Most students at my school fill every presentation of theirs with verbal clutter like "sort-of" and "kind-of". I.e "My project is, you know, sort of about the dialectic that kind of exists between the critical project, you know, and the sort of synthetic project". Okay, I know that was a bad example, but still...
So what does "sort-of" do? It is, I guess, a more intellectual way of saying "ummm" or "uhhh" (giving you time to think about what you're about to say) or it's a way of expressing uncertainty (a less tactful way of saying "as it were") about the words you are using to describe your project. That's an understandable and legitimate sentiment, but it's still really annoying.
I know I am not the world's best writer or orator. I too throw in "sort of" occasionally. But come on, guys: I counted one of my classmates saying "sort of" 160 times in a 10 minute presentation. I would say this is only slightly above average for my school.
Let's fix this problems together! Any suggestions on how?
sharkswithlasers
Feb 2, 09 12:29 pm
It's ON!!!
Sort of...
peridotbritches
Feb 2, 09 12:57 pm
"even the act of filling must mean something unique to the filler and telling to the reader. "
Why must it mean anything profound/great/abstract/post-modern etc?
My own motivation is not to dismiss the discussion of why people do these things when they are presenting or playing a major part in an instance of dialogue. I want to understand it and so understand my own bias in regards to the phenomena - which, at this point, still maintains that it is less valuable because it lacks 'enough' of any meaning. While "filling" the person-as-a-whole is withdrawing from the present experience - I see this as problematic, and perhaps indicative of larger cultural problems given the prevalence of this phenomenon.
Thatch.
peridotbritches
Feb 2, 09 2:27 pm
"we are so used to hearing these fillers that most people don't notice them unless they are excessive or they are specifically listening for them."
Only if we are operating in on autopilot in an unconscious way, where persona and habit can take over and run a majority of the conversation allowing attention-of-self to get lost in thought and disconnect from the immediate.
Which in a crit, we should not be - I think its just plain unfamiliar territory which makes people anxious (students don't know themselves, don't know their projects, don't know their jury, etc etc). Intentionally using 'kind of' or 'sort of' is one thing - but one thing the persona does is passively pick up on the autopilot programming of others for its own use when necessary.
Ever listen to the current White House Press Sec. during a daily brief?
sharkswithlasers
Feb 2, 09 2:30 pm
I think it'd be most accurate to simply state that some people are often annoyed by other people.
chaos3WA
Feb 3, 09 10:56 am
saying sort-of occasionally to express tentativeness is fine.
saying sort-of twice or more within each sentence makes me annoyed.
Antisthenes
Feb 3, 09 12:09 pm
in a relative world it is 'nearly' impossible not to state the uncertainly so as not to appear as a absolutist or bigot on issues.
peridotbritches
Feb 3, 09 1:37 pm
J nails kurt.
ronniechilds
Feb 9, 23 3:15 pm
Recently I heard a commentator on a radio talk show address this topic. He played a recording of a well-known broadcast journalist (I can't remember who it was) and rang a little bell every time she said "sort of" or "kind of". It was an unbelievable number of times, but we're so used to it we don't even hear it. It reminds me of 'upspeak' a rising tone at the end of statement that makes it sound like a question. What is so bad about uttering a simple declarative sentence?
bowling_ball
Feb 9, 23 3:41 pm
The only thing worse than uttering a simple declarative sentence is resurrecting a 14 year old thread about nonsense
monosierra
Feb 9, 23 5:16 pm
I'd add the disclaimer "I don't know ..." to the litany of "You know", "Like", "Kind of" weasel words.
Orhan Ayyüce
Feb 9, 23 6:39 pm
I limited myself to using the f-word no more than three times a day. I am at my limit today. I don't like using "fricking" instead.
citizen
Feb 9, 23 7:02 pm
I love that, Orhan. I'm trying to cut way down on the profanity these days myself. "What the effing F?" or "F this S" are becoming more common phrases these days.
curtkram
Feb 9, 23 7:55 pm
i don't know if this helps, but they say "frack" in battlestar galactica.
Meatball2000
Feb 10, 23 1:29 pm
Sometimes, words matter.
I agree by limiting using "kinda, sorta, hmmm,. maybe, perhaps..." it will make the speaker more CERTAIN, therefore taking a more strong stand on their points.
But saying ALL OF THEM ARE BAD, or most of them make you sound dumb, is just plainly judgmental.
Taking into account different personality, people speaking different languages, have different speaking patterns...let's be kind, just be kind.
Most students at my school fill every presentation of theirs with verbal clutter like "sort-of" and "kind-of". I.e "My project is, you know, sort of about the dialectic that kind of exists between the critical project, you know, and the sort of synthetic project". Okay, I know that was a bad example, but still...
So what does "sort-of" do? It is, I guess, a more intellectual way of saying "ummm" or "uhhh" (giving you time to think about what you're about to say) or it's a way of expressing uncertainty (a less tactful way of saying "as it were") about the words you are using to describe your project. That's an understandable and legitimate sentiment, but it's still really annoying.
I know I am not the world's best writer or orator. I too throw in "sort of" occasionally. But come on, guys: I counted one of my classmates saying "sort of" 160 times in a 10 minute presentation. I would say this is only slightly above average for my school.
Let's fix this problems together! Any suggestions on how?
It's ON!!!
Sort of...
"even the act of filling must mean something unique to the filler and telling to the reader. "
Why must it mean anything profound/great/abstract/post-modern etc?
My own motivation is not to dismiss the discussion of why people do these things when they are presenting or playing a major part in an instance of dialogue. I want to understand it and so understand my own bias in regards to the phenomena - which, at this point, still maintains that it is less valuable because it lacks 'enough' of any meaning. While "filling" the person-as-a-whole is withdrawing from the present experience - I see this as problematic, and perhaps indicative of larger cultural problems given the prevalence of this phenomenon.
Thatch.
"we are so used to hearing these fillers that most people don't notice them unless they are excessive or they are specifically listening for them."
Only if we are operating in on autopilot in an unconscious way, where persona and habit can take over and run a majority of the conversation allowing attention-of-self to get lost in thought and disconnect from the immediate.
Which in a crit, we should not be - I think its just plain unfamiliar territory which makes people anxious (students don't know themselves, don't know their projects, don't know their jury, etc etc). Intentionally using 'kind of' or 'sort of' is one thing - but one thing the persona does is passively pick up on the autopilot programming of others for its own use when necessary.
Ever listen to the current White House Press Sec. during a daily brief?
I think it'd be most accurate to simply state that some people are often annoyed by other people.
saying sort-of occasionally to express tentativeness is fine.
saying sort-of twice or more within each sentence makes me annoyed.
in a relative world it is 'nearly' impossible not to state the uncertainly so as not to appear as a absolutist or bigot on issues.
J nails kurt.
Recently I heard a commentator on a radio talk show address this topic. He played a recording of a well-known broadcast journalist (I can't remember who it was) and rang a little bell every time she said "sort of" or "kind of". It was an unbelievable number of times, but we're so used to it we don't even hear it. It reminds me of 'upspeak' a rising tone at the end of statement that makes it sound like a question. What is so bad about uttering a simple declarative sentence?
The only thing worse than uttering a simple declarative sentence is resurrecting a 14 year old thread about nonsense
I'd add the disclaimer "I don't know ..." to the litany of "You know", "Like", "Kind of" weasel words.
I limited myself to using the f-word no more than three times a day. I am at my limit today. I don't like using "fricking" instead.
I love that, Orhan. I'm trying to cut way down on the profanity these days myself. "What the effing F?" or "F this S" are becoming more common phrases these days.
i don't know if this helps, but they say "frack" in battlestar galactica.
Sometimes, words matter.
I agree by limiting using "kinda, sorta, hmmm,. maybe, perhaps..." it will make the speaker more CERTAIN, therefore taking a more strong stand on their points.
But saying ALL OF THEM ARE BAD, or most of them make you sound dumb, is just plainly judgmental.
Taking into account different personality, people speaking different languages, have different speaking patterns...let's be kind, just be kind.
sort of a stupid pet peeve, sort of