Terms that gnaw on my nerves

Don't get me started on local pronunciation. Where I now live, it's INsurance, not inSURance as its supposed to be. I'm used to it after 30+ years, but it still leaves me shaking my head! On the subject of reporters, gone are the days of the greats like Walter Cronkite, Roger Mudd, Charles Kuralt and others I admired as a young man. They didn't just read off a script, actually researched some of their material and weren't just talking heads and ad libbers who flubbed their way through a broadcast. News isn't the same anymore, but, at 66, nothing is. "And that's the way it is".
 
I remember when you could not tell one radio or TV announcer from another and definitely could not tell what area of the country they were from because they all had very fluent diction and pronunciation. I can also remember when the use of the word ain't would get you a D in English class now it is apparently so common it is even in the dictionary but it still does not make it right in my way of thinking.
 
How did they get on TV?

I remember one talking head reporting something about Montevideo, Uruguay. Montevideo is pronounced Monti-v-day-oh.
The talking head referred to it as "Monty-video, as in video game.

Then, there's the matter of train and boat drivers. You don't drive either. Trains are run or operated by motormen or engineers.
You may sail or pilot a boat. Don't try driving one.
 
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The local TV news around here will report a story...then go to Facebook or some other blog or comment section on the internet and report what random people are saying about it!

Idiots!!!!! (would do a mad emoticon if I knew how).
 
THE PILGRIM said:
Let's see if I can do this. I have a heavy duty peeve with the reports of civilians getting killed in certain areas of combat activity.
They are all Civilians! They are very specific rules of international law which define Military Combatives. When you fight for a terrorist organization you do not meet that criteria.
Click to expand...


Yeah, like innocent hostages being killed by police.
 
Coaltminer said:
Don't get me started on local pronunciation. Where I now live, it's INsurance, not inSURance as its supposed to be. I'm used to it after 30+ years, but it still leaves me shaking my head! On the subject of reporters, gone are the days of the greats like Walter Cronkite, Roger Mudd, Charles Kuralt and others I admired as a young man. They didn't just read off a script, actually researched some of their material and weren't just talking heads and ad libbers who flubbed their way through a broadcast. News isn't the same anymore, but, at 66, nothing is. "And that's the way it is".
Click to expand...

Walter Cronkite? Really? I had no use for him after what he said on air about the Viet Nam war towards the end of it. Glad he's gone and hope he's roasting down under.
 
The whole world is going to hell and I should be worried about proper grammar? What I dont like (even on fox news) is being told or influenced on how I should think about some event. Just give me the facts as Sgt Friday would say. What do I care what Juan Williams take on the latest event is? Why dont they ask me MY opinion? I have lived in some isolated areas of life where I probley have more "experiance" to form a opinion than those high paid contributors do and I will work cheaper.
 
A person who sell real estate is a REALTOR. Two syllables. Not a real-a-tor.

I've noticed that lately people are confusing leery and wary and coming up with "weary" as a word for being leery or wary about something. I am weary of hearing it.
 
We have issues not problems in this thread, why? Loved one pass away they don't die, why? Is it because we must be a kinder, gentler, people? Why do we avoid certain words? They are perfectly good words.

Why must the "talking heads" make the news dramatic? "Today a man was shot with a GUN on the street!" Drama! As has been said "just the facts, ma'am." On one of my local channels one of the weather guys looks like he's dancing or needs to visit the little house out back. He'd be more convincing if he'd stand still but I guess his boss thinks it's great. I turn him off.

I'd appreciate it if the "talking heads" would learn how to pronounce the names of the areas and towns they are talking about before they speak.

Sorry for the rant.
 
A review of aviation writings shows the common usage previously was "jet aircraft","jet fighters" and "jet bombers".it would be interesting to see just when and by whom the change in nomenclature was made.
 
Marshwheeling said:
It used to bug me when people called the Metrodome the Metronome, but I'm over it since they tore it down.
Click to expand...

WHAT???!!! They tore the Metronome down. Where are they going to play ballbase now? Will it still be by the aerodrome where all the flying machines go forth and back? I'll bet the soda sales people were upset.
 
I love "Aeroplanes" that use petrol and use Aerodromes. How come we dont speak english? I thought they talked proper. Evidently when words get "*******ized" a hundred years ago and became accepted are now okay and modern all new attempts are now wrong?
 
Anonymity.....

"The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to...blah...blah, etc...."

I don't care why he refuses to have his name mentioned so don't waste my time telling me why.

90% of news stories use this "condition of anonymity" baloney. Of course, the reporter can't say, "We can't tell you who told us this confidential bit of news but..................."

And how about "shell casings" to describe the brass picked up by the cops at the scene of the crime?

Then there's "...between he and I".

Or "different than.........."

Okay, that's enough.
 
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