I hate to be a pedantic (but as an academic, its my job)... but in several cases, your quoted items refer either to items which are commonly known in the community as that item (ie "giant pretzel") or refer to quotes which could be said "home of the Big Dog". So, Im afraid -- while I laughed at many of these examples (particulary the sign from Somerville, MA which is next to Harvard University), I fear some of these examples dont qualify in my book as howlers... ;)
Ah the good and the bad that comes with celebrity, Bethany! You get fame and fortune; but you also get people who want to point out your flaws anonymously. Geez, it's not even my blog and it pisses me off :P We'll have to make a set of bodyguards out of the regular posters
Seriously! I carry the torch when I can, but these anonymous posters are either very, very numerous or just one person with no sense of humor. Oh well. How many times in a lifetime can you say "read the FAQ!!"?
First of all, I'd like to just point out that the sign said "giant soft" pretzel and not "giant pretzel", in which case "anonymous" might have had a point. Secondly, couldn't any quoted text on a sign technically "be said"? Besides, the "blog" has always been very clear that although it may be grammatically correct to use quotes on slogans, they are free fodder if the slogan is a silly one!
I hate to be a pedantic (but as an academic, its my job)...
ReplyDeletebut in several cases, your quoted items refer either to items which are commonly known in the community as that item (ie "giant pretzel") or refer to quotes which could be said "home of the Big Dog". So, Im afraid -- while I laughed at many of these examples (particulary the sign from Somerville, MA which is next to Harvard University), I fear some of these examples dont qualify in my book as howlers... ;)
my FAQ is especially for pedants. You should consider reading it.
ReplyDeleteAh the good and the bad that comes with celebrity, Bethany! You get fame and fortune; but you also get people who want to point out your flaws anonymously.
ReplyDeleteGeez, it's not even my blog and it pisses me off :P
We'll have to make a set of bodyguards out of the regular posters
Seriously! I carry the torch when I can, but these anonymous posters are either very, very numerous or just one person with no sense of humor. Oh well. How many times in a lifetime can you say "read the FAQ!!"?
ReplyDeleteum, some of those anonymous posters are kinda funny.. :(
ReplyDeletethat was my ex-boyfriend's problem too.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I'd like to just point out that the sign said "giant soft" pretzel and not "giant pretzel", in which case "anonymous" might have had a point. Secondly, couldn't any quoted text on a sign technically "be said"? Besides, the "blog" has always been very clear that although it may be grammatically correct to use quotes on slogans, they are free fodder if the slogan is a silly one!
ReplyDelete