Klarinet Archive - Posting 001171.txt from 2002/06
From: "Gene Nibbelin" <gnibbelin@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Illiteratates - And question
Date: Sun, 30 Jun 2002 23:28:54 -0400
Kevin -
I used the term "American" to exclude non-Americans on the list.
Here is another bit of advice from a guy who is 4 times as old as you are.
NEVER ASSUME !!!!!!!!!
My early ancestors came from England in the Mid-1600's. (Maybe they were on
"standby" for the Mayflower and missed the cut.) The first governor of
Massachusetts was supposed to be an ancestor. (That jackass introduced the
infamous "blue laws" in Massachusetts.) Another ancestor fought in the War
of 1812 and applied for his pension when he was 80 year old.
Some of my Irish ancestors arrived here in the mid 1800's - maybe on the
same boat as some of the elder Callahans.
I hope that you become a great English teacher. The country certainly needs
them. Our daughters had terrible English teachers back in the 70's and
80's. They both write very well today, thanks to my tutoring and guidance.
Back to "clarineting".
Gene Nibbelin
-----Original Message-----
From: Kevin Callahan [mailto:kionon@-----.com]
Subject: Re: [kl] Illiteratates - And question
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gene Nibbelin" <gnibbelin@-----.com>
Subject: RE: [kl] Illiteratates - And question
> Callahan -
You may call me Kevin. I'm not used to being addressed by people as
"Callahan" without some sort of military rank. Granted if you have rank,
we'll have to change how we address each other.
> Touché on the misspelling. What it proves is that my language knowledge
> exceeds my typing ability.
That was Mr. Berwald, though I agreed with the sentiment.
> I know that this isn't a language List but when I see you American
> youngsters disregarding the rules of the written English language, it
upsets
> me because I know how important the art of writing is to ones success in
> life.
Disregarding is a purposeful act. As you may recall me saying, I am an
English major. I am a writer primarily. While I love music, it is a
secondary field of interest. People make mistakes. This is a clarinet list.
It is not an essay list. It is not even a clarinet essay list, though I am
sure those are welcome. As long as people try to make an effort I have no
problem with their mistakes. Granted, purposeful disregard is a completely
different thing. It upsets me as much as it does you.
Also I assume you are not American by your reference to "you American
youngsters." Isn't that a bit insulting and condescending? I believe it was
our President Truman who after hearing another general say "those British
bastards" he replied, "Call a man a bastard if you wish, but don't tie it to
the man's nationality." I am a youngster, that isn't America's fault, and I
had a good education, though it was public. Your reference to our public
school system is also not America's fault. If any political level is to be
blamed, it's the states. Here every school system differs by location. I can
assure you that Frisco High School, of Frisco, Texas is one of the best in
the state. I would go further to bet it's one of the best in the US. My
English teachers inspired me to become part of their ranks. I think they did
a wonderful job.
> In my business career I discarded many resumes after reading only
> about half of the cover letter because the poor writing immediately told
me
> that they were not educated enough to qualify for the job opening that we
> had.
That is quite a different forum from the Klarinet, is it not? Some of us are
professionals, but not all. We have expert players, university students
trying to get there (like myself), and high school students. You cannot
expect the kind of writing found in a resume to be found on such a list. Not
to mention it'd be a little dry wouldn't it? I don't recall any humour in
the last resume I filled out.
> The ability to write well and communicate well is very important for
success
> in life. When someone reads what you have written, they learn a great
deal
> about you. Write well and you create a good impression. Write poorly and
> you create a poor impression. It is that simple.
I agree with your first sentence (obviously as my goal is to be an English
teacher), but not the second. People can draw conclusions from your writing,
but they may be wrong. Write well and you do create a good impression, but
it's not always necessary to create such a professional impression. In this
case I think the clarinet list is more about sharing our love of that
instrument. It can be a forum for improving our writing skills but only if
we do more than yell at those who do not write as they could.
Kevin Callahan
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