ext_3081 ([identity profile] wemyss.livejournal.com) wrote in [personal profile] blamebrampton 2010-06-14 05:57 pm (UTC)

Heffalumps and woozles aren't what they were when I was young.

They were far too well-bred to act in that fashion in those High and Far-Off Days.

I do hope that the equivocal reading of 'managed that beautifully' is not to be taken as 'managing beautifully unintentionally to offend', but I quite agree the situation is perilous.

I really think that what the poll means to do, and does do, despite the inevitability of even its managers slipping into the use of 'best' and 'guaranteed good read', is to measure a Sellar-and-Yeatman Index of Memorability, as you and Brammers acutely note and as Maggie of course quite properly asserts. There is simply no better methodology to hand, and if people will misread memorable as best, there's nothing to be done.

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