Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site masscomp.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!masscomp!trb From: trb@masscomp.UUCP Newsgroups: net.flame Subject: English-only Speakers as Uncultured Slobs Message-ID: <201@masscomp.UUCP> Date: Tue, 28-Feb-84 18:13:43 EST Article-I.D.: masscomp.201 Posted: Tue Feb 28 18:13:43 1984 Date-Received: Wed, 29-Feb-84 14:24:50 EST References: <5761@decwrl.UUCP> <747@psuvax.UUCP> Organization: MASSCOMP, Littleton, MA Lines: 60 This is going to feel good. simon@psuvax says: It is sad to have to read all these glorifications of ignorance ("I don't speak any languages other than English, and I am proud of being an uncultured slob"). I've heard this drivel again and again, and I've had enough. You fucking arrogant asshole. Ah. That felt good. Now, to be a bit more, uhm, demure... The ability to perform a specific task comes, most often from practice, which comes from a need to perform that task. Many cosmopolitan type people, like the kind you see on TV in "MasterCard International" ads, have some impression that knowledge of a language other than English makes one a cultured unslob. People talk about the fact that SO MANY people who speak native languages other than English also learn English, and use that as an argument that we should learn other languages. This argument holds no water. People learn English because they find it useful, or necessary. Not out of a sense of goodwill, not out of a pursuit for culture. Knowledge of a second language does not make you the Philosopher King. I already know English, and I pursue the knowledge I need. Let's say I learn Hebrew. That's a pretty valuable language for me. Does that profit me when I meet someone who speaks German, French, Spanish, Russian, or Japanese? Does knowledge of any ONE of those languages help me globally? Does my knowledge of Hebrew make me a cultured unslob? I think not. I think this whole question only exists so that insecure arrogant Europhiles can go around making fun of other people. The important point is that people learn English because it's globally useful, because they profit by it. Also consider "survival of the fittest" and "path of least resistance." If it was important for me to learn French, I would. If it was not important for "them" to learn English, then they wouldn't. Culture and consideration have NOTHING to do with it. An interesting side question here is "What makes a person cultured?" From my impression, simon@psuvax and his ilk equate culture with people who have a posture that gives you the idea that they have a stick wedged up their ass, and they say things like "Ooh, Andy Tannenbaum? His netnews is SO derivative." If you're interested in proving that you're better than someone else, you'll find that it can't be done simply by belittling others. The semi-astute might try to turn this note against me, wondering how I have the gall to belittle people who belittle people. (Hey, it's a dirty job, and someone's gotta do it.) Point is, that simon@psuvax talked about people who are proud of being uncultured slobs, the implication being that he was not one. I'm making fun of simon, but I have no such associated pretense, as should be clear by the tone of this article. Honey, I'm home. Andy Tannenbaum Masscomp Inc Westford MA (617) 692-6200 x274 just a himey from old himeytown