Comments on: Take Little Steps, Not Big Ones (1/365)

By: Kai

Kai — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 18:46:48 +0000

People have been posting proofreading and grammar errors all along. There isn’t any new influx since he started commenting occasionally.

By: Therese Z

Therese Z — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:14:21 +0000

kc: Blah, blah, blah. A lively writer decorates his writing with anachronistic expressions, or slang, or plays on words, for our delectation and amusement. Gitcher own blog and then you can demonstrate the kind of writing you want to read.

On the subject, I was thinking that the Lord says “My Word is a lamp unto your feet.” Note He didn’t say He’d light the whole way up. We have to trust and take a step, trust and take a step.

By: kc

kc — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:46:57 +0000

I stand by what I wrote, and won’t resort to name calling while doing so.

Trent has published a couple of books and refers to himself as a “professional writer;” I don’t think it unreasonable to expect his posts to be well written.

“Hurt like the dickens” IS anachronistic: it dates from the 17th century. The last time I heard anyone speak this phrase it was my great grandmother, and that was decades ago.

My real issue with it however, is that it’s lazy writing. Instead of relying upon “commonplace expressions,” why not take an extra 10 seconds and try to actually describe the hurt a child experiences from falling?

A professional’s writing ought to be vigorous and concise, and avoid cliche. Trent sometimes misses the mark.

If this offends you, or you have different expectations for a blog post by a professional writer, sorry. I stand by my comment, and I’m entitled to my opinion.

By: Johanna

Johanna — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:26:17 +0000

@katiebird: “Perhaps the critics could take a risk and start their own blogs, and expose themselves to the kind of criticism Trent receives.”

You mean the kind of criticism you’re delivering right now (to people who don’t have their own blogs)? Or the kind of criticism Trent talks about sometimes where people threaten to harm his children (which I wouldn’t wish on anybody)?

By: katiebird

katiebird — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:46:01 +0000

Useful reminder, thanks. We have a psychological phenomenon that leads our brains to resist change. Small steps let us tiptoe past the big brain, without setting off its alarm system….and we can then build on each small step….until we finally reach our goals. And when we achieve our small manageable goals we gain in confidence.

To the incessant critics of Trent’s grammar, etc….you folks are really a downer. I read the comments because there are often useful thoughts from other readers, but I really don’t gain anything from the criticical and negative comments. Perhaps the critics could take a risk and start their own blogs, and expose themselves to the kind of criticism Trent receives.

By: Kate

Kate — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 10:16:41 +0000

They are circling, Esme, because Trent has been commenting lately. And they wonder why he doesn’t comment. Anytime he does the wolves start circling, looking for the kill.

By: Esme

Esme — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 04:47:02 +0000

Since when is using a polite and decent version of a common expression hackneyed and anachronistic? The words ‘hackneyed’ and ‘anachronistic’ are if anything, the undesirable words, dragged kicking and screaming out of the pages of pedantry by failed writers and arrogant media trolls.
Give it a rest. Go read the New Yorker or something.

By: David

David — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 01:47:16 +0000

Since “dickens” is in this context a euphemism for “devil”, and since “hurts like the Devil” would not cause raised eyebrows even among the most pedantic, “hurts like the Dickens” is almost certainly not wrong.

By: Kai

Kai — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 01:09:27 +0000

I don’t actually mean that you should or shouldn’t be upset when you screw up.
I just was thinking about small children walking after Steven’s comment, and it reminded my of the amusement of a small child falling down, then looking around to see whether anyone is watching them. I have seen kids look around, see mommy watching, and start to cry, and I have seen them look around, looking a little stunned, but not catch anyone paying attention to them, and get themselves up and go on.
I think it’s hilarious.

By: Johanna

Johanna — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:17:20 +0000

Maybe crying a little bit helps you to work through the disappointment you’re feeling in yourself for screwing up. If that’s the case, cry all you want without worrying how it looks. Then get on with your life.

By: valleycat1

valleycat1 — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:09:09 +0000

#4 Kai – my thoughts exactly.

By: kc

kc — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 21:52:53 +0000

Good to see you commenting.

By: Kai

Kai — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 21:40:14 +0000

Heh, in light of Steven’s, another lesson we could take from a small child is that when you screw up (fall down), take a look around you. If no-one’s watching, you can skip the crying and get right back up and keep going. :D

By: Steven

Steven — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 20:59:58 +0000

Maybe another lesson we could learn is to go after what we want without fear of falling flat on our face. Be fearless!

By: Trent

Trent — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 20:52:46 +0000

Thanks for the grammar tips, kc!

By: kc

kc — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 20:20:01 +0000

“…now hurts like the Dickens.”

Beyond taking the lazy way out by using a hackneyed (and anachronistic) saying, you’re confusing its origin by capitalizing “dickens.”

“You can repeat this same exact phenomenon…”

Strictly speaking, it’s not a phenomenon, it’s a tactic. Second, why are the words “same, exact” even in this sentence? They add nothing.

Perhaps the next 364 posts ( ! ) in this series will be written with a bit more care.