Althouse: "Radically orientated," but too stoned to do anything.

September 22, 2005

"Radically orientated," but too stoned to do anything.

The FBI on John Lennon.

9 comments:

Charlie Eklund said...: Yoko would probably say that John was more Oriented than orientated.; 9/22/05, 10:22 AM
Simon said...: Harsh but fair i'd say :); 9/22/05, 10:46 AM
jeff said...: I hate the word "orientated." Used to have a supervisor that used it all the time when we were doing map or land navigation exercises.

You _orient_ yourself to the map (or vice versa), you do not _orientate_ yourself to the map.

It just sounds totally hillbilly.; 9/22/05, 11:10 AM
Anonymous said...: Kind of sums up the zeitgeist of the era. I know. I was there. I think.; 9/22/05, 11:15 AM
Unknown said...: This is reminiscent of Dennis Leary's old routine re: drug use in the 1970s.; 9/22/05, 12:37 PM
Beth said...: Jeff, that's one of my bogies, too. I guess it comes from a misapplication of "orientation." More syllables, more smarter? I just don't get it.; 9/22/05, 1:49 PM
Ann Althouse said...: Re "orientated" -- I pulled that quote because I think it's bad too. The Columbia Guide to Standard English says about orient/orientate: "Both verbs, meaning literally 'to locate east and so adjust to the compass directions' and figuratively 'to adjust to circumstances or situation,' are Standard, but American commentators continue to object to orientate (used more frequently by the British), mainly because orient is shorter but also because the figurative use is outstripping the literal one."; 9/22/05, 1:56 PM
Meade said...: "The Doors were investigated because so many people wrote to the FBI complaining about the band's 'filthy and vulgar' music."

That one made me laugh. Filthy/vulgar was the least of what was wrong with the Doors' music. Their lyrics were stupid and inane. For that there should have been a citizens' arrest.; 9/22/05, 2:25 PM
P_J said...: I thought Lennon was more into hallucinogens...; 9/22/05, 2:34 PM