30 Comments
Aug 11Liked by Julie Dee

Never were modal verbs more abused than during the scamdemic when everyday we were bombarded with “May, might, could etc.

The new variant could kill thousands, it may be stronger than the last one, it might mutate.

Folk took these words at face value without reading between the lines and were sucker punched into acceptance.

Expand full comment
author

This is what gets me. How can ‘our’ government lock people up for spreading lies and misinformation when they deliver it themselves? Blatant hypocrisy.

Expand full comment

…and the sheep followed.

Expand full comment

Should have, could’ve, may have. You are sounding like a political speech writer. Just kidding or am I, maybe not. Confused? I am and I wrote it or did I? I could go on and on or maybe not. I will stop now.

Expand full comment
author

😂😂 indeed

My point is made

Expand full comment
founding

Excellently written, from both your perception of the issue and your command of language to effectively illustrate the point. I learnt to speak like this from studying philosophy and working in the corporate world. It has its uses. If you don’t want to be categorical or unequivocal (or is it equivocal, tricky one that) but nonetheless speaking with a tone akin to authority. On an intellectual level, I’ve always been happy to sit on the fence and await more evidence - but that doesn’t really work on social media. Posting something and remarking “I’ll just leave this here…” or “just saying…” isn’t being nuanced, it’s being ball-less. The trouble with picking sides though, it’s not easy. In the 70’s, the Tom Robinson Band sung “You better decide which side you’re on, cos Left is right and Right is wrong” - how fucking far we’ve fallen.

Expand full comment
author
Aug 10·edited Aug 10Author

Cheers. I’ve been revisiting English again recently, as I have been teaching that Kurdish lady.

She had to leave her country because she was a journalist who had published a leftist magazine the government didn’t like. Oh the misfortune, to now end up here in General Starmer’s Britain!

Frying pan, fire anyone? 😬

Expand full comment
Aug 10Liked by Julie Dee

The rise of the modal verb. Used by corporations everywhere to signal veiled threats and engender fear.

I could say “fuck this shit” but I might just ignore it 😁😘

Expand full comment
author

IF you did, I MAY be inclined to join you😂😂

Expand full comment
Aug 10Liked by Julie Dee

Lol 😂

Expand full comment

Good thoughts. Will be interesting to see how this straight jacket of censorship, that is now being deployed with increasing rigour, will play out.

Expand full comment
author

Yes every day seems to take a new draconian twist at the moment in the UK doesn’t it? 😬 Good job I’m not on Twitter anymore. I’d be being sent down, no doubt…

Expand full comment
Aug 10Liked by Julie Dee

💯

Expand full comment
author

Sadly, yes

Expand full comment
Aug 10Liked by Julie Dee

I know 😢

Expand full comment

This is a pearler 👏… and a reminder why l tuned out a long time ago 👍

Expand full comment
author
Aug 10·edited Aug 10Author

Crazy times.

They’re tying people in knots.

Expand full comment

Totally. The days of worshipping the shit show ( who ever fronts it) will hopefully end soon, like the chaos before the storm … then we might all realise our power and fuck them all off, once and for all … when we realise we don’t have to fight for what we already are … one of the same … love 🥰

Expand full comment
author

Oh that would be wonderful!

Well ‘General’ Harmer ahem Starmer got in with around 26% of the vote, he’s trying to make as much headway with the powergrab as he can, while he can. I’ve not met anyone with anything positive to say about him yet.

Yes, let’s keep rooting for love 💕

Expand full comment

I reckon politicians are the bottom feeders of society … murky the waters, feed in the darkness, spread it among the people … engender a distrust of anyone supposedly (here we go 🤣) different. They are the greatest actors in the stage. Yep, we need to call it out … though somehow with an energy of love … which is apparently (😝) difficult because rather are so fucking corrupt. Love will win out … eventually. Reckon we might need to come back for another life so we can be in it … might take another 50 or so years.🤣. Sending love 🥰😄

Expand full comment

All relevant and necessary in this time of censorship and fear. What on earth have we become?

Expand full comment
author

Indeed.

The players and the played!

Refrain from the game!

Expand full comment

You're def not talking bollocks... most sense I've heard for a long time. Honesty isn't valued tho is it! Jeez, it grinds my gears 😤

Expand full comment
author

I’ve seen people do it so many times. Big names on social media. They chuck something out there, plant a hateful seed and watch it grow. It’s just horrible 💔

Expand full comment

Isn't it. I can't do social media. It's bloody hateful

Expand full comment

Why not. USED AGAINST US.

TURN ABOUT TAKES IT

Expand full comment
author

Not sure what you mean

Expand full comment

They treat us like crap we return the favor ten times over

Expand full comment
author

Who do?

Expand full comment
deletedAug 10
Comment deleted
Expand full comment
author

It’s happening. We need to be wise to it!

Expand full comment