1714 It's Argentine Tango, Stupid!!
Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2003 20:36:36 -0400
From: Sergio <cachafaz@ADELPHIA.NET>
Subject: It's Argentine Tango, Stupid!!
The article is "It's Argentine Tango, Stupid!!")
I read the note an found it very interesting. Michael had a brilliant idea
when he decided to write about Argentine tango in the USABDA magazine. I am
a member of this organization, this magazine reaches the homes of all ball
room dancers that belong to the association.
The note will help to disseminate information about tango and remove
misconceptions but... I wish to make a constructive comment, I do it
respectfully and with the notion that I could be mistaken. This matter could
even be totally irrelevant, if so I apologize.
The title "It's Argentine Tango, Stupid!!" could leave an erroneous image on
the mind of those that do not read the whole article. The choice of words
does not even have a question mark, it has an exclamation mark, an
unquestionable assertion.
The author no doubt had a purpose on his mind when he selected the wording
for the title of his note.
I agree that some readers may feel some degree of curiosity when they read
it, leading them to go further into the note, but those that write for
magazines and newspapers know that the title is frequently the only thing
many people read.
The title may seed the idea that Argentine Tango is Stupid.
I agree with Jonathan Thornton " We have to be very careful with the choice
of words".
Let's think for a moment about the myriad of misconceptions that exist on
the mind of those that know some Argentine Tango.
It is fortunate that most people that do not know it have an idealized,
romantic idea of the dance.
Let's try to cherish and protect that concept.
What do you think? What about a title : It's Argentine Tango different?
May all of you dance differently.
Date: Sat, 16 Aug 2003 20:48:17 -0400
From: Sergio <cachafaz@ADELPHIA.NET>
Subject: It's Argentine Tango, Stupid!!!
Now when I read it for the third time I looks that it may mean:
It is Argentine Tango, you stupid!
Like saying "It is Argentine Tango, Imbecil!!.
An insult to those that do not understand it.
This makes more sense! :)))
Date: Sun, 17 Aug 2003 02:00:14 +0100
From: Bruce Stephens <bruce@CENDERIS.DEMON.CO.UK>
Subject: Re: It's Argentine Tango, Stupid!!
Sergio <cachafaz@ADELPHIA.NET> writes:
[...]
> The title "It's Argentine Tango, Stupid!!" could leave an erroneous
> image on the mind of those that do not read the whole article.
Not to a native English speaker, I think. Mostly because it's echoing
a well known political exclamation "It's the economy, stupid!". (I
don't recall where the phrase comes from, which suggests it's
American, but that's OK for the intended audience.) But also the word
ordering is just wrong for suggesting that Argentine Tango is
stupid---no native speaker is going to read that into it.
The "stupid" refers to the reader/listener, of course.
> The choice of words does not even have a question mark, it has an
> exclamation mark, an unquestionable assertion.
>
> The author no doubt had a purpose on his mind when he selected the wording
> for the title of his note.
Yes.
[...]
> The title may seed the idea that Argentine Tango is Stupid.
I think you're worrying unnecessarily in this case.
[...]
> What do you think? What about a title : It's Argentine Tango different?
No! For one thing, the word ordering is wrong. You might say "It's
Argentine Tango, different!". But that just doesn't have any power.
Date: Sun, 17 Aug 2003 02:02:32 +0100
From: Bruce Stephens <bruce@CENDERIS.DEMON.CO.UK>
Subject: Re: It's Argentine Tango, Stupid!!!
Sergio <cachafaz@ADELPHIA.NET> writes:
> Now when I read it for the third time I looks that it may mean:
>
> It is Argentine Tango, you stupid!
>
> Like saying "It is Argentine Tango, Imbecil!!.
>
> An insult to those that do not understand it.
Exactly! And that's how it will be read by native English speakers,
especially Americans (because of "it's the economy, stupid").
> This makes more sense! :)))
