Member Discussions

I guess I've just read to many forum posts but I felt inspired to write this. Some of you might know why -

"Farewell than",
a poem by Moxpah

So.
Farewell old friend.
The english speaking people of the world shall miss you.
Or perhaps not,
for phonetics can be a fickle mistress.

Usurped in the end by treacherous cousin Then.
Tis literacy's loss.
But than again he was always more popular then you.
Oh wait, I see you've returned.

Rejoice.

(anon anon exeunt....*must sleep*)

> Tis literacy's loss.
> But than again he was always more popular then you.
> Oh wait, I see you've returned.

Wouldn't it have been better if you'd actually used the word 'than' when you were supposed to in that sentence?

Quzah.

>Wouldn't it have been better if you'd actually used the >word 'than' when you were supposed to in that sentence?


Duh! that's sort of the whole point.

Umm... Q...

> But than again he was always more popular then you.
      ^^^^                                  ^^^^

Kas.

Kas writes:
>Umm... Q...
>> But than again he was always more popular then you. > ^^^^ ^^^^

But if he'd used 'than' and 'then' properly than his post wouldn't have belonged in the humour forum. It would've just been a complaint, no funnier then the grammar nitpicking on the regular boards.

-Triton

applies to previous post

Ok for the last time.

That's the whole point.

I wrote it because I was fed up of reading posts written by people who don't know the difference between "then" and "than". Hence it's a "eulogy" because noone seems to use the word "than" anymore as it's been "usurped by..then". I read it all the time and you must too, e.g. "I have more things then you".

However, as you both so correctly pointed out in the line referred to, "than" makes a triumphant return where "then" should be and so equilibrium is restored resulting in yet again further degradation of the english language.

Since we are all involved in an activity that relies heavily on the use of the written word it seemed relevant to comment on apparently declining standards in literacy, or the alteration of a language through colloquial common usage. I'm sure it will be no surprise to find that I'm not a professional poet ;-) and I only posted it as a bit of fun.
I didn't expect to have to explain it or I wouldn't have bothered.

I should have just written "Why do people keep writing then when they mean than?" and left it at that.

Triton I think I love you.

I stared at that for a while, and than it all made sense!

Kas.

>for phonetics can be a fickle mistress.

Actually it's just stupidity. 'Then' and 'than' are pronounced differently.

:)

No... then it wouldn't have belonged on the Humour Board.

I got it...

*comforts you*

I *hate* it when people misuse words, sometimes they do it, than I want to punch them.

-Hobo

Well, I guess that is better then kicking them.

-Dagged T. Rachek

You comfort me?!?

Why? I'd think you'd comfort him, not me!

-D