Comments on: On Being an “A”, a “The”, or… http://middlezonemusings.com/on-being-an-%e2%80%9ca%e2%80%9d-a-%e2%80%9cthe%e2%80%9d-or%e2%80%a6/ It's about lessons learned... from life! Tue, 07 Oct 2008 04:38:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Monique Attinger http://middlezonemusings.com/on-being-an-%e2%80%9ca%e2%80%9d-a-%e2%80%9cthe%e2%80%9d-or%e2%80%a6/#comment-170 Monique Attinger Wed, 31 Dec 1969 23:59:59 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/?p=149#comment-170 I'd rather be "the" insurance blogger rather than "that" insurance blogger (as a for instance) any time! I think "that" is often reserved for the undesirable -- and celebrity is definitely in that group! We all know "that" Paris... or "that" neighbour who makes us crazy. I think "that" is more often used to separate out the bad from the good, than the good from the bad... I’d rather be “the” insurance blogger rather than “that” insurance blogger (as a for instance) any time! I think “that” is often reserved for the undesirable — and celebrity is definitely in that group! We all know “that” Paris… or “that” neighbour who makes us crazy. I think “that” is more often used to separate out the bad from the good, than the good from the bad…

]]> By: Bob http://middlezonemusings.com/on-being-an-%e2%80%9ca%e2%80%9d-a-%e2%80%9cthe%e2%80%9d-or%e2%80%a6/#comment-171 Bob Wed, 31 Dec 1969 23:59:59 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/?p=149#comment-171 David, I think the rest of the world is willing to let you be the only one because they're in awe! 299 words? I mean, c'mon!<br /><br />Besides, if anyone else tries it, they'll have to do 301 words or something. Being the first at something can reserve the position of "the", too. Xerox, for example.<br /><br />Roger, thanks for reminding me - I've been meaning to drop it - they've annoyed me for the last time too.<br /><br />Gone! David, I think the rest of the world is willing to let you be the only one because they’re in awe! 299 words? I mean, c’mon!

Besides, if anyone else tries it, they’ll have to do 301 words or something. Being the first at something can reserve the position of “the”, too. Xerox, for example.

Roger, thanks for reminding me - I’ve been meaning to drop it - they’ve annoyed me for the last time too.

Gone!

]]> By: Roger von Oech http://middlezonemusings.com/on-being-an-%e2%80%9ca%e2%80%9d-a-%e2%80%9cthe%e2%80%9d-or%e2%80%a6/#comment-172 Roger von Oech Wed, 31 Dec 1969 23:59:59 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/?p=149#comment-172 Interesting: "the" vs. "that".<br /><br />As in "that" annoying "snap" window that opens when you go to leave a comment Interesting: “the” vs. “that”.

As in “that” annoying “snap” window that opens when you go to leave a comment

]]> By: David Hodges http://middlezonemusings.com/on-being-an-%e2%80%9ca%e2%80%9d-a-%e2%80%9cthe%e2%80%9d-or%e2%80%a6/#comment-173 David Hodges Wed, 31 Dec 1969 23:59:59 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/?p=149#comment-173 I made a conscious decision to set up my blog to produce something nobody else was doing. Either it was a bad idea, or it's not worth copying, or the rest of the world is willing to let me be the only practitioner of 299-word flash fictions called Very Short Novels. So far, that makes me "the Very Short Novelist". It feels just fine.<br /><br />As far as I'm concerned, you are "the six-word stories guy," Bob! Thanks for spending time at my blog! I made a conscious decision to set up my blog to produce something nobody else was doing. Either it was a bad idea, or it’s not worth copying, or the rest of the world is willing to let me be the only practitioner of 299-word flash fictions called Very Short Novels. So far, that makes me “the Very Short Novelist”. It feels just fine.

As far as I’m concerned, you are “the six-word stories guy,” Bob! Thanks for spending time at my blog!

]]> By: Bob http://middlezonemusings.com/on-being-an-%e2%80%9ca%e2%80%9d-a-%e2%80%9cthe%e2%80%9d-or%e2%80%a6/#comment-174 Bob Wed, 31 Dec 1969 23:59:59 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/?p=149#comment-174 Hey, you're good! I like that analysis, Karin, and maybe that helps explain why "the" is more desireable.<br /><br />Also... is that what (subconsiously?) helps us to identify when the use of "the" doesn't ring true, such as in PR patter? Hey, you’re good! I like that analysis, Karin, and maybe that helps explain why “the” is more desireable.

Also… is that what (subconsiously?) helps us to identify when the use of “the” doesn’t ring true, such as in PR patter?

]]> By: Karin http://middlezonemusings.com/on-being-an-%e2%80%9ca%e2%80%9d-a-%e2%80%9cthe%e2%80%9d-or%e2%80%a6/#comment-175 Karin Wed, 31 Dec 1969 23:59:59 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/?p=149#comment-175 No, don't want to be a 'that', rather a 'the' or at least an 'a'.<br />'That' is so unpersonal, so 'far-away', so 'nothing to do with me/us'.<br />An 'a' has that a bit less, but a 'the' speaks of knowing something better, closer, personal.<br /><br />But that's a personal opinion of course. No, don’t want to be a ‘that’, rather a ‘the’ or at least an ‘a’.
‘That’ is so unpersonal, so ‘far-away’, so ‘nothing to do with me/us’.
An ‘a’ has that a bit less, but a ‘the’ speaks of knowing something better, closer, personal.

But that’s a personal opinion of course.

]]> By: Bob http://middlezonemusings.com/on-being-an-%e2%80%9ca%e2%80%9d-a-%e2%80%9cthe%e2%80%9d-or%e2%80%a6/#comment-176 Bob Wed, 31 Dec 1969 23:59:59 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/?p=149#comment-176 Monique, I'm glad you said that, because it's what I was thinking too... at least until Karin posted her comment! You're both right, of course.<br /><br />The question is, do you <b><i>want</i></b> to be a 'that', and I'm thinkin'... not me! Monique, I’m glad you said that, because it’s what I was thinking too… at least until Karin posted her comment! You’re both right, of course.

The question is, do you want to be a ‘that’, and I’m thinkin’… not me!

]]> By: Karin http://middlezonemusings.com/on-being-an-%e2%80%9ca%e2%80%9d-a-%e2%80%9cthe%e2%80%9d-or%e2%80%a6/#comment-177 Karin Wed, 31 Dec 1969 23:59:59 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/?p=149#comment-177 Hi<br /><br />Insteresting, I immediately thought about a negative association with 'that', where Monique assaciates it with celebrity (or is that supposed to be a negative issue too ;-)?)<br /><br />Like 'that' boy did it, or 'that' car is blocking my driveway. Hi

Insteresting, I immediately thought about a negative association with ‘that’, where Monique assaciates it with celebrity (or is that supposed to be a negative issue too ;-)?)

Like ‘that’ boy did it, or ‘that’ car is blocking my driveway.

]]> By: Monique Attinger http://middlezonemusings.com/on-being-an-%e2%80%9ca%e2%80%9d-a-%e2%80%9cthe%e2%80%9d-or%e2%80%a6/#comment-178 Monique Attinger Wed, 31 Dec 1969 23:59:59 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/?p=149#comment-178 I'd associate "that" with celebrity, which I suspect isn't really what anyone wants. I think "the" is perfect... I’d associate “that” with celebrity, which I suspect isn’t really what anyone wants. I think “the” is perfect…

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