Yeah - it's strange, too, because so much of Newspeak was about making language simpler and less sophisticated, specifically to make unapproved ideas impossible to communicate.
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Replying to @mssilverstein @SazCaz81 and
My least favorite of Orwell's famous writings isn't even any part of Animal Farm or 1984, it's "Politics and the English Language" I think his argument there, which he felt very strongly about, is just bad
2 replies 1 retweet 12 likes -
Replying to @arthur_affect @mssilverstein and
He likes simple, direct, blunt language and he gets really annoyed by excess verbiage and complex jargon Therefore he equates the former with actual honesty and an earnest desire to communicate, and the latter with intent to obfuscate and deceive
1 reply 1 retweet 16 likes -
Replying to @arthur_affect @mssilverstein and
This is an obvious mistake, and an easy one to exploit
1 reply 1 retweet 11 likes -
Replying to @arthur_affect @mssilverstein and
Like I just have to point out People who love Trump love him because of his "straight talk" They think it's awesome he doesn't use big words and long sentences (and doesn't seem capable of doing so if he wanted to) They cheer him for how blunt and rude and off the cuff he is
4 replies 3 retweets 22 likes -
Replying to @arthur_affect @mssilverstein and
And he lies to them all the time And they eat it up He does not need sophisticated language or clouds of obfuscatory jargon to lie He just lies The lack of any attempt to disguise the lie *helps him lie*
4 replies 5 retweets 28 likes -
Replying to @arthur_affect @mssilverstein and
Blunt talk is a style, nothing more Anyone can learn to use it, anyone can learn to lie with it It, too, is a strategy for lying Like how the best way to sneak into a club without an ID is to walk confidently in like your hand is already stamped
1 reply 7 retweets 27 likes -
Replying to @arthur_affect @mssilverstein and
Orwell's hatred of euphemism and obfuscation is attacking the wrong target People talk like that because for whatever reason *they still need to tell the truth*, and they are trying to change how you react to that truth
1 reply 2 retweets 16 likes -
Replying to @arthur_affect @mssilverstein and
"26 casualties were incurred as collateral damage" is a horrible thing to have to read, sure You read it because they were still telling you the truth though If they actually had the power to just lie and get away with it, they could, and they could do so bluntly and colorfully
1 reply 1 retweet 14 likes -
Replying to @arthur_affect @mssilverstein and
"Those 26 people were murdered by filthy terrorists and we're gonna avenge them, you hear me" "Those 26 people WERE terrorists and our brave troops gave them what was coming to them" "Those 26 people are still alive, nobody died at all, I waved to them on the street just now"
2 replies 1 retweet 14 likes
This is how Donald Trump talks, all the time He just lies Just like Orwell's disgust at cold, clinical language ("The patient expired shortly after" vs "He choked to death on his own blood in agony and terror") I mean, that's also for people trying to tell the truth
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Replying to @arthur_affect @mssilverstein and
When you have to tell the truth but you're uncomfortable with it you use distancing language. ("Your mother... she, uh... Is no longer with us") You don't have to do that if you just lie ("She's doing great! Healthy as a horse! Can't wait to see you on Christmas!")
1 reply 1 retweet 10 likes -
Replying to @arthur_affect @mssilverstein and
You get what I mean? His whole essay is about expressing disgust with stereotypical obvious signs of superficial mendacity And by just being hostile to that affect, and welcoming to anyone who doesn't sound like that, opening the door for deliberate, shameless liars
1 reply 2 retweets 15 likes - Show replies
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