Interesting trend in comics (OOTS, etc.)

[jim pinto]

I recognize that I'm alone on this (or at least in the minority), but I don't say the word -- like -- for emphasis... or as a gap in my... like... thinking.

I realize it's a trend about Gen-Y (yadda, yadda) and despite growing up in Southern California where "like" made it's earliest appearances, I don't use the word.

Now. I also realize this is dangerously close to soapboxing and has little to do with gaming, but I was catching up on OOTS, PVP, and so on... when I came upon something that WAS NOT there before. Characters using LIKE for emphasis... a colloquial pause in speech if you will.

And this improper English isn't stopping there. It's made it's way onto TV and soon... very soon, characters in books make start... like... talking that way.

So. My true concern is this: When are we going to see Dungeons and Dragons like 4.0?
With Attacks of like Opportunity ya know? (AOLOYK)
With Power Word: Like Stun?
Like Mind Flayers?
Spell Like Components?
and Like Turn Undead?

We should be like very concerned about like masterwork items and stuff. And like when a monster like surprises you and like your like armor check penalty is like too high to use your like Jump skill.

That's what I'm really worried about.

Ya know?

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

OMG, I was just reading about spell like abilities! It's too late!

 

[Numion]

I'm like whateva, and stuff

 

[hafrogman]

I think you'll find that there's a larger gap than you think between comics using colloquial speech for a character to SAY (or books or movies doing the same thing) and it being used in written text.

It's not proper English, and you may hate it. But some people do talk that way, and these comics are trying to show their characters speaking in the manner of the creator's choosing. Shakespeare had different classes of characters use different speech patterns as well. Perhaps the comic means to imply that a certain character is not the sharpest on the block, or the most precise with their language.

You will still never see Attacks of like Opportunity though. Common speech changes, correct English also changes, but in at a much, much slower pace. By the time the next generation rolls around, "like" won't be used, not because it's wrong, but because it's so utterly un-hip.

edit: Dagnabbit, missed the humor tag at the start of this. What a waste of time spent typing all that. :\

 

[JustKim]

Jim, don't look now, but there's a huge irony creeping up behind you! It seems to be made of the six ellipses you used in a post observing colloquial pauses, and the tendency for your posts to be broken up

kind of like this

as if to suggest a stream of consciousness

or relaxation

or to hold the reader's interest

or maybe just to conserve punctuation

I don't know what it is exactly

but the irony is made of it

 

[Glyfair]

It's not proper English, and you may hate it.

Also, if something is used often and regularly it may become proper English.

 

[jim pinto]

OMG, I was just reading about spell like abilities! It's too late!

oh crap

perfect

 

[jim pinto]

Jim, don't look now, but there's a huge irony creeping up behind you! It seems to be made of the six ellipses you used in a post observing colloquial pauses, and the tendency for your posts to be broken up

but the irony is made of it

i am well aware of my tendency to write terse, matter of fact paragraphs.

followed by a carriage return

instead of a period

that's how i write. it's an effective tool for emphasis.

however, the ellipses are purposely ironically

 

[Nikosandros]

however, the ellipses are purposely ironically

Are they purposefully ironic or ironically purposeful?

 

[cildarith]

As if...