began my college education assigned to higher level classes in English because in high school I scored in the 99th percentile in English. I taught high school for twenty years. During that time I taught classes In English, speech, reading, and communication. Also during that time, I was tested by the State of Tennessee on reading comprehension and had a perfect score. Now I make mistakes like everyone else and I misspell like crazy. Certainly my brain and eyesight are growing fuzzy. But on your best day, you will not understand the English language as well as I will when I have been ashes on the wind for three days. There _is_ a difference in the meaning of these two sentences. And it’s about as subtle as a tractor pull: “…_I_ am not one who needs more of it.” and “_I_ am not the one who needs more of it.” Your notion that I was saying "that the word ‘the’ completely changes the context’ is mistaken. _The_ is the only part of the context that is different. It is the _meaning_ of the sentence that has changed. Your charge that I am protecting Lynn from “the big meanie” is an undeserved attack. This was my comment about **hajario**. Do you find it too much to bear without insulting me?: > [@](#): > > I don’t know what was on **hajario’s** mind when he wrote the statement. But from the principles of composition and syntax, that is what he should have considered for reasonable communication. If you do not understand the difference between the two sentences, ask **hajario** to explain. He is a moderator elsewhere and would surely be atuned to the implications once they are pointed out. It has been my belief all along that Lynn does not need protecting from _anyone_ since she has the powers of a moderator and the support of reasonable administrators in ATMB when it is appropriate. Calm yourself. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2009, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-twickster-how-was-this-warning-justified/521549/63 "2009-12-20T05:43:15Z")
Impressive credentials and you know what? I don’t know you at all but a list just like that is what I kind of expected as a response. Someone dissected a sentence like that could only come from someone with such a resume. > [@Zoe](#): > > Your charge that I am protecting Lynn from “the big meanie” is an undeserved attack. This was my comment about **hajario**. Do you find it too much to bear without insulting me? Well, you seem to have a similar disposition to Lynn for sensing insult, so I guess it’s no wonder you are kind of falling on her side here. However, my comment was a critique of the moderation under discussion. And don’t worry, I’m plenty calm. Perhaps a misplaced “the” in one of my sentences was mistaken for anger? ---
**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2009, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-twickster-how-was-this-warning-justified/521549/64 "2009-12-20T06:41:52Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > Your charge that I am protecting Lynn from “the big meanie” is an undeserved attack. This was my comment about **hajario**. Do you find it too much to bear without insulting me? Attack? Insult? Are you serious? ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2009, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-twickster-how-was-this-warning-justified/521549/65 "2009-12-20T06:50:23Z")
> [@](#): > > Impressive credentials and you know what? I don’t know you at all but a list just like that is what I kind of expected as a response. Someone dissected a sentence like that could only come from someone with such a resume. **CarnalK** , I think that _you_ can see the difference in those two sentences. One doesn’t have to dissect a sentence to understand the meaning or notice the difference that one word makes. And I haven’t dissected any sentences in my posts. I’ve noticed that you and **hajario** have both chosen to resort to hyperbole to try to make a point. That is a sure sign that you don’t have much of an argument left. My posts about the difference in the two sentences is about _reading comprehension._ If you can’t understand those two easy sentences, what else do you not understand? Maybe you haven’t understood the entire exchange or large portions of this thread or the original thread. Your concern for fairness is something that I share. I have absolutely nothing against **hajario**. But you have ascribed motives to **Twickster** when you really can’t read her mind anymore than I could read **hajario’s**. I hope this doesn’t mean that you think that posters can freely bait Lynn and then bash any mod who gives them a warning for it. You have a right to your opinion, but so does **Twickster.** ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2009, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-twickster-how-was-this-warning-justified/521549/66 "2009-12-20T14:31:32Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > I was an editorial assistant for the United Methodist Publishing House. The materials that I was responsible for editing and proofing were circulated all over the world. > > I became a professional writer in the 1960s. (Pieces that I wrote were purchased and copyrighted by magazines.) I stopped writing for the public for remuneration in the 1980s. > > I have a B.A. from Vanderbilt University with majors in Language Arts and Drama, Speech and Communication. That included a year’s study of upper level courses in linguistics. I began my college education assigned to higher level classes in English because in high school I scored in the 99th percentile in English. > > I taught high school for twenty years. During that time I taught classes In English, speech, reading, and communication. > > Also during that time, I was tested by the State of Tennessee on reading comprehension and had a perfect score. > > Now I make mistakes like everyone else and I misspell like crazy. Certainly my brain and eyesight are growing fuzzy. But on your best day, you will not understand the English language as well as I will when I have been ashes on the wind for three days. > > There _is_ a difference in the meaning of these two sentences. And it’s about as subtle as a tractor pull: > > “…_I_ am not one who needs more of it.” > and > “_I_ am not the one who needs more of it.” > > Your notion that I was saying "that the word ‘the’ completely changes the context’ is mistaken. _The_ is the only part of the context that is different. It is the _meaning_ of the sentence that has changed. > > Your charge that I am protecting Lynn from “the big meanie” is an undeserved attack. This was my comment about **hajario**. Do you find it too much to bear without insulting me?: > > If you do not understand the difference between the two sentences, ask **hajario** to explain. He is a moderator elsewhere and would surely be atuned to the implications once they are pointed out. > > It has been my belief all along that Lynn does not need protecting from _anyone_ since she has the powers of a moderator and the support of reasonable administrators in ATMB when it is appropriate. > > Calm yourself. If I ever type on ‘the’ internet under this sort of mentality, please, somebody, smack me on the side of ‘the’ head and tell me to go outside… ---
**Author:** ![Xploder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/a183cd/32.png) [@Xploder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xploder)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2009, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-twickster-how-was-this-warning-justified/521549/67 "2009-12-20T23:11:19Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > **CarnalK** , I think that _you_ can see the difference in those two sentences. One doesn’t have to dissect a sentence to understand the meaning or notice the difference that one word makes. And I haven’t dissected any sentences in my posts. > > I’ve noticed that you and **hajario** have both chosen to resort to hyperbole to try to make a point. That is a sure sign that you don’t have much of an argument left. > > My posts about the difference in the two sentences is about _reading comprehension._ If you can’t understand those two easy sentences, what else do you not understand? Maybe you haven’t understood the entire exchange or large portions of this thread or the original thread. > > Your concern for fairness is something that I share. I have absolutely nothing against **hajario**. But you have ascribed motives to **Twickster** when you really can’t read her mind anymore than I could read **hajario’s**. > > I hope this doesn’t mean that you think that posters can freely bait Lynn and then bash any mod who gives them a warning for it. You have a right to your opinion, but so does **Twickster.** sigh…scarily enough, the thing is, as someone whoe has beeen around for many. MANY years, I’ve noticed that any attempt to say something bad about Lynn or Tuba, has been met with huge amounts of disinformation. I’m not trying to be a dick but that’s the way it is. To put it in a point blank sort, Lynn is NOT allowed to be panned on y the normal members. ---
**Author:** ![Xploder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/a183cd/32.png) [@Xploder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xploder)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2009, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-twickster-how-was-this-warning-justified/521549/68 "2009-12-20T23:15:28Z")
What’s the worst, is that no matter WHAT you say about Lynn, regardless about what she says about herself, means absolute;y nothing. She can talk about her bpowel problems, her ANY problems ant it makes no difference. What I see, is Twickster, doing her BEST to hide the fact that nothing has changed. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-twickster-how-was-this-warning-justified/521549/69 "2009-12-21T00:47:44Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > My posts about the difference in the two sentences is about _reading comprehension._ If you can’t understand those two easy sentences, what else do you not understand? Maybe you haven’t understood the entire exchange or large portions of this thread or the original thread. While I’m sure you impress the heck out of everyone at the annual grammar rodeo, I feel just as qualified as you to comprehend message board postings. Perhaps more qualified, as I actually understand most people aren’t paying strict adherence to The Elements of Style. It’s hard to believe, but I think 20 years of teaching may have left you with delusions of grandeur. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-twickster-how-was-this-warning-justified/521549/70 "2009-12-21T01:11:39Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > While I’m sure you impress the heck out of everyone at the annual grammar rodeo… Not me; three friends and I went to see the Sun Sphere instead. ---
**Author:** ![Xploder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/a183cd/32.png) [@Xploder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xploder)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-twickster-how-was-this-warning-justified/521549/71 "2009-12-21T03:40:53Z")
Wow…disregarding the fact that I can’t spell…it’s TRULY amazing that when it comes to Lynn, you’re not allowed to make detrimental comments, Even though she is the one that makes the comments about her physical symptoms, we can’t comment on them? ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-twickster-how-was-this-warning-justified/521549/72 "2009-12-21T05:30:00Z")
> [@](#): > > **CarnalK** : I actually understand most people aren’t paying strict adherence to The Elements of Style. It’s hard to believe, but I think 20 years of teaching may have left you with delusions of grandeur. Nyah. That’s not why I have delusions of grandeur. **The Elements of Style** is a very small book that focuses primarily on style and grammar for writers and those who wish to write with a little polish. It is not intended as a major grammar guide. Neither would be particularly helpful for someone who reads too carelessly and doesn’t stop to think things through. > [@](#): > > I feel just as qualified as you to comprehend message board postings. Then you should have understood the difference in the two sentences that I posted. You didn’t _and felt the need to belittle the suggestion that I was making to someone else._ You do write reasonably coherently; I have no reason to believe that you _couldn’t_ see the difference – only your word for it. And you do seem to follow the basic rules of grammar yourself. So maybe you just chose not to see the difference since you are “just as qualified.” Apparently you see ATMB as a place to take irrelevant side swipes at someone who disagrees with you about the premise of the thread. Those sentences were all you had to poke at. Why not return to the topic? At least **xploder** has taken a turn in that direction. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-twickster-how-was-this-warning-justified/521549/73 "2009-12-21T13:50:29Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > Apparently you see ATMB as a place to take irrelevant side swipes at someone who disagrees with you about the premise of the thread. Those sentences were all you had to poke at. Are you under the impression that you are above little sideswipes? What do you call “But on your best day, you will not understand the English language as well as I will when I have been ashes on the wind for three days.”? Ok, you want back on the subject… I am not under the impression from twicksters posts that careful analysis of “the” and/or the italicized “I” were part of her reasoning for handing out the warning. She herself said > [@twickster](#): > > It seemed clearly jerkish to me to interrupt a thread about bathrobes to **snark on overweight people** , so I warned him. [my bolding] So she isn’t claiming hajario was directly poking Lynn and thus your expert analysis doesn’t really bear on anything. That’s because, like I said, people don’t see the tractor pull obviousness of a difference between your two sentences. It’s called “casual conversation”? Maybe take a class in that ? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-twickster-how-was-this-warning-justified/521549/74 "2009-12-21T17:13:50Z")
I haven’t really been following this side argument, but I went back and looked at **Zoe’s** two sentences - yes, there is a difference between them. It’s like the difference between saying, “Could you please take out the garbage, dear?” and, “Could you please take out the garbage for a change, dear?” One will probably get the garbage taken out; the other will probably provoke a fight. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-twickster-how-was-this-warning-justified/521549/75 "2009-12-21T17:35:37Z")
This has now gone very far afield and should perhaps be taken to another forum. However, it’s not appropriate to move this thread so I’m going to ask you to take your grammar discussion to a new thread in a more appropriate place. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-twickster-how-was-this-warning-justified/521549.md?page=3)