Re: Seth Finkelstein / N.Y Times
At 10:58 AM 7/20/01 -0400, Peter D. Junger wrote:
>Mike Godwin writes:
>: Moreover, I said myself that the very fact of
>: the piece is "flattering" to Seth. Careful readers of my earlier
>: posting know that no one disagrees with me on this.
>
>To say that writing the truth about Seth ``flatters'' him is something
>that I think most readers---including the rational ones---would consider
>to be rather insulting.
According to the American Heritage Dictionary, to "flatter" has
the following meanings:
1. To compliment excessively and often insincerely, especially
in order to win favor.
2. To please or gratify the vanity of: “What really flatters a
man is that you think him worth flattering” (George Bernard Shaw).
3. a. To portray favorably: a photograph that flatters its subject.
b. To show off becomingly or advantageously.
For meaning 3, Webster's Revised Unabridged glosses the denotation
a bit differently: "To portray too favorably; to give a too favorable
idea of; as, his portrait flatters him."
I have no doubt that Godwin meant "flatters" as in definition
3a or 3b; however, when his comment was followed by remarks
that the article as it appeared was poorly sourced, it is no
surprise that readers would see meaning 1 of false or insincere
praise lurking under the surface.
Stephen Carlson
--
Stephen C. Carlson mailto:scarlson@mindspring.com
Synoptic Problem Home Page http://www.mindspring.com/~scarlson/synopt/
"Poetry speaks of aspirations, and songs chant the words." Shujing 2.35
**********************************************************************
For Listserv Instructions, see http://www.lawlists.net/cyberia
Off-Topic threads: http://www.lawlists.net/mailman/listinfo/cyberia-ot
Need more help? Send mail to: Cyberia-L-Request@listserv.aol.com
**********************************************************************
Partial thread listing: