Neither Here nor There...a simple moment of random idleness

It started with this Facebook status:

JH: If you are there, and I am here, and you are telling me about being there, then you should say 'here' not 'there' because once you are 'there', it becomes 'here', and you're already 'there' so you should in fact say 'here.' of course I must still say there but you, must say here. because here is where you are and there is where I am not. :) 

And led to this:

DB: so where are u? 


JH: here :) 


DB: and where am i? 


JH: there! :) 


DB: no but u jus said i am here 


JH: u are there and I am here...but if you were saying it then I would be 'there' and you would be 'here'. but u're not here, u're there, cuz I'm saying it so I'm here, and you're there :) 


DB: but i jus asked u where u are and u said 'here' an i kno im here so if ur here an im here....y arent i seein u??? 


DB: look i think ur confused ok 


JH: because life, the world and the English language are cruel like that. They know that if you and I were both here or there, we would be having too much fun. so they put you in one 'here' which is there to me, and I'm in another 'here' which is there to you. 


JH: ‎:) 


DB: ohhhhhhh..........has to be the world and the english language fault there....too bad we're not both here or there but we're here an there 


JH: exactly. and at least we're not NEITHER here NOR there


CD: There' seems to be some discourse going on 'here' about the perception of there and here with regard to positioning. There, I said it. Just to confuse things a little bit more here. 


DB: here we go 


JH: See here now Charmaine, there is in fact ongoing discourse about the perception and 
realities of here and there as it relates to positioning and location, but I find that you put it rather nicely here in this convo, or there on your individual comment. Here's to you! :) 


DB: i am HEREby removin myself from this HERE conversation 


CD: Here. here! 


JH: ‎@Denise, how can we go here, if we are already here? We should be going there in truth and in fact. Because if we are already here, then we can only go there, wherever there may be. 


DB: well then i am THEREby removin myself from this HERE conversation? 


CD: THERE goes one disenchanted commenter in this discourse 


JH: There it is yes, could she not handle the simplicity of this here discussion? 


CD: There, there, Joseanne...don't feel too bad...I'm still HERE for you! 


JH: ‎@Denise, how dare you remove yourself from here? I am hurt and have half a mind to come 
over there! It is here that you belong having been an initial commenter. Please don't leave us for there; stay here! :) 


DB: will u leave there an come here an get me? 


JH: ‎@Charmaine, it is indeed heartening to have you here with me, and not abandon me for the things over there. 


JH: ‎@Denise, we already established that you and I are both here, because I am here and you said you are here also, so I shouldn't in fact have to go anywhere, I should be able to get you right here, not over there. 


CD: But alas, Joseanne, while I like this 'here' convo, 'there' is a lot I have to do...so I have to stop commenting 'here' which of course is your 'there'. But even though you're 'there' and I'm 'here' I kniow we'll always be 'there' for each other.... 'Here's' to you! 


DB: and there she goes to her 'here' 


JH: Oh Charmaine it hurts my heart to see you leave here for there, but I understand that there is much for you to do, and staying here will not help with the many things for your to do there. But I agree, that even though I am here and you are there, we will in fact always be there AND here for each other. which ever is most appropriate at the time, when you or I are there in our time or place of need. 


JH: yes Denise...there she goes. while you and I remain here

Rightly Referring the Reference

I was asked to assist our HR / IR Department with a Management Training Workshop sort of something that they're currently hosting. The 'workshop' (and I use that term lightly) essentially comprises several 2 hour sessions with various groups of senior staff, based on a bestselling management book that our GM believes will revolutionize management systems within the company i suppose. The selected supervisors, managers et al were asked to read the book and prepare a report, which they were required to present at their scheduled session.

Now for the real point of this post. I am not going to criticize their presentation skills because I know all to well that it is not one that many possess; however I don't think it dawned on me before these sessions just how much I detest the phrase 'refer back'! *blank stare*

You would not believe how many times I heard that phrase in ONE session! "If you refer back...So we can refer back...refer back...refer back...refer back." Aaaaaaaahhh!!! And get this, I had two sessions that day, two sessions yesterday, and the two sessions carded for today...merged into one glorious, possibly 4-hour sitting of 'refer back'. If I go to jail, will you come visit me? No? Ah well...

Now my problem with this phrase, apart from the fact that 'it jes doh song nice,' is that it's one of those redundant things that people bandy about without concern or question! It falls, for me, in the same category as 'comprise of,' 'irregardless,' 'revert back,' 'reverse back' (*sings* doh back back on me, doh back back on me...err, sorry, I digress.) So you see my point...right? Yes? Please? Ok. 

Either way, I plead with you: please, please think about the Grammar (and the Grammar-conscious folks who may be present)  the next time you are tempted to 'refer back' to something. It would be greatly appreciated by the slightly OCD sticklers worldwide.

Referring back to you,

Stickler in Stilettos

Making a comeback? Maybe?

SO, since my first foray into blogging flopped miserably after a glorious first and only post, I've garnered some inspiration from a couple friends and fellow bloggers (http://whattntwomenwant.blogspot.com/, http://ckatied.blogspot.com/ and http://cometastethis.blogspot.com/) and decided to take another go at it. 


I'm currently at the office and have a project that is past it's deadline (a usual thing with me - but it seems I work best under pressure...hmm) so I don't particularly have time for a 'real' post this morning. However, I said to myself, (or maybe self said to me, the line's becoming a tad blurry lately) "self, this is why you never got past your first post - you're a terrible procrastinator. You need to do it now...if even it's a small tidbit, it's 'something' to keep your blog from the depths of the 'graveyard of poor, neglected blogs' <--- said in dramatic 'voice-over' voice.


So alas, this is my 'something', (my first after about a year or so? *sigh*) to attempt the salvation of my, though neglected, much beloved concept.


See the following post for something actually 'English-type' and related to 'The Stickler Blog' concept. 


Yours in English,
Stickler in Stilettos

STICKLERS UNITE!

Having been regarded for several years now as a 'crazy person' when it comes to correct grammar and punctuation, it was no surprise (to anyone) when I became a Journalism major and most recently, landed a job as a Proof-reader for a local newspaper. One dilemma with which I have battled for years is my desire to start a Blog hindered by my utter confusion as to what on earth I would Blog about. On the fourth day of my new, 'fancy-shmancy' Proof-reading job, one of my very best friends lent me a book which was immediately added to my list of my top ten favourite books. The astonishing piece of literature in question is a humble piece entitled Eats, Shoots and Leaves by a charming British woman, Lynne Truss.

Pictured at Left: The cover of the Bestselling book Eats, Shoots and Leaves by Lynne Truss.

Within the first few pages of the book, it suddenly hit me: my dilemma was solved! "I will Blog about English!" I thought. By Jove! It's that simple. Most of you may be thinking to yourselves right now that I must be crazy to think that anyone will want to read a Blog about English; but my dear friends, I intend to fill this here Blog with wonderful posts regarding the proper (and improper) use of grammar, punctuation and other general English-type things. The subsequent posts will be filled with examples (hopefully including pictures) of incorrect English, discussions of popular mind-boggling practices, daily quotations and possibly also regular encounters or experiences which I may find that you may find entertaining; among other things. :D

I do hope you come back regularly, not only to read my 'crazy person' ramblings, but also to engage in thoughtful discussions about the English that we all know and love.

Until next time,

Stickler in Stilettos