WTF Friday: Evil Easter Bunny

overheard says:
Fri, 2nd Apr 20104:39 pm 

that pictures is kinda scary looking, wouldn't want that guy giving my kids candy. PS those are my dogs. AHhhhhh

criolle johnny says:
Sun, 4th Apr 20102:08 pm 

I'm sure someone will correct me …

The Easter symbol is an offshoot of a German pagan goddess whose name is the origin of the word "estrous". From her name we actually get the WORD "Easter".

She was, among other things, a fertility goddess, and her symbol was the rabbit because it has a tendency to reproduce.

As Christianity spread across Europe, it superimposed it's symbols upon pagan cultures and assumed the holidays and symbols of many native religions. The Celtic cross, for example is a Christian symbol superimposed over the Celtic Sun God Symbol. I represents the Christian God having power over the Celtic God.

Subject to argument, religion always is.

Casey says:
Sun, 4th Apr 20102:48 pm 

There are many different ideas as to wear the symbols came from. But Easter and Christmas are both Christian holidays combined with the pagan holidays that fell around the same time. There's also been much debate over whether the Christians changed their holidays dates to those of the pagans to make it easier for the pagans to convert to Christianity, kind of like "well they have the same holidays, so really, what's the difference?" lol.

Most children view the bunnies and chicks and cutesy animals that go along with Easter as symbols of Spring, and to non-religious families Easter plays more of a role of announcing spring, then the rebirth of Christ.

criolle johnny says:
Mon, 5th Apr 20104:03 am 

… “wear” the symbols came “from”? TWO errors in one sentence?

Casey, what school do you attend!? I’m writing your dean and you are going to re-attend freshman composition!

As punishment, you now have to read a story about my first days at college:

As I wandered across campus with a shipmate, we got lost due to the poor quality of the map. We decided to ask a passing young man for directions.
My exact words were “Pardon me, could you please tell me where the library is at?”
His reply was “NO WAY! You just ended a sentence in a preposition!”
My shipmate was highly amused by error and offered to correct the situation. A large fellow, he stepped closer to the youngster, blotting out the sunlight in the process.
As the youngster looked UP toward him he said “Pardon us, would you be kind enough to tell us where the library is at, ASSHOLE?”
He told us. I never forgot. A preposition is the wrong thing to end a sentence with. “snark”

Bright Blessings

Anonymous says:
Mon, 5th Apr 20105:09 am 

"Ending a sentence with a preposition is something up with which I will not put."-Winston Churchill

Sometimes following the preposition rule sounds ridiculous, and it is not as if you cannot understand what she is saying (though the wear/where thing is kind of unacceptable, but i won't go off on a tangent since this is a blog, and not exactly an academic one at that). In academic papers, sure, never end a sentence with a preposition. In everyday speech, unless you want to sound out of place, feel free.

Casey says:
Mon, 5th Apr 201010:39 am 

Criolle, I've recently watched you correct every single spelling and grammar error on this site, and it gets rather old and tiresome. It is a complete waste of space in the comments not to mention it derails the discussion. This is a BLOG, it is in no way professional. Some of us students would rather not waste time proof reading comments we hurriedly write on a pointless blog, when we have papers we actually have to dedicate time to proof reading. Sorry, but this site is like a break from all the protocol, so I'm not too worried about the spelling or grammar in my comments.

Besides, I think I've posted on this site quite enough that it's evident I can in fact spell and use proper grammar, everyone slips up now and again, especially on a site that is, to many of us, just for fun.

Oh and if you’re going to point out my misuse of the spelling “wear” and my use of a preposition at the end of a sentence, then why wouldn’t you also point out the fact that I started the sentence after the one ending in a preposition with the word “But”? Truth be told, I was on my way out yesterday when I wrote that comment, which is usually the case for me. I don’t spell check my comments ever, because frankly, I just don’t have the time to care. However, if spending your time correcting people’s English on an online forum makes you feel better about yourself then feel free, it is your time to waste.

criolle johnny says:
Mon, 5th Apr 201012:23 pm 

We read the Declaration of Independence today and marvel that "people don't write that way today".

Perhaps in 200 years someone will marvel at the "Casey College Candy" texts and complain that "people don't TEXT that way today"!

I'm seeing "text grammar" on essays and term papers, even RESUMES!

Casey, you're a journalist. You are a role model for younger students, whether you like that or not. The professional example you set is going to have effects years after you graduate and years after you leave this blog behind.

Grow into that responsibility. You're easily smart enough, your writing shows it.

Anon, Churchill could have easily said, "I will not tolerate".

He was poking light at someone's ineptitude. I'm certain Casey doesn't want THAT!

Bright Blessings.

Anonymous says:
Mon, 5th Apr 20101:13 pm 

yes, churchill was making light of something. of someone rearranging his quote so as to avoid ending the sentence with a preposition. maybe if you took a linguistics class you'd see that people aren't as picky with language today. language constantly changes, and as long as it isn't out of place and we can understand what someone is saying, what's the big deal?

http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/churchill.html

criolle says:
Wed, 7th Apr 20105:10 am 

Anon, The "big deal" is that you're taking a college class which is NOT giving you an education. You are paying for that education.

Demand a refund.

Anonymous says:
Wed, 7th Apr 201012:15 pm 

Who are you to tell me that I'm not being properly educated? Seriously, climb off of that pedestal of yours and realize that the world isn't going to follow your expectation of things, oh, and that in this instance (regarding Churchill) you are wrong. How about I call you out for abbreviating anonymous to "anon"? Technically "anon" is an archaic adverb meaning shortly, but you're using it "incorrectly", and therefore should be ridiculed about your terrible knowledge of the English language (according to your apparent reasoning).