Subject:
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Re: Here's a few for Maggie:
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.off-topic.fun
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Date:
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Mon, 25 Feb 2002 16:32:07 GMT
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Viewed:
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284 times
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In lugnet.off-topic.fun, Dave Schuler writes:
> Browsing CNN.com I came upon an article about the BAFTA awards
> http://www.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/Movies/02/24/baftas/index.html
> and noticed this apparent flub of the Queen's English:
>
> > BAFTA chairman Simon Relph said [Warren] Beatty was one of the most versatile
> > and gifted filmmakers.
>
> > "His contribution to the film industry cannot be underestimated and we are
> > delighted to honour his work with this award," he told the UK's Press
> > Association.
>
> Now, I'm just a good ol' American, so far be it from me to question the
> wisdom of a native English speaker, but it seems to me that if one cannot
> "underestimate" something, then that means that one cannot give an estimate
> that is less than the actual value of something; ie, that the thing's value
> is so low that no lower estimate is possible! What a slur on poor Beatty!
> I demand an apology on his behalf!
It may be a slur but it's not libel. His skill as a director is only
slightly higher than his skill as an actor which is only slightly higher
than his skill as a deep political thinker. Since his skill at that is
nil... well, you do the math.
Perhaps this speaker (Relph) really *meant* what he said rather than
flubbing, and was counting on Beatty not to catch it.
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Message has 2 Replies:
 | | Re: Here's a few for Maggie:
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| (...) Hey! He was great in... I mean, I liked his performance in... What about...? And then there was that one with.... Okay, but he was pretty good as Lex Luthor's sidekick, and we should take it easy on him in any case, since he has to deal with (...) (23 years ago, 25-Feb-02, to lugnet.off-topic.fun)
| | | Re: Here's a few for Maggie:
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| (...) It's a statement in the same vein as "I couldn't care less." The intent is clear, but the language is muddy. Is it "cannot be under- estimated" because it is so obvious as to defy underestimation, or is it impossible to have less esteem for (...) (23 years ago, 25-Feb-02, to lugnet.off-topic.fun)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Here's a few for Maggie:
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| Browsing CNN.com I came upon an article about the BAFTA awards (URL) noticed this apparent flub of the Queen's English: (...) Now, I'm just a good ol' American, so far be it from me to question the wisdom of a native English speaker, but it seems to (...) (23 years ago, 25-Feb-02, to lugnet.off-topic.fun)
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