Comments on: Cruel comments for the cynically-minded http://www.theproposalguys.com/2008/02/22/cruel-comments-for-the-cynically-minded/ Jon and B.J.'s Proposal Blog Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:30:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: BJ Lownie http://www.theproposalguys.com/2008/02/22/cruel-comments-for-the-cynically-minded/comment-page-1/#comment-1506 BJ Lownie Thu, 28 Feb 2008 14:56:34 +0000 http://www.theproposalguys.com/2008/02/22/cruel-comments-for-the-cynically-minded/#comment-1506 Just kidding, of course. I think it was proposals Groucho Marx was referring to when he said, "From the moment I picked up your book until I laid it down, I was convulsed with laughter. Some day I intend reading it." As to discoveries of America prior to Columbus and those being hushed up, I suspect it probably was more a case of sheer awe of the place by the good folks from the other side of the pond* *Of which all of my grandparents were members (Scottish and England) by the way. Just kidding, of course.

I think it was proposals Groucho Marx was referring to when he said, “From the moment I picked up your book until I laid it down, I was convulsed with laughter. Some day I intend reading it.”

As to discoveries of America prior to Columbus and those being hushed up, I suspect it probably was more a case of sheer awe of the place by the good folks from the other side of the pond*

*Of which all of my grandparents were members (Scottish and England) by the way.

]]> By: BJ Lownie http://www.theproposalguys.com/2008/02/22/cruel-comments-for-the-cynically-minded/comment-page-1/#comment-1505 BJ Lownie Thu, 28 Feb 2008 14:50:33 +0000 http://www.theproposalguys.com/2008/02/22/cruel-comments-for-the-cynically-minded/#comment-1505 I'm speechless. I’m speechless.

]]> By: Jon http://www.theproposalguys.com/2008/02/22/cruel-comments-for-the-cynically-minded/comment-page-1/#comment-1486 Jon Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:37:35 +0000 http://www.theproposalguys.com/2008/02/22/cruel-comments-for-the-cynically-minded/#comment-1486 Hi, Alan. If you find a way to hush BJ up, can you let me know? :-) Coincidentally, this afternon the BBC news website has published its list of the top comedy put-downs ever. My favourite comes from Red Dwarf, and ties in to the "hushing up" theme: "Look, we all have something to bring to this discussion. But I think from now on the thing you should bring is silence." Anyone ever felt like saying that to a proposal team member?! Hi, Alan. If you find a way to hush BJ up, can you let me know? :-)

Coincidentally, this afternon the BBC news website has published its list of the top comedy put-downs ever. My favourite comes from Red Dwarf, and ties in to the “hushing up” theme:

“Look, we all have something to bring to this discussion. But I think from now on the thing you should bring is silence.”

Anyone ever felt like saying that to a proposal team member?!

]]> By: Alan Cheghall http://www.theproposalguys.com/2008/02/22/cruel-comments-for-the-cynically-minded/comment-page-1/#comment-1483 Alan Cheghall Tue, 26 Feb 2008 13:06:29 +0000 http://www.theproposalguys.com/2008/02/22/cruel-comments-for-the-cynically-minded/#comment-1483 Jon - it may not have been his intention but Oscar Wilde summed up the life of a proposal writer when he said: "I was working on the proof of one of my poems all the morning, and took out a comma. In the afternoon I put it back again." Although from personal experience I find it all the more exasperating when I need to put back commas that others have taken out! Wilde also had a view on our transatlantic cousins: "America had often been discovered before Columbus, but it had always been hushed up." Any comment BJ? Jon – it may not have been his intention but Oscar Wilde summed up the life of a proposal writer when he said:

“I was working on the proof of one of my poems all the morning, and took out a comma. In the afternoon I put it back again.”

Although from personal experience I find it all the more exasperating when I need to put back commas that others have taken out!

Wilde also had a view on our transatlantic cousins:

“America had often been discovered before Columbus, but it had always been hushed up.”

Any comment BJ?

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