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I know, not the most creative way to title a post about the ellipsis.

I present to you, my ravings about grammar, more specifically, the ellipsis (duh).

I have noticed the increased popularity in usage of the ellipsis, especially on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Google + - the only social networking sites that I use. I have also observed the proliferation of its misuse and abuse all over these social sites. I acknowledge it is inconsequential to bemoan grammar fundamentals on Facebook, or I should say, lack thereof, as 90% (this is a made-up statistic, but bears a great deal of semblance to the truth) of social networking users have no recognizable concept of the rules of basic orthography, morphology nor syntax. And yes, I used those particular words to sound like a condescending Grammar Nazi of douchebag proportions.

The ellipsis serves several purposes, one of which is to omit certain words in quotations that may be irrelevant to your intentions:

And yes, I used those particular words to sound like a … douchebag….

The three dots are also used to show a break in thought, or an idea being trailed off. The ellipsis would then be placed at the end of a sentence…

The person in the comment used the three dots at the end of his sentence, but why were his thoughts trailing off? It seemed like a complete idea to me. Unless he intended to bring his wetsuit, his Speedos, tanning lotion and an assortment of beach necessities that he couldn’t quite remember.

The other notable usage of the three dots is to indicate a pause in a sentence. This is of particular concern to me, as this is what people tend to misunderstand on Facebook. Ellipses used in this manner are intended to make writing seem conversational which does seem like a good idea. But what happens when it is misused and abused?

Look at this fellow:

The ellipsis has been mistaken in his usage for a full stop.  It now serves as an awkward pause in an otherwise angry post. Added to that, there are not three dots, but five freaking dots in that sentence. FIVE! One would think that people tend to make typing easier by shortening words and phrases. This individual has used five dots making it certain that he is not interested in saving time, even if his time could have been better spent researching how to use an ellipsis. But he alone is not guilty of this folly, I have seen two dots in place of three, I have seen seven dots, I have seen quantities of dots that I do not feel inclined to count and for what purpose? What do two dots in the English language even mean? What do seven mean? A short pause and a long pause respectively?

What about:

This person is guilty of all three desecrations of the ellipsis. More than three dots have been used, three dots placed at the end of a sentence for no apparent reason, and a rather absurd pause introducing and in a date. Commencing (long ass pause) Saturday (long ass pause) 9^th? If ellipses are meant to make the written language sound conversational, can you imagine someone actually talking like this who isn’t Captain Kirk?

In the end, if you don’t know how to use an ellipsis, just do us all a favour and desist. You’re embarrassing yourself and irritating me (and other Grammar Nazis, if you think my irritation is not enough). If you do not cease defiling the ellipsis, well…

The Judgmental Wagon

20th of July, 2012. Trinidad and Tobago Police Service. 

Trinis on Facebook have gone apeshit.

This photo had been uploaded on the 20th of July, 2012 by the Facebook page of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.

It depicts a child holding an unloaded weapon, a riot gun, I believe, under the supervision of police officers in a demonstration to inspire young people to become protectors of this country.

However, many people on Facebook do not see it so. They view the photo as largely irresponsible and believe it sends out various messages of negativity. 

They are of the point of view that a child should not be allowed to hold any kind of weapon, unloaded, or toy. They believe that the photo represents the idea that guns are cool, thereby inciting young people to go out and get their own at some point. It enforces the idea that weapons and violence are glamorous.

I laughed. People do tend to blow things out of proportion don't they? Granted, I am in the minority. I see the photo within its context as completely harmless. I repeat, within its context. As mentioned before, the photo was taken as part of a demonstration for awareness of a police officer's job. Knowing this, the intention of the police officer was more than likely to show tools that a police officer uses, and the safety gear required in its application. 

I marvel at those who denounce the photo as advocating violence in an impressionable mind. The same people who have no problem taking their own children to go see violent films, play violent video games and listen to violent music. 

O wait. You don't allow your children to see any of that? Well, I hope you also cover their eyes and ears whenever they walk down the street, or go to school. That way they also won't be able to see the neighbours across the road assaulting each other, or read that comic book that their best friend may have smuggled to school. You must not have thought of that huh.

Violence is everywhere people. You can't hide young people from it.

Instead of being lazy and deceitful, be honest and take the time out to talk to children. Teach them the importance of peaceful living (especially through example), talk to them about the difference between fiction and reality, and most importantly teach them the significance of respecting people around them and the value of life - their own and others around them. It's much harder than censoring images that you think are inappropriate for them, but it certainly is far more honorable than pretending these thinks don't exist.

Instead of jumping on the judgmental wagon, see the photo for what it was intended - to inspire young people. Who knows? That child may grow up to be an effective and dutiful officer some day. I hope then, that people hearken back to this photo and realise that maybe, just maybe not everything and everyone has  bad intentions.

"When a child asks you something, answer him, for goodness sake. But don't make a production of it. Children are children, but they can spot an evasion faster than adults, and evasion simply muddles 'em."
- by Atticus Finch, by Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird