The Tripod

Originally posted by

Andrew Terhune '78

Well, if they don't make the cuts, Trinity could end up like Antioch College. Would that be preferable?

Originally posted by

Andrew Terhune '78

Well, if they don't make the cuts, Trinity could end up like Antioch College. Would that be preferable?

Originally posted by

Alexander Champoux

Glad to be your muse Mr. James. It's a nice poem, though I'm not so partial to the third stanza. Awfully good of you to contribute to the discussion though. Did you read the article or just choose to extemporize?

Originally posted by

Alexander Champoux

As you have pointed out, I've appointed myself...the Allen K. Smith faculty had nothing to do with it, so you're on shaky ground there. My opinions article (my post more specifically I believe) is no reflection on their ability as professors.

In calling your poem extemporization I meant to call attention to the fact that you attacked my character (not both authors of the article or the topic of the article). If you had previously held views of my writing and decided to just randomly attack my character (and in sonnet form, another random choice as the sonnet tradition is rooted in the concept of love)--well, it just seems to be a rather IMPROMPTU attack. You should probably look up extemporize...it's a part of the definition.

My use of commas are my own, yes. I imagine you're referring to the sentence:

"The possibility of my advisor, my mentor, Peltier, being let go--along with other members of the Writing Center--angers me both on a personal level, and on a more institutional level."

I chose to include the comma after "mentor" instead of running into Peltier's name because I wanted to emphasize the appositives. The comma after "level" was just lazy.
Too many people are afraid to use punctuation (especially commas and semicolons) in their writing. Commas add inflection and meaning to otherwise bland or senseless sentences.

Finally, your posts are childish. Mocking me with a heroic sonnet addressed to the "God of Writing" seems slightly unfounded, especially after an article in which I make no claims about my own writing ability. Even then, for all you know, this article could have been written exclusively by Sarah. So far, if you check the Tripod archives, I have written 2 articles on the topic of bad writing--only one this year, and I would challenge you to defend the writing that I was criticizing in it.

And now, a slightly more vulgar form of poetry than your lofty sonnet:

Rick James grabbed proud young Alex's ear
"Pay attention boy, I'm a real live Shakespeare!"
Rick talked and he talked
and here Alex stalked.
"My sharp tongue, boy, you'll soon learn to fear!"

To our celebrated language master Rick
Alexander said "You are a D---;
Get out of my face
and personal space--
If you've naught good to say, save the shtick."

But, uninterested in listening, Rick James
Decided to stay at his computer, call names,
"Be constructive? Hell no!
I'm after Champoux"
And, fairly, the faculty he blames.

So here's a nice caution for young writers
about dealing with like Internet fighters
defend your own name
which they are wont to defame
then give the finger to the self proclaimed writing arbiters!

Champoux does happen to be my real name, you smarmy connard, so either make an intelligent contribution to the discussion (e.g. "I disagree, Alex. The professors of the writing center should be removed because, if you look at the distribution of pay, they soak up double what other professors do--while, at the same time, they teach half the classes.") or stop throwing stones. As it is, you're the only one who's coming across as a grammarian Caligula, Rick James--if that IS your real name.

Originally posted by

Anonymous Observer With Too Much To Lose

While Champoux does come across as something of a tool, the person who wasted his time with an ad hominem response--anonymously, I might add ("Richard James" means nothing without a label: ie. professor, alum, student, etc...)--seems like the type of person that sits at home smelling his own farts.