Posted by AMD on June 27, 2005, at 15:50:40
In reply to Re: I-statements, posted by Dr. Bob on June 26, 2005, at 23:32:30
> Another way to look at this is that it would've been better as an I-statement:
Just a note about this. I was always taught that using "I" in a statement was redundant, particularly when it's an opinion.
e.g., in the statement:
"The movie is offensive."
The "I think" part that could prefix it is implied.
In my writing (and following the Elements of Style guidelines), I try to be succinct. Instead of
"I think the movie is offensive. To me this is a bad piece of film making. In my opinion it was ruined by MRAA censorship," etc., is just as well (if not better) expressed "The movie is offensive, a bad piece of film making -- it would have been better left uncut."
So, it sounds like the general guideline is "err on the side of political correctness" (because, afterall, what is this type of roundabout writing but politically correctness?). That's fine. But again, IN MY OPINION, misinterpretation of sentences like the above as DIRECTED AT SOMEONE (as opposed to a PERSONAL OPINION) is a result of the ignorance and illiteracy of the reader more than incorrect semantics by the writer.
Of course, this is just my opinion. :-)
amd
poster:AMD
thread:511407
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20050614/msgs/519975.html