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I don't think he/she did. "I would disagree with" and "I feel" make it clear this is a personal opinion. Also note the presence of "usually" in "simple bold a
by dguo 8y ago
I don't think he/she did.
"I would disagree with" and "I feel" make it clear this is a personal opinion.
Also note the presence of "usually" in "simple bold assertions usually don't hold water."
- 1123581321 8y agoYes, but the actual opinions run quite lean and are unqualified except for the “usually,” which the reader understands is placed to head off anecdotal contrary examples. The last one ends with a blunt insult. It’s certainly not DFW’s style of writing.
- dguo 8y agoYou are certainly entitled to your interpretation, but I don't think the writer put in "usually" just to head off anecdotal counterexamples. The principle of charity leads me to assume the writer genuinely believes that simple bold assertions are occasionally fine. Though I do strongly agree with the original comment, so maybe that is the real reason why I am defending it.
- 1123581321 8y agoThat’s fair! I disagree with the reasons presented in the comment, but I agree that carefully qualified, elaborate writing, as well as florid descriptive writing, are all acceptable, and frequently desirable. I just thought the irony in the comment’s style was funny, and maintain that it is stylistically terse overall.