| Author |
Message |
Tony Cooper
Guest
|
| Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2005 7:01 am
Post subject: Re: Democracy in ten words or fewer |
|
|
On Thu, 18 Aug 2005 17:51:29 -0400, Oliver Cromm
<lispamateur@internet.uqam.ca> wrote:
| Quote: | * Martin Ambuhl wrote:
"Democracy" is largely a noise. The "right"
answer to this question depends on the ideology of the teacher...
Yes. There is a number of words, like "democracy" or "liberty", which
are regarded so positive in wide circles that they become a badge of
pride, and the usage definition becomes "that what we have". A country's
name having "democratic" in it is a good indication that the country
isn't.
A definition of democracy that makes practical sense to me is:
A system where the people have a chance to get rid of
a bad government.
|
Which really means that it is a system where the people have a chance
to elect a bad government in the first place.
| Quote: | In practice, that doesn't prevent them from getting rid of good
governments quicker than of bad ones though ...
|
--
Tony Cooper
Orlando FL
|
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
FRAN
Guest
|
| Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2005 12:02 pm
Post subject: Re: NESB parents [was: Re: Democracy in ten words or fewer) |
|
|
Isabelle Cecchini wrote:
| Quote: | FRAN a écrit :
[...]
NESB parents tend to show regardless of socio-economic status.
"NESB parents" was a total puzzle for me, until I got the explanation
from my dear old friend Google, who also told me that "NESB" with that
meaning seemed prevalent in Australia and New Zealand.
Is "NESB" easily understandable or indeed is it used in other
English-speaking countries?
--
Isabelle Cecchini
|
My apologies ... it's very easy to assume that initialisms are known by
everyone when they are often very local.
Yes, as others have pointed out ... non-English-speaking background.
Fran |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Peter Duncanson
Guest
|
| Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2005 4:28 pm
Post subject: Re: NESB parents [was: Re: Democracy in ten words or fewer) |
|
|
On Fri, 19 Aug 2005 02:44:02 GMT, Odysseus
<odysseus1479-at@yahoo-dot.ca> wrote:
| Quote: | Peter Duncanson wrote:
snip
NESB
Non-English-speaking background
found in a glossary published by the
Southbank Institute
epicentre of education
Brisbane, Queensland
I just typed "define:NESB" into Google's search field and got exactly
one hit, giving the correct answer. I'm guessing it's no coincidence
that it's the same site you found: did you do the same?
|
I first Googled for "NESB". The results showed a variety of uses for
"NESB". As far as I can recall I followed a link that seemed promising.
Doing a "define: " search might have been quicker.
--
Peter Duncanson
UK (posting from a.e.u)
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Frances Kemmish
Guest
|
| Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2005 5:18 pm
Post subject: Re: NESB parents [was: Re: Democracy in ten words or fewer) |
|
|
FRAN wrote:
| Quote: | My apologies ... it's very easy to assume that initialisms are known by
everyone when they are often very local.
Yes, as others have pointed out ... non-English-speaking background.
|
Disappointing; I was thinking "non-English-speaking barbarians".
Fran |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Mickwick
Guest
|
| Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2005 8:03 pm
Post subject: Re: Democracy in ten words or fewer |
|
|
In alt.usage.english, FRAN wrote:
| Quote: | Max came home today with the standard homework sheet which sought from
him, amonst other things, an explanation of the concept of "democracy",
and provided about 8 cm of line space.
|
Basomesocracy
That's a joke.
Martin Ambuhl and others here clearly know most of what can be known
about the histories and philosophies of democracy. As a layman, I'd just
like to suggest:
Inertia
--
Mickwick |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
FRAN
Guest
|
| Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2005 8:16 pm
Post subject: Re: NESB parents [was: Re: Democracy in ten words or fewer) |
|
|
Frances Kemmish wrote:
| Quote: | FRAN wrote:
My apologies ... it's very easy to assume that initialisms are known by
everyone when they are often very local.
Yes, as others have pointed out ... non-English-speaking background.
Disappointing; I was thinking "non-English-speaking barbarians".
Fran
|
Few barbarians were English-speaking.
Fran |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mark
Guest
|
| Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2005 8:30 pm
Post subject: Re: NESB parents [was: Re: Democracy in ten words or fewer) |
|
|
Legend tells of a time when the mysterious hermit FRAN of
fran_beta@hotmail.com returned briefly from exile to say ...
| Quote: | Frances Kemmish wrote:
FRAN wrote:
My apologies ... it's very easy to assume that initialisms are known by
everyone when they are often very local.
Yes, as others have pointed out ... non-English-speaking background.
Disappointing; I was thinking "non-English-speaking barbarians".
Few barbarians were English-speaking.
|
But many of the modern-day variety are.
--
My housekeeper regarded him with jaundice in her eye;
She did not want a colony of hippotami;
She borrowed a machine-gun from her soldier-nephew, Percy,
And showed my hippopotamus no hippopotamercy.
- Patrick Barrington, "I Had a Hippopotamus" |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
FRAN
Guest
|
| Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2005 8:33 pm
Post subject: Re: NESB parents [was: Re: Democracy in ten words or fewer) |
|
|
mark wrote:
| Quote: | Legend tells of a time when the mysterious hermit FRAN of
fran_beta@hotmail.com returned briefly from exile to say ...
Frances Kemmish wrote:
FRAN wrote:
My apologies ... it's very easy to assume that initialisms are known by
everyone when they are often very local.
Yes, as others have pointed out ... non-English-speaking background.
Disappointing; I was thinking "non-English-speaking barbarians".
Few barbarians were English-speaking.
But many of the modern-day variety are.
--
|
And most of them live outside Barbary. I've heard that's the case with
Philistines and Vandals too.
Fran |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Martin Ambuhl
Guest
|
| Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2005 1:29 am
Post subject: Re: NESB parents [was: Re: Democracy in ten words or fewer) |
|
|
FRAN wrote:
| Quote: | Few barbarians were English-speaking.
|
"From this amphibious ill-born mob began
That vain, ill-natured thing, an Englishman."
-Daniel Defoe, _The True-Born Englishman_, 1.132-3 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Paul Wolff
Guest
|
| Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2005 2:19 am
Post subject: Re: NESB parents [was: Re: Democracy in ten words or fewer) |
|
|
In message <hm7ag1h3aup9f41ukmanh9sgduuqbimrmh@4ax.com>, Peter Duncanson
<mail@peterduncanson.net> writes
| Quote: | On Thu, 18 Aug 2005 23:27:13 +0100, Paul Wolff
bounceme@two.wolff.co.uk> wrote:
In message <43050069$0$27202$892e7fe2@authen.white.readfreenews.net>,
Isabelle Cecchini <isabelle.cecchini@wanadooINVALID.fr> writes
FRAN a écrit :
[...]
NESB parents tend to show regardless of socio-economic status.
"NESB parents" was a total puzzle for me, until I got the explanation
from my dear old friend Google, who also told me that "NESB" with that
meaning seemed prevalent in Australia and New Zealand.
Is "NESB" easily understandable or indeed is it used in other
English-speaking countries?
I, in England, have no idea what it means.
Google <NSEB School> gives expansions, in order of occurrence:
National Seminar on Energy in Buldings
Nepal School Education Board
Norwegian School of Economics and Business
National Security Education Board
National Science & Engineering Board
Nuclear Safety Executive Board...
I don't think I'll bet on any of those.
NESB
Non-English-speaking background
found in a glossary published by the
Southbank Institute
epicentre of education
Brisbane, Queensland
|
Conclusion: I can't spell acornyms.
--
Paul
In bocca al Lupo! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
FRAN
Guest
|
| Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2005 3:56 am
Post subject: Re: NESB parents [was: Re: Democracy in ten words or fewer) |
|
|
Paul Wolff wrote:
| Quote: | In message <hm7ag1h3aup9f41ukmanh9sgduuqbimrmh@4ax.com>, Peter Duncanson
mail@peterduncanson.net> writes
On Thu, 18 Aug 2005 23:27:13 +0100, Paul Wolff
bounceme@two.wolff.co.uk> wrote:
In message <43050069$0$27202$892e7fe2@authen.white.readfreenews.net>,
Isabelle Cecchini <isabelle.cecchini@wanadooINVALID.fr> writes
FRAN a écrit :
[...]
NESB parents tend to show regardless of socio-economic status.
"NESB parents" was a total puzzle for me, until I got the explanation
from my dear old friend Google, who also told me that "NESB" with that
meaning seemed prevalent in Australia and New Zealand.
Is "NESB" easily understandable or indeed is it used in other
English-speaking countries?
I, in England, have no idea what it means.
Google <NSEB School> gives expansions, in order of occurrence:
National Seminar on Energy in Buldings
Nepal School Education Board
Norwegian School of Economics and Business
National Security Education Board
National Science & Engineering Board
Nuclear Safety Executive Board...
I don't think I'll bet on any of those.
NESB
Non-English-speaking background
found in a glossary published by the
Southbank Institute
epicentre of education
Brisbane, Queensland
Conclusion: I can't spell acornyms.
--
|
Or initialims
Fran
| Quote: | Paul
In bocca al Lupo! |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Paul Wolff
Guest
|
| Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2005 4:32 am
Post subject: Re: NESB parents [was: Re: Democracy in ten words or fewer) |
|
|
In message <1124488575.147298.169260@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com>, FRAN
<fran_beta@hotmail.com> writes
| Quote: |
Paul Wolff wrote:
In message <hm7ag1h3aup9f41ukmanh9sgduuqbimrmh@4ax.com>, Peter Duncanson
mail@peterduncanson.net> writes
On Thu, 18 Aug 2005 23:27:13 +0100, Paul Wolff
bounceme@two.wolff.co.uk> wrote:
In message <43050069$0$27202$892e7fe2@authen.white.readfreenews.net>,
Isabelle Cecchini <isabelle.cecchini@wanadooINVALID.fr> writes
FRAN a écrit :
[...]
NESB parents tend to show regardless of socio-economic status.
"NESB parents" was a total puzzle for me, until I got the explanation
from my dear old friend Google, who also told me that "NESB" with that
meaning seemed prevalent in Australia and New Zealand.
Is "NESB" easily understandable or indeed is it used in other
English-speaking countries?
I, in England, have no idea what it means.
Google <NSEB School> gives expansions, in order of occurrence:
National Seminar on Energy in Buldings
Nepal School Education Board
Norwegian School of Economics and Business
National Security Education Board
National Science & Engineering Board
Nuclear Safety Executive Board...
I don't think I'll bet on any of those.
NESB
Non-English-speaking background
found in a glossary published by the
Southbank Institute
epicentre of education
Brisbane, Queensland
Conclusion: I can't spell acornyms.
--
Or initialims
I think I'll just go and lie down in a dark moor ... |
--
Paul
In bocca al Lupo! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Mark Brader
Guest
|
| Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2005 5:54 am
Post subject: Re: Democracy in ten words or fewer |
|
|
Oliver Cromm:
| Quote: | A definition of democracy that makes practical sense to me is:
A system where the people have a chance to get rid of
a bad government.
|
I like that.
Tony Cooper:
| Quote: | Which really means that it is a system where the people have a chance
to elect a bad government in the first place.
|
True. Which suggests the following amended version:
A system where the people have a chance to get rid of
a bad government and elect another one.
(Ambiguity fully intentional.)
--
Mark Brader "Well, it's not in MY interest -- and I represent
Toronto the public, so it's not in the public interest!"
msb@vex.net -- Jim Hacker, "Yes, Minister" (Lynn & Jay) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Michael Nitabach
Guest
|
| Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2005 2:33 am
Post subject: Re: Democracy in ten words or fewer |
|
|
"FRAN" <fran_beta@hotmail.com> wrote in
news:1124260440.574812.70680@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:
| Quote: |
Michael DeBusk wrote:
On 16 Aug 2005 22:43:43 -0700, FRAN <fran_beta@hotmail.com
wrote:
de781@aol.com wrote:
snip
God!! Who CARES? God forbid
I'm of secular inclination.
I admire your restraint with the idiots. Kudos to you.
Oh, as a schoolteacher, one does have to remember that the face
one presents isn't always a pointer to what lies beneath. I gather
from reading other threads that the poster above does have some
issues in his life that structure how he posts in here.
|
The face that DE781 puts forward here is, in my opinion, a
consciously created persona that may not bear any relation to his
demeanor elsewhere.
--
Mike Nitabach |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
FRAN
Guest
|
| Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2005 7:01 am
Post subject: Re: Democracy in ten words or fewer |
|
|
Michael Nitabach wrote:
| Quote: | "FRAN" <fran_beta@hotmail.com> wrote in
news:1124260440.574812.70680@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:
Michael DeBusk wrote:
On 16 Aug 2005 22:43:43 -0700, FRAN <fran_beta@hotmail.com
wrote:
de781@aol.com wrote:
snip
God!! Who CARES? God forbid
I'm of secular inclination.
I admire your restraint with the idiots. Kudos to you.
Oh, as a schoolteacher, one does have to remember that the face
one presents isn't always a pointer to what lies beneath. I gather
from reading other threads that the poster above does have some
issues in his life that structure how he posts in here.
The face that DE781 puts forward here is, in my opinion, a
consciously created persona that may not bear any relation to his
demeanor elsewhere.
|
That's anticipated by my statement, as you note, yet even here I think
the problem you suggest isn't *necessarily* present.
Even if he is not quite as he presents himself, his posting pattern
remains a pointer to the kind of person he is. There are all manner of
ways of getting one's needs met, and I hear in his posts a great deal
of pain. Pain tends to disrupt our abilities to construct and express
our thoughts coherently, and to disrupt our efforts to seek relief. In
this place, how one posts for satisfaction, gives others clues about
the person behind the persona.
If that's how he amuses himself, I think that's telling.
Fran |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
| |
FAQ
Memberlist
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in