Slog - Comments on Can We Now Officially Ban the Word "Narrative," Please? http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/can_we_now_officially_ban_the_word_narra With all the talk of the black vote going for Obama, it should be noted (and it was to me by Annie, promptly) that Obama got twice as much of the white vote in S.C. as he was projected to get. He got about a quarter of it. Here's two other things to note: Among young white voters in South Carolina (not a huge percentage of the vote, but they will be one day) Obama got 52%! Talk about the New South. Right on. This, and another supposed anomaly—Obama's heavy support among white voters in the outlying precincts in Nevada... Copyright 2008 Sun, 27 Jan 2008 11:54:26 -0800 Sun, 27 Jan 2008 20:47:30 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Fifty-Two-Eighty Thanks for that narrative, Josh.

]]> Fifty-Two-Eighty http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/can_we_now_officially_ban_the_word_narra#c910290 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/can_we_now_officially_ban_the_word_narra#c910290 2008 Sun, 27 Jan 2008 11:57:58 -0800 Comment by NapoleonXIV Noun
1. narrative, narration, story, tale, message, content, subject matter, substance

usage: a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program; "his narrative was interesting"; "Disney's stories entertain adults as well as children"

]]> NapoleonXIV http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/can_we_now_officially_ban_the_word_narra#c910294 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/can_we_now_officially_ban_the_word_narra#c910294 2008 Sun, 27 Jan 2008 12:02:22 -0800 Comment by NapoleonXIV DAMN! Forgot to attach snarky comment.

Well, the moment's gone, but it was gonna be something to the effect that if we're going to ban the word "narrative" wouldn't it make sense to ban "news commentary" as well?

]]> NapoleonXIV http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/can_we_now_officially_ban_the_word_narra#c910295 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/can_we_now_officially_ban_the_word_narra#c910295 2008 Sun, 27 Jan 2008 12:04:05 -0800 Comment by Get With The Times, Yo Mudede already banned Narrative.

]]> Get With The Times, Yo http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/can_we_now_officially_ban_the_word_narra#c910296 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/can_we_now_officially_ban_the_word_narra#c910296 2008 Sun, 27 Jan 2008 12:05:07 -0800 Comment by Fifty-Two-Eighty ROTFL. Boy, he sure did.

]]> Fifty-Two-Eighty http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/can_we_now_officially_ban_the_word_narra#c910305 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/can_we_now_officially_ban_the_word_narra#c910305 2008 Sun, 27 Jan 2008 12:31:07 -0800 Comment by NapoleonXIV We should also ban prose.

]]> NapoleonXIV http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/can_we_now_officially_ban_the_word_narra#c910307 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/can_we_now_officially_ban_the_word_narra#c910307 2008 Sun, 27 Jan 2008 12:36:34 -0800 Comment by WHAT ABOUT POESY? We should all use Ban, Rose.

]]> WHAT ABOUT POESY? http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/can_we_now_officially_ban_the_word_narra#c910322 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/can_we_now_officially_ban_the_word_narra#c910322 2008 Sun, 27 Jan 2008 12:52:40 -0800 Comment by konstantConsumer i went to furman university, in greenville sc from '00 to '05, so i have a bunch of friends from south carolina who are in the "under thirty" age group that people are talking about so much. Of the ones i've spoken to recently, they all voted for Obama. i don't think i know a single person in my age group that plans to vote for clinton on tuesday in FL either.

]]> konstantConsumer http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/can_we_now_officially_ban_the_word_narra#c910324 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/can_we_now_officially_ban_the_word_narra#c910324 2008 Sun, 27 Jan 2008 12:54:03 -0800 Comment by elenchos Hey Josh, me here. I know it's been a while since I rapped at ya, but let me just interject one small point.

Look, the word "narrative" in the political context is used in an accusatory way, such as to denounce the pat characterization of Obama as popular only among blacks. Pundits who actually think Obama only appeals to this or that minority group don't say "my narrative is that only young people who don't vote like Obama." They leave out the word "narrative" because it undermines the believability of their assertion and reveals that it is only a stereotyped set of expectations. Critics of said lazy pundit would reply, "that's only your narrative (you dick)."

So if we banned the word, it would be all the harder for you do make the critique we just did. Plus, who are we to ban words? And don't we have anything better to do?

]]> elenchos http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/can_we_now_officially_ban_the_word_narra#c910345 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/can_we_now_officially_ban_the_word_narra#c910345 2008 Sun, 27 Jan 2008 13:39:38 -0800 Comment by annie Not a huge percentage of the vote, true, but 18-29 year-olds made up a measly 9% of the turnout in 2004 (admittedly, SC was slightly farther back in the calendar), and this year they were up to a solid 14%. Not bad at all.

]]> annie http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/can_we_now_officially_ban_the_word_narra#c910350 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/can_we_now_officially_ban_the_word_narra#c910350 2008 Sun, 27 Jan 2008 13:54:03 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle There is a narrative:

It's pretty simple:

USA to GOP: Time's UP! Get LOST!

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/can_we_now_officially_ban_the_word_narra#c910473 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/can_we_now_officially_ban_the_word_narra#c910473 2008 Sun, 27 Jan 2008 15:57:25 -0800 Comment by Mahtli69 It’s a must read for anyone who’s trying to come up with a neat narrative for this election.

I say we ban the word neat.

]]> Mahtli69 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/can_we_now_officially_ban_the_word_narra#c910542 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/01/can_we_now_officially_ban_the_word_narra#c910542 2008 Sun, 27 Jan 2008 20:47:30 -0800