Talkin' white
 

Hello ladies. I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

I have a new topic on my mind this afternoon.

I spent most of my childhood in the suburbs with other Black and White children. I also read a lot of books as a child. Because I read a lot and had parents that were big on education, I always had a large vocabulary and always spoke English correctly.

Later on when my mother bought a house in an inner city neighborhood, I began to hear many comments about my grammar usage. Such as "You talk like a white girl" or the more polite "You talk so proper." I also have many friends who have always lived in the inner city in all Black neighborhoods that speak very well and they have heard these comments as well.

As an adult, I don't have any kind of identity issues or anything like that. I know that I am an educated Black woman that speaks like an educated Black woman. But my question is this, why is using proper grammar considered to be "White" and using improper grammar and slang considered to be "Black"?



[This message has been edited by MIDWESTDIVA (edited November 24, 2000).]

There is nothing wrong with being "educated", and wanting to speak properly. But there IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH CASTING AWAY YOUR CULTURE AND ADOPTING THE INTONATION AND MANNERISMS OF THE EUROPEAN-AMERICANS WHEN YOU'RE NOT EUROPEAN-AMERICAN. Speaking "valley", for example, is a European-American mode. You can deal with the wider society without throwing away or hiding the things African-Americans value, and our modus operandi. Assimilation shouldn't be forced on just us, and we shouldn't feel we have to do it to be accepted. Don't forget; to get the current American culture required black-eyed peas in The Melting Pot too!

Original Ape,

Thank you for bringing that up. But what if a person has grown up in "the valley"? Would you not expect them to speak a certain way, regardless of race? Part of this whole talking white thing is related to locale, don't you think? Suburban children usually do speak differently than inner city children. The same way that Southerners speak differently than people on the East Coast.

I went to high school with a girl from Oakland, CA. She definitely spoke with a west coast accent. Most people where I live would probably say she speaks very proper or "white". But I know others from that region that speak the same way, and they're all Black. So how can that be considered "talking white" when everyone in a certain region speaks a certain way?

[This message has been edited by MIDWESTDIVA (edited November 27, 2000).]

FUNNY!!

I must admit that I enjoy the use of standard of english....especially on black men. Nothing is more sexy to me, than a black man, in a nice suit, who smells good and uses standard english.

My ears literally ring at the use of subject and verb non-agreement. My 5 year old even corrects people's grammar.

I actually like to "trip" myself out by leaving a very proper, "white sounding" (possibly valley) message on my answering machine. I don't see anything wrong with it. My friends dog me about it, but I continue to do it.

First I'd like to apologize for hittin' the button a few times too many.

Secondly, there is merit in what you say about locale, and people being a product of their environment in terms of language. But should that include intonation, and behavior?

Yes, I think that includes intonation and behavior. BTW, I've missed you. Where have you been hiding? http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

On my soapbox: As a young child, I had a similar experience as MidwestDiva. I went to school with mostly white and Asian children, and came home to an all-African American (Black, back then) neighborhood. Eventually, I learned to be what I call "bilingual". I have excellent diction and love that folks can't tell to which ethnicity I belong, particularly over the phone. It's interesting to see people's reactions (I work in the high-tech sector) when meeting me in person. I can also throw-down some serious "Ebonics" as well, and have taught a co-worker to say the word "sto'", instead of "store, " for example.

Seriously, I don't think how you speak is an indicator of your cultural awareness. I've seen people who can flow some Ebonics be so filled with self-loathing and self-destructive behavior--and "valley girls" who can embrace the triumphs and struggles of being an American of African descent.

To answer your original question-people's natural instinct is to find ways to categorize others--it's easier. Therefore, if we can categorize folks with flawless diction as "acting white", then we can presumably make some judgements and assumptions on them based upon this fact. While it is fine to be able to speak "Ebonics", just like it's fine to be able to speak French, German or Swahili, it is just as important to use the proper grammar of whatever is language in which you profess proficiency. The challenge is that many of our young folks (and many older) don't know how to switch from Ebonics to American English as necessary. Therefore, we're sometimes overlooked for positions just like people with thick accents from their native tongues for positions that require speaking. I will never forget how to say "birfday" (there is a direct correlation between us pronouncing "th" as "f" and some African dialects, by the way) or "git" or "I'm fixina" (or "finna", depending on region). That is an important part of my culture as an American of African descent. However, I'm also aware that my family has been in the US for at least six generations (forced, segregated and second-class citizen a given)...certainly, one would assume that I would have mastered the American English language by now.

Off the soapbox.
Shela


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Finer Womanhood: the "Cat's Meow" Since 1920

Shela,

Your observations are all on point.

Also I am at my desk at work literally LOL at you for 2 reasons.

1. You actually taught someone how to say "sto".

2. Your examples of "fixina" and "finna". I actually used to say "fixina". (I have country parents.) It brought back some funny memories for me. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/tongue.gif



[This message has been edited by MIDWESTDIVA (edited November 27, 2000).]

Naw Love; I've just been extremely busy. I respect your opinion on this, and acknowledge the merit in it. I know there are some cases where there is no way for us to be around us because there aren't any of us around; and so people become products of their environment. But there are some people that ELECT to emulate their white counterparts because they are afraid of their own, or ashamed of the negative perceptions of us. I too, am ashamed of how we are perceived; but I plan to prove those perceptions WRONG-instead of trying to be something I'm not. Do you understand?

I understand. There ARE some wannabees out there. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

to the ladies of Sigma Gamma Rho i hope you don't mind me posting on your board http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif just thought this topic was interesting. i think speech and diction are a part of one's educational upbringing. i think all of our kids should speak proper english, its just the way of the business world. but outside of the interview setting etc. i think people should talk in the manner that is most comfortable to them, whether its ebonics, slang, southern, northern, valley etc. and folks should not hate on them for it. i think when we associate "proper english" as a european virtue then we set back years of trying to help folks to see that race and intellectual capacity are too separate things. we are all products of our environment in some way and that's not always a bad thing.

I'm sure you are aware of the difference between good diction and intonation. I'm also sure you are aware that American Standard English is almost 90% European. Although we live here in America, it is not our natural language; therefore speaking it OUR WAY does not reflect a lack of intelligence on our part. Ebonics is an artistic, cultural twist on an already diluted language. As with the variations of dialect, it should be respected and accepted as well. When Cubans go to Puerto Rico, they speak Spanish and are accepted. Why can't our own people accept OUR VERSION of American English. After all, aren't we really discussing the fact that many of our people really want to shed our racial identity ANY way they can?

I have to disagree with that statement somewhat. I don't think that the fact that our ancestors spoke different languages is a valid excuse for some of us not to know standard English in the year 2000. Our slave ancestors were not allowed to speak their native tongues. So our people have been speaking English for over 400 years. Even if some choose not to speak standard english 24/7. When was the last time you went over to an Afrian American's house and heard them speaking Swahili?

We have as much of a right to claim English as our language, as our brethren in Latin America that claim Spanish as their primary language. They are also descendants of slaves. Speaking Spanish doesn't make them any less Black.

Also, English has really been imposed on everyone. It is the international language of business. At least for now. Young people in asian, african and middle eastern countries are trying hard to master this language so they can compete in a global market.

On my final note, I went to victoria's secret the other day and asked the salesperson for a specific item. Her response "We ain't got none dem" almost made my ears bleed. I'm not saying the girl lacks intelligence just because she thinks it's okay to use double negatives. But she is definitely lacking education if she thinks it's okay to speak that way in a place of business.

BTW Original Ape,

you could delete some of those extra posts. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif

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"Work like you don't need the money. Love like you've never been hurt. Dance like nobody's watching." (Satchel Paige)

[This message has been edited by MIDWESTDIVA (edited November 28, 2000).]

EBONICS SHOULD BE ACCEPTED???????? Please Original Ape, say it ain't so!!!

I have no problem with colloquialisms (sp), in fact I enjoy being around friends and family and not having to worry about butchering certain words, but come on.

In my professional life, I do not want double negatives dropping from my lips while I'm asking for a well deserved raise.

It is one thing to use ebonics occasionally, while "chillin' with one's dogs, or your girls", but know standard english, and use it when the situation (job interview, speaking to a newscaster on national tv) requires that subject/verb agreement be present. It is quite another to accept ebonics as the "black language".

I'm black, and I say HEll NO, ebonics is not the black language. As long as I'm black, I won't claim that mess. Being black and ebonics are NOT mutual exclusive.

Why are people who enjoy speaking standard english, and people who literally cringe (I DO) when they hear the doo-rag wearing, one tooth having bum of a brother explain the hit-and-run on the 10:00 news, being accused of trying to deny their identity.

I don't claim to be a historical scholar, but it would seem to me that broken english was the attempt of slaves to master a new language in an unfamiliar country.

After hundreds of years in this country, we should all know the language. It is not cute to put a name on broken english and give it to black people as the thing we've been missing.

Finally, I'm part puerto rican, and I can tell you from experience, that all spanish is not the same. If a rican goes to cuba and speaks spanish, most cubans are going to know that person is not Cuban. Intonations, and words are different. Think of the olympics, Australians speak english, but sometimes I didn't know what the heck those people were saying.

This is just my opinion. Miss. Mocha

Greetings, ladies of Sigma Gamma Rho.

I'm much intrigued by this topic, as I speak 2 different languages, with at least a couple variations of each. I speak American English, and (Asian) Indian English. I speak Bengali (my native tongue), as well Beng-lish.

The latter is something I speak strictly at home with my family - I doubt anyone besides my family (or other Bengali-Americans) would really get it. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif I speak American English here in the US of course; depending on who I'm conversing with, it can be standard English or a deep southern drawl. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif When I'm in India, or even conversing on the phone with a relative in India, my accent and patterns of speach take on a more British -> Indian English slant.

I feel blessed that my parents insisted that I learn my native language, and that I pick up easily on the nuances of spoken language - it has certainly made it easier to communicate with a variety of people.

It is important to me to be able to communicate effectively with people, so to me, it's not wrong to attune one's speech to the situation/audience. This includes, of course, making a formal presentation at work - standard American English predominates there. For social situations, though, the prevailing social group dictates my speech.

Thanks for introducing such an interesting topic, MIDWESTDIVA!



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equeen
A Lioness has her Pride!
@>--;--
Always
Seek
Knowledge
Alpha Sigma Kappa - Women in Technical Studies

I hope this doesn't bother anyone, I'm a Delta Zeta but I often check the 'active topics today' thing so I can see what's going on. Anyway, I saw this thread and was interested. I hope that my asking questions doesn't offend anyone becuase I don't want to do anything, just call me ignorant to some things. Anyway, my question is, where did ebonics come from and why are they used? I grew up in a small rural town and none of the african american students (4) that attended my high school spoke this way. I had never really heard people talk this way till college, so I was just wondering. Thanks!

That is a hard question. I would venture to guess that it started because our people were denied education for a long time and therefore most of them didn't speak the English language that is taught in textbooks. Apparently it has passed on from one generation to the next. In my opinion, some of us use it because we think of it as "ours".

If anyone else has a better explanation than mine, please share it. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

What's up, Diva?

I agree with what you've said. My points were: 1. It is imperative upon EVERYONE in this country to be able to speak proper English. 2. There is a time and place for any other language to be used. 3. There are those in this country that suffer from inability to shed their dark skin, and so they cast away all other Black aspects of their person in order to be accepted by their non-black colleagues. That is their choice. I simply hate the clarence thomases of this country that benefit from us-one way or another-yet publicly hate us. It's good to have friends from diverse backgrounds; but BE YOURSELF. EDUCATE YOURSELF; THEN REPRESENT US WELL.
DON'T SELL OUT!!!

This is a topiuc that is very personal to me. I grew upi going to school with primarily white people ( I was the only black in my class most of the time) I also had a speech impediment (hope I spelled that right http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif) when I was younger so my school offered speech classes and myt mother enrolled me in them.
Putting both of these things to gether I assume that you would realize that I talk, as some would say it "proper". I ussually will joke around with my friends now and say something like I'm not ebonically inclined, but for years it really hurt me because when I would go home and I would be playing with my friends at home ( who were black) I would always get called a little white girl or people would say you think you white or call me stuck up, just because of the way I spoke. I can remeber actually sitting up at night and practicing "ebonics", but I really just never got a hold of it.
I was taught for years in speech class how to speech correctly, so it was hard to chnage this. Today I am really glad that I do speak "prpoer" ecause I feel like it doesn't make me uncomfportable or anything like that when I'm in a interview, I don't have to change my way of speaking, I just remain my self.
But on another tagent I really am offended when people tell me that I'm very articulate or I speak so well, like just because I'm black, I'm supposed to be illeterite or something.
I am a Black Female and very proud of my heritage, but black people will look down on me because I add ing's to my words and that hurts and white people look at me like I'm some kind of inner-city miracle and that hurts too.

We need to get away from this, because it is really something that can hurt a child's self-esteem ( and believ me for me to bring up self-esteem I have to be serious, because I really hate when people use self-esteem as a scape goat)

I'm a lot older now and I really don't care as much about it all, but I will tell you this, my son will be 4 next month and I correct him all the time when he speaks incorrect eglish because I absolutely dispise whne partents allow there kids to grow up not know the defference between he and him or she an her (her went to the store......him not here) I don't think that I should be ashanmed for talking proper because it is just that the proper way to speak. I believe thatwe should learn that we neeed to all learn to speak properly.

Hope I wasn't too long http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

Blu_Theatrics,

I sincerely hope that you realize that the black people who mock you because you use standard english, are dealing with their own insecurities.

Ignore it, and continue to be proud of the way that you represent yourself and our race.

Miss. Mocha

I hope I am not misunderstood. Being an educator, I promote the use of proper English. As I stated earlier, slang has its time and place. I just don't like to see people try sooo hard to be something they will never be, for people who will never truly accept them.

I will try not to take offense to your question about writing in "ebonics".

It could be that because some of the forums are for predominantly black organizations, we as black people feel comfortable enough to let our guards down. We know that we won't be judged by EACH OTHER, if we use a double negative, or happen to leave a participle hangin'. We may neglect subject/verb agreement because we feel comfortable. We can let loose, and we know that most black people will understand what we're trying to convey.

It's similar to being around family members. You may call your grandmother "Grammykins" around family, but you may not want people you just meet to know that you call her that.

The other explanation may be typos. Who knows?

I don't get your point for asking this question.

Mgdzkm433,

People generally write the same way they speak. Especially in casual conversation. So if you are reading posts in BGLO forums, you are bound to see some "ebonics" in some of the posts.

Miss.Mocha,

I think what Mgdzkm433 means is this. Let me use Shelacious's examples of "sto", "fixina" and "finna". You and I automatically know that these words are really "store" and "fixing to", but Mgdzkm433 doesn't. Therefore, she would have a hard time understanding a post that used those terms, especially when they are spelled that way. I don't think she was referring to typos, since we all do those once in a while. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif


[This message has been edited by MIDWESTDIVA (edited November 30, 2000).]

LOL http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif @ MidwestDiva...that's the truth. Even when you are familar with the spoken "ebonics", it's very challenging to follow the conversation when those same words are written. For those who have read "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by (my) Soror Zora Neale Hurston, it often takes a chapter or so to get into the swing of the dialouge because of the writting style. But it's a highly recommended book for those who haven't yet read it.



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Finer Womanhood: the "Cat's Meow" Since 1920

I am going to take your advice and read this book! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

That was one of the best books I have ever read that depicted black people in that time. The use of "ebonics" in that books makes you think, I mean really think, of a language that was used, and accepted. And for me it makes you (as a black person that is) not want to deny the languague our ancestors spoke, even if it was due to not being properly educated. That is just my opinion, cause that book really touched me. Didn't mean to get a little off the subject.

EEEE-YIIIIP

What about writing in 'ebonics'? Is that common too? I have never come across this except here at greekchat and I find it very hard to follow what someone is trying to get across.

Diva,

I didn't know most people write as they speak. I don't. I was taught to write for the reader, and that's what I TRY to do. I'm not a good writer, so I wouldn't know about that. I fine that interesting though.

Original Ape,

Your original post is becoming more and more clear to me.

At first, I really thought you were tripping (for those who don't know, that means that I thought he was way off base), but as I continued to think about some of the post, and some of the questions, your rationale became as clear as a pane of glass to me.

Once we start explaining, and justifying, where does it end?

Thanks for making me step off of my high horse, Boo.


Miss. Mocha!

Thank everyone. The reason I was asking was because I had never seen it before and I wondered if writing this was was the norm. Yesterday someone wrote a message in the general forum, and I didn't understand--or found hard to follow at least, and I am just assuming it was writen in ebonics. I just thought, they wrote this message, where (if there are other people like me) only some of the people that read it can understand, and the rest just have to 'blindly' follow.

I'm sorry if I offended you Miss. Mocha, that was not my intention. Like I said before, you can just consider me ignorant on the subject. I just had a genuine intrest to know the origins and/or why people speak/write in ebonics. Another reason I wondered this was because, as I'm sure you all know, some people that AREN'T African-American decent really make an effort to learn and speak ebonics. I was just wondering if there was some reason I didn't know about. But really, I didn't mean to be disrespectful, so please accept my appology if I did offend you.

http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif Most definitely! It's a beautifully written book - I enjoyed the story as much as the language. Of all the novels I read during Senior English in high school, this was by far my favorite. In fact, this was one of the works I analyzed for the senior paper.

The one thing I found interesting is that a lot of characters in the novel had very descriptive names - the one I remember best, of course, is Tea Cake. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif Does anyone know what significance Hurston meant by those names? I'd be curious to know.

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equeen
A Lioness has her Pride!
@>--;--
Always
Seek
Knowledge
Alpha Sigma Kappa - Women in Technical Studies

Original Ape,

Mostly I'm referring to general conversation as we do here in Greekchat. If I were writing an article, or a research paper I would tailor it to the reader. For a good example of what I am talking about, look at AKA2D '91's posts. She uses the expression "Lord have mercy" in her posts a lot because she really talks that way. Not that I have ever spoken to her but you can just tell.

Miss.Mocha,

You are hilarious. Your example of the bum of a brother on the news reminded me of something. Not very long ago there was a report on the local news about a skeleton that had been found in someone's backyard. The news media interviewed the next door neighbor who was as you described, a bum of a brother with a jheri curl and 2 gold teeth in the front of his mouth. As you can probably guess he was not the most articulate brother out there. But to make matters worse, he told the newsreporter that his name was "DJ Fast" and they actually put that in the caption on the screen! I was too through! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif

[This message has been edited by MIDWESTDIVA (edited December 01, 2000).]

Mgdmkk33 (I know that I messed up your screen name, please accept my apologies, I tried to memorize it before I posted.)

Since there is no real and recognized language called "ebonics' what are you and other people who are not of African descent trying to learn? Broken english?

I'm not trying to pick on you, I'm just trying to understand what you mean that people are trying to learn "ebonics". There is no such thing as "ebonics", that word exist only in a prism where the words "generation x" or "Reaganomics" mean something.


MidwestDiva,

I agree with you on a lot of issues (maybe it has something to do with the Midwest connection, but I can't say that I agree with the idea that people write the way they speak.

I have been known to go "scraight to da ghetto" at times with my vocabulary. However, I am a very eloquent speaker and writer when the need presents itself.

I think that sometimes, people are trying to make a point or a joke. Like when people write LAWD HA' MURCY!!!! Maybe the people who can't understand, aren't supposed to be included in the joke .


Just a thought, Miss. Mocha

Miss. Mocha

I have a hard time explaining myself without sounding like an idiot, so please bear with me. Ok, let me rephrase. Not exactly LEARN ebonics, I realize this is not a language, but speak in ebonics. For example, I've heard the saying "he's trying to be black" when someone was talking about a 'white' boy who was making an effort to speak in this way. This is why I was wondering if there was something more to it than I realized. I just didn't know or understand the history/background, so I wasn't sure why anyone would say something like that. Now that I know that it basically has been passed down through the years from your african-american decendants, I understand where it originated. Which brings me to the thought, do you find it flattering or insulting to hear someone not of African American decent speaking in this way? The original question spoke of the fact that many of you were considered 'trying to be white' when you spoke properly. I don't think this at ALL. Language, in my opinion, varies on where you live. I live in West Virginia. The most souther of the northern states and the most northern of the southern. You can really tell a difference in accent AND dialect. Some of us say Y'all, some don't. It's slang. I wasn't sure if ebonics was just slang created by location. Of course where you live ultimatly determines how you will speak. I might be American, but if I were brought up in Ireland, no doubt would I have an irish accent. SO. . .basically, my thought was--how can someone speak white and black? Ebonics, is it automatically considered to be black? I didn't know, so I thought I would ask questions about it. Basically I'm just curious. Maybe I just think TOO much, but stuff like language, history, religion and culture really fascinate me. . .guess I should have gone into Anthropology. I hope that better explains my direction. Again, I wasn't trying to be offensive, mearly inquisitive.

That is exactly my point. That's why I said in casual conversation. If I were speaking to you in person, I would speak the way I normally do, proper english. But if the situation required, maybe if I were joking with you, I may need to use "ebonics" in order for the joke to be funny.So I would switch gears and say "Lawd ha' murcy" instead of "Lord have mercy". If you and I are having this same conversation over the internet, and I want you to get the same effect of the joke, then I would need to switch gears in the text message, the same way I do when speaking. Maybe the joke would not come across the same way if I typed Lord Have Mercy as opposed to Lawd Ha' Murcy.

I guess what I am saying is the same things I am typing on this page, I would say to you if you and I were speaking in the real world. And if I were to throw some ebonics into my conversation with you in person, then I would also need to throw ebonics into my posts, to make it match our would be conversation. I don't know if I did a good job explaining myself. But I am sure someone will let me know. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

Ya know
I once had a history teacher explain what "ebonics" was. He said it has nothing to do with "slang". Slang is something that varies from region to region. (For example, we here in NY don't say words like "crunk" or "twirk" or "wodie" too often. But people down south use it more often.)
He said ebonics is just improper english. And the term comes from the way our European slave owners spoke. If u think about it. Most of the early settlers of the U.S. were not high class, educated Europeans. They were in fact lower class, lower educated people. So when they spoke, they didnt speak proper english (think of Charles Dickens http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif). Their slaves learned this improper english from them. This is what ebonics referrs to. Over time, as the lower class europeans became more educated, they began speaking standard English. But the slaves who were denied education, didnt make this advance in language. When blacks finally did start going to school, they learned standard english, but at the same time, had family and friends at home who didnt speak standard english. They learned to use the best of both worlds for dual expression, the same way we do today.
This same teacher said we SHOULD take offense when people refer to "our" slang as ebonics. It's not neccesarily ebonics, just a different way of expressing ourselves.
(Now if you're not talking about just slang, but things like "I be goin to the sto erday afta school cuz I be Hongry!", now thats ebonics. But if you're saying something like "Oh, the party last night was off the heezzee. I jammed all night", that's slang)If this is the case, ANYONE, including young children of ALL races, who doesn't speak proper english should be said to be speaking ebonics.
I don't claim that this explanation is gospel, but has anybody else ever heard this?

SoloRHO
PEACE: Proper Education Always Corrects Error

Much love to ya sista! I'm just glad SOMEBODY out there understood me.

Hey Original Ape,

I understood you too, after reading your last post about Clarence Thomas. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

SoloRho,

You are correct. Slang and ebonics aren't interchangable words. Ebonics really is just improper English. Didn't the name "ebonics" come out of that whole ordeal in California where they were going to start allowing "ebonics" to be acceptable in the classroom?

And I had never heard about the whole poor, uneducated European thing before, but it does make a lot of sense.

[This message has been edited by MIDWESTDIVA (edited December 01, 2000).]

Excuse me Sisters in Greekdom, but The Spirit brought me over here to see this! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/eek.gif

MidwestDiva...
I DO WHAT?

YOU DOGGONE RIGHT, YOU HAVE NEVER SPOKEN TO ME BEFORE...YOU CANNOT TELL ANYTHING! You do NOT know HOW I speak AT ALL! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/mad.gif What nerve! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/eek.gif

IN SOME of the posts, I WRITE "Lawd", NOT LORD...I do not use HIS name in vain! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif

Don't use me...wait you DON'T KNOW ME, but my pseudoname AKA2D'91 as a reference for ANY of your posts, okay! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/mad.gif

SGR's I would have posted this in a GDI's forum, if there were one! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif
Excuse me! I'm out!

I stand corrected. AKA2D '91 says LAWD HAVE mercy, not Lord Have Mercy. I apologize for misquoting you, but not for quoting you. These are all public forums and I can quote whoever I wish.

Am I to believe that Lawd Have Mercy is something you type in your posts because you just like the way the words look on the screen? I suppose you have never ever used that expression in your life. If so, again, I stand corrected.

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"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It goes on." ~Robert Frost