Talking Down Through The Ages

So I’ve been reading about the American Civil War, and one thing that strikes me is how people talked.

In fact, it’s a common thing I notice that up to a point, that further back you go, the more eloquent people talk. Generally. OK, it’s not a great theory, but stick with me. Remember that its mostly not the opinion that matters, but who has it.

Consider Stonewall Jackson’s last words:

Let us cross over the river and rest in the shade of the trees.

That’s pretty eloquent. And these guys, though generals, were pretty rough-hewn soldiers.

General Lee didn’t care much for novels and plays. He thought they “weakened the mind”. And yet he gave us yesterday’s quote, which is some pretty fine talking.

Considering my dying words will probably be something like:

Arrghhhhhhh!!!!! My FUCKING leg!!!!!!!!! Oh god, it hurts like a bastard!!!

…I still flatter myself to have a way or two with words, a point upon which you could choose to agree if your tastes run that way.

But I listen to some young people today and it’s like they are taking ages to say something really stupid. Like this. Or this. Or this.

Maybe in fifteen years time people will consider the language I use to be high-faluting. Even the phrase high-faluting is now high-faluting. In fact, there isn’t even a modern equivalent criticism of eloquence. That’s how bad things are.

I know I say it over and over, and feel free to shoot me down, but have a good weekend. I can picture the end of summer like it’s already a memory, so enjoy some time for yourself.

So have a great one. OK. Good stuff. No definitely. OK. Brilliant. All right. Yep. Bye. Bye, yeah. Yeah. Drinks, whatever. Great. Sounds awesome. All right then. Bye. Bye.

Jesus christ.

What? Hello? No, no - what? Yeah, no, something else. This guy here, no not you. Look, I better -no. Anyway. Take care. Talk to you later. Byeeeeeee.

-click-

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Related posts
My Theories, Part One: Age
My Theories, Part Two: Accents