1948  How the list works and insults. No tango.

Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2003 22:59:07 -0500
From: Sergio <cachafaz@ADELPHIA.NET>
Subject: How the list works and insults. No tango.

This is amusing and shows how this list works, it also shows the reason many
people stopped contributing. It is sad that most of the ones that know what
they talk about have to quit writing because of a few viscous, obnoxious,
characters.

Kate posted an article where a meeting between business men of Argentina and
Mexico took place. The article says (in Spanish) that they could not
understand each other because they were using their respective slang.

The article had paragraphs of the conversation that took place during such
meeting.

Kate was answering my note where I spoke of the uniformity of the Castilian
language all over the world. She seems to think that the language is not
uniform.

I received several notes asking if it was possible that Argentineans and
Mexican could not understand each other.

I responded that Kate's article (the one in Spanish and slang) could not be
taken seriously, that it had to be some sort of fabrication and a joke.

Dirk shows up and adds:

"It stands to reason that the paragraph may be but a synopsis of what may
have taken place. But it is not at all absurd in illustrating the
possible confusion."

I am supposed to tell him: no, dear that paragraph is totally absurd, it
is a caricature, no Argentinean business man would ever speak that way.

I had also said : "I can assure you that an expression in those terms
(seriously speaking)

>never took place ."

Dirk answers: " Really? Please, don't take it personally, but this is like
the waste of
time in trying to explain sarcasm to the dim witted."

***Now Kate clarifies that the article was pure fiction intended to be
amusing.

This would be a typical interaction with Dirk. If this would end here It
would be perfect and I would happily go to bed to sleep.

But it does not end here, Dirk will start writing long notes again and again
arguing everything (the same way as I just described above). It does not
matter what reasons you give he will continue to argue.

This has happened before with other subjects (bandoneon, etc), he will
discuss anything for the purpose of discussing without any goal in mind.

I tried to stop answering, he writes to the list and to me. He starts
insulting you for not answering. I set the computer to delete and return his
mails.
He continues in the list. I ignored him for a while but at the end I called
his notes stupid twice.

Now comes Kate with her indignant message about insults being the
manifestation of not knowing, etc.

I used to translate some tango Lyrics from Spanish-Lunfardo to English.
Kate sent me an indignant note stating that she was a linguist, a
professional translator, an university professor; that I made multiple
errors in my translation (she was referring to a phrase with about five
words in it) and that since she did not practice medicine (my profession) I
should stop translating and ask her to translate.

:)) I answered to her that I did not care how many titles she had I did not
think that she knew more Spanish than I did, I gave her the reasons for my
impression and asked her to please send me a copy of the errors (knowing
that there were none). I am still waiting for them. She just reminded me
again that I am not a "Linguist" as she is. Big deal!

She, like Dirk is set to antagonize anything that I say, at least she is
rational and her points are well expressed and have base.
Kate may even have contributed some interesting notes and others that
stimulate constructive discussion.

I really think that she knows a lot about the Castilian language, I meant
that as a complement (from the right hand) .

Now, am I supposed to apologize to the list for using the word stupid twice?
ok, I apologize.

But when it comes to reason with Dirk... you go ahead and try to do it.
good luck! I quit!