From newshub.ccs.yorku.ca!torn!cs.utexas.edu!wupost!spool.mu.edu!nigel.msen.com!fmsrl7!lynx!carina.unm.edu!bevans Wed Sep 16 21:22:24 EDT 1992
Article 6833 of comp.ai.philosophy:
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>From: bevans@carina.unm.edu (Mathemagician)
Subject: Re: Biological Sex Differences? ("Women only" excusable ?)
Message-ID: <dgsnzqd@lynx.unm.edu>
Date: Wed, 09 Sep 92 09:35:53 GMT
Organization: Society for the Preservation of E. coli
References: <wentzell.78.715973345@ace.acadiau.ca> <MELBY.92Sep9005959@dove.yk.Fujitsu.CO.JP> <1992Sep9.034138.15488@news.media.mit.edu>
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In article <1992Sep9.034138.15488@news.media.mit.edu> minsky@media.mit.edu (Marvin Minsky) writes:
>More generally, I have found only a very few verbs that reflect any
>appreciable discredit upon the subject-agent.  It is almost impossible
>to admit to a fault without using the passive, or other form of
>periphrase to be evasive.  Could this be a subtle way of imparting a
>society's values to its members?  Weird.

I'd disagree.  It depends upon what is being spoken:

I lost.
I lost the game.
I biffed it.
I ate it.
I bit it.
I spooged.
I fucked up.
I bought the farm.

Yes, I'll agree that one must indicate to whom one lost, that doesn't
make losing a necessarily passive construction.

-- 
Brian Evans                |     "Bad mood, bad mood...Sure I'm in a bad mood!
bevans@carina.unm.edu      |      I haven't had sex...*EVER!*" -- Virgin Mary


