Sound-alike misspellings and missing endings on verbs drive me crazy to see in print.
I am so happy with everything that has happen. (happen should be happened)
There are know feelings better than happiness. (know=no)
I do hope that in the near future I can word in my dream job. (word=work)
These were taken from comments left about the presidential campaign of Barak Obama, but I changed the sentences so they'd be less identifying.
Here's another:
I was awakened by the "yes we can" massage. - from a comment about the presidential campaign of Barak Obama. I'm sure both candidates would like a massage after touring the country giving their message! Barak's "yes we can" message energizes many potential voters, but if he gave a massage, that would surely make front page news!
When I attended school, teachers drilled spelling, verb tenses and verb endings. The easiest of these, of course, are verbs ending in "-ed".
happen...happened
call..........called
visit........visited
mock......mocked
Add just a "d" if the verb ends in "e".
believe....believed
release....released
Spelling and grammar errors are easy to find and correct, especially when using the Internet or computer software.
But, if some writers choose to not check their sentences, we'll have Barak getting out his "yes we can" massage!
Judith
Friday, June 6, 2008
Toilet paper, butter, eggs, and gasoline?
In our grandparents' day, hoarding was not unusual. Many older persons still hoarded even after restrictions of WWII were lifted. WWII babies growing up in hoarding families continued the practice, creating mini "stores" on basement shelving. In the 1960s, my father bought canned goods at the cheapest prices, along with jar goods--peanut butter, jam, and jelly. He had watched his parents' hoarding, and followed suit. Once started, making a food stock seems difficult to stop. "What if prices go higher?" "What if weather, finances, or war causes another shortage?" These questions terrify many Americans who are used to fresh foods available at every corner store or super-super discount stores.
Now, we can add gasoline to the list of commodities people are willing to hoard. In fact, the AP reports the first (known) case of a couple hoarding a substantial amount of gas-- 45 gallons (170 liters) to be exact. They stored it in plastic jugs stacked in a closet. Unfortunately, the closet also held an air conditioner compressor. When gas fumes built within the unventilated small area, a fire erupted.
In the residential complex of eight units, no one was injured, thankfully. But fire, smoke and water damage forced all the families to stay elsewhere. Besides disrupting and irritating their neighbors, the couple may be charged with violating local fire codes. Apparently, homeowners and renters can keep a small amount of paint, varnish, gasoline or other flammables if stored properly, but 45 gallons of gasoline is far beyond the limits.
At current local prices, their cache worth $180.00 cost them (likely) $110,000.00 or more (my rough estimate). Their prized hoarding cost them 70-80 times the current market value of gas. The AP didn't say whether the gaswas high-octane at 4.50 a gallon.
To me, the point is clear: If you've got some extra money to stock up, it's best to stick with toilet paper and canned goods. Stay away from perishables--especially gasoline.
Judith
Source: "Apartment fire caused by couple hoarding gasoline" (AP). [Two line URL]http://realestate.aol.com/article/news/_a/apartment-fire-caused-by-couple-hoarding/20080606085209990001?ncid=AOLCOMMre00dynlsec0003
Now, we can add gasoline to the list of commodities people are willing to hoard. In fact, the AP reports the first (known) case of a couple hoarding a substantial amount of gas-- 45 gallons (170 liters) to be exact. They stored it in plastic jugs stacked in a closet. Unfortunately, the closet also held an air conditioner compressor. When gas fumes built within the unventilated small area, a fire erupted.
In the residential complex of eight units, no one was injured, thankfully. But fire, smoke and water damage forced all the families to stay elsewhere. Besides disrupting and irritating their neighbors, the couple may be charged with violating local fire codes. Apparently, homeowners and renters can keep a small amount of paint, varnish, gasoline or other flammables if stored properly, but 45 gallons of gasoline is far beyond the limits.
At current local prices, their cache worth $180.00 cost them (likely) $110,000.00 or more (my rough estimate). Their prized hoarding cost them 70-80 times the current market value of gas. The AP didn't say whether the gaswas high-octane at 4.50 a gallon.
To me, the point is clear: If you've got some extra money to stock up, it's best to stick with toilet paper and canned goods. Stay away from perishables--especially gasoline.
Judith
Source: "Apartment fire caused by couple hoarding gasoline" (AP). [Two line URL]http://realestate.aol.com/article/news/_a/apartment-fire-caused-by-couple-hoarding/20080606085209990001?ncid=AOLCOMMre00dynlsec0003
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Colloquillisms
Mr. Hodges was the cream of the crop in his profession. A little ways away from being the richest man in the county, he was certainly the second richest. However, citizens in the town thought he was a bit touched in the head. They accused him of all sorts of misdeeds, although he swore up an' down that he didn't do any of it. "Jeepers creepers!" Mrs. Crawley shivered, "he gives me the willies!" Rich, handsome, the best catch for the ladies, he existed in a sort of No Man's Land--and no women either. Hodges still attracted some business, although trusted by few.
When Mr. Smytheton arrived on the evening train from the city and offered Hodges a job, Hodges exclaimed, "Holy cow! In a New York minute!"
Smytheton raised a stern eyebrow, reassessing his offer as he stared directly into the younger man's face. "Alrighty then, you've got yourself a deal." The men stood smartly facing each other before shaking hands.
Colloquialisms remain a constant danger to writers. Most common ideas have long been reduced to quick and easily recognized phrases which get overused. Well-worn colloquialisms come to mind faster than a rabbit chased by a fox (faster than a speeding bullet; faster than a supersonic jet; faster than my momma can hit your momma). Entire websites are devoted just to colloquialisms.
Writers must constantly shield their prose from such expressions, while turning ideas into new and (hopefully) powerful imagery. Sometimes while writing though--that first stage of putting thoughts to paper--writers might include trite phrases just to get beyond a block or to prevent an interruption in getting other thoughts written. This is common, and okay. But, it's not okay to leave them in your final product.
The first goal is to check your writing for any type of overused phrases. Collect a list you can use. I like to copy the phrase into Word's "Find" feature and do quick searches. As I check for each, I highlight the phrase on the list with yellow (to signify "none found"). I also add ones I used that are not already on the list. Once convinced I never used any, I felt sheepish to find I'd used "since the dawn of man." With extra thought, I found a slightly different phrase to use.
You'll probably find it hard to come up with your own words, as a fresh image. For example, most people replace "From the beginning of time" or "the dawn of man." Neither are original! Try brainstorming similar-meaning single words first. Such as
dawn
light
bright
beginning
day's light
mankind's light
mankind's beginning
No, none of those really jump off the page, but it's a start. Do the same with "of man" -- you're likely trying to indicate something like "since man took his first breath" or "since humans existed" (How long is that, anyway? Eh, that's a topic for another time). Does "man" or "mankind" appropriate in today's non-sexist language? Possibly not, so try to give it a new twist. If you're writing about children, "man" or "mankind" wouldn't work anyway. So, try to avoid using any words in the colloquialism, if you can. Then, try to form an image that speaks to you.
If you get really stuck and feel like you cannot avoid the colloquialism you've used, you can:
When Mr. Smytheton arrived on the evening train from the city and offered Hodges a job, Hodges exclaimed, "Holy cow! In a New York minute!"
Smytheton raised a stern eyebrow, reassessing his offer as he stared directly into the younger man's face. "Alrighty then, you've got yourself a deal." The men stood smartly facing each other before shaking hands.
*****
Colloquialisms remain a constant danger to writers. Most common ideas have long been reduced to quick and easily recognized phrases which get overused. Well-worn colloquialisms come to mind faster than a rabbit chased by a fox (faster than a speeding bullet; faster than a supersonic jet; faster than my momma can hit your momma). Entire websites are devoted just to colloquialisms.
Writers must constantly shield their prose from such expressions, while turning ideas into new and (hopefully) powerful imagery. Sometimes while writing though--that first stage of putting thoughts to paper--writers might include trite phrases just to get beyond a block or to prevent an interruption in getting other thoughts written. This is common, and okay. But, it's not okay to leave them in your final product.
The first goal is to check your writing for any type of overused phrases. Collect a list you can use. I like to copy the phrase into Word's "Find" feature and do quick searches. As I check for each, I highlight the phrase on the list with yellow (to signify "none found"). I also add ones I used that are not already on the list. Once convinced I never used any, I felt sheepish to find I'd used "since the dawn of man." With extra thought, I found a slightly different phrase to use.
You'll probably find it hard to come up with your own words, as a fresh image. For example, most people replace "From the beginning of time" or "the dawn of man." Neither are original! Try brainstorming similar-meaning single words first. Such as
dawn
light
bright
beginning
day's light
mankind's light
mankind's beginning
No, none of those really jump off the page, but it's a start. Do the same with "of man" -- you're likely trying to indicate something like "since man took his first breath" or "since humans existed" (How long is that, anyway? Eh, that's a topic for another time). Does "man" or "mankind" appropriate in today's non-sexist language? Possibly not, so try to give it a new twist. If you're writing about children, "man" or "mankind" wouldn't work anyway. So, try to avoid using any words in the colloquialism, if you can. Then, try to form an image that speaks to you.
If you get really stuck and feel like you cannot avoid the colloquialism you've used, you can:
- Search Google for the phrase. Dictionaries or websites often give lists of alternative phrases.
- Search the Thesaurus and just read the lists of words. If one word might fit, check the similar words for it. As you move deeper into words, you might find a not-often used but good alternative.
- Brainstorm with pencil and pen, which seems to activate the brain more than typing on a computer.
- Save all your lists; you might get the start of a new phrase that you can re-work later.
- Call a local college's English department and ask to speak to a professor or Master's level student. They might give ideas how to restructure your original sentence.
- Read the sentence to friends and family. Ask them to put the sentence in their own words, or to brainstorm other phrases.
- Take time away from the mess (er--your writing). Often, ideas come when we use our brains for other tasks. You might get a better idea while washing your car.
Never send a manuscript to publishers without checking for colloquialisms. Make looking for this problem one of your regular editing tasks. Don't leave the ones you find; far better to rewrite the whole sentence than to bore your readers, editor, or publisher.
Of course, if one of your characters only speaks in colloquialisms, you might want to rethink your character's traits!
Incidentally, "colloquialism" is likely one of the most misspelled words in the English lanuage. Just Google your own misspelling -- you'll certainly see thousands of webpages with the same mistakes. It's one I fail constantly. The definition states: "Colloquial language is informal language that is not rude, but would not be used in formal situations. It is less unacceptable than Slang & Swear Words. A colloquialism is an informal expression, that is, an expression not used in formal speech or writing." See http://www.usingenglish.com/glossary/colloquial.html for a "Glossary of English Language Terms."
Judith
Friday, May 30, 2008
Writing Breaks
I confess.
I've been off my writing schedule.
Instead of jotting down ideas or editing previous work, I've been writing personal letters, working on websites, and just taking care of home tasks. Even housework almost feels like guilty pleasures sometimes; writing as a professional takes hard work, attention to detail, and lots of energy.
It's good to balance that energy once in awhile. Do something physical rather than mental. Even creative projects take mental energy. Most times, creativity breeds more energy. But, sometimes, when pushing to meet deadlines, creative mental energy just drains writers.
The time to take breaks from writing is before you've gotten burned out.
Look at your life and your world without thinking of words. Insead of thinking "how would I write about this," just take in the scenery. Too often, writers have so many words running in their brains constantly, it almost becomes background static, like a radio tuned to nothing.
When you leave the house, leave your project behind. Don't carry it with you--in your hands, pack, or in your brain. Let it go. It'll wait a week or more.
Do a mixture of "must do", "need to do", and "want to do" tasks. If you take a writing break only to start your "must do" chores, you won't feel like you've really gotten any break. Consider the time much like a real vacation, when you've stuffed your luggage, held the mail, and just get away.
If you find writing or story ideas floating in your head, sure, go ahead and jot those down. Carry a blank notebook so you won't be writing on paper scraps that you'll lose. But don't work on the ideas, polish dialogue, or force yourself to write entire scenes. Just a few key words will help jog your memory for later. But you don't have to write it all during your break.
If you must do a little toward your writing craft, choose to read. Reading helps writers because we can see how others structure ideas and words. But don't read as though it's a job! Read for pleasure, to learn something new about people or places, or just read because a book is nearby. Read something you don't normally read. Comic books make for good relaxation. A cheesy romance might be something you never open, but many of those books contain nice location descriptions and enough sex to wake your biology. I'll pick up a mystery when I want a change from my non-fiction; I don't always figure out "who done it" but it's fun to use that side of my brain.
If you're waiting in lines (movie theatre, grocery store, etc.) and your mind drifts to your project, shift your focus to a related writing theme. For example, think about why you write, why you enjoy it (or hate it), why you do it, and what obstacles get in your way. Writers can lose sight of why they ever started writing in the first place. Take time to remember why you're word-possessed.
There's plenty of ways to really get breaks from writing. The key is to allow those pleasurable times, without letting your most recent project still be hanging onto you. Compartmentalize--stick your novel or other writing in a mental "box" and put it up on a shelf while you take time to do other things. Breaks won't destroy the work you've done, or destroy you. Instead, breaks will fill you with new ideas, new plans, and new energy to reume your project.
So, get out the dust rag and mop, tackle the attic, clean the garage... go out to the movies, see a play, have a picnic in the park... Just get away from writing and all the duties involved in writing. Make this week a "no writing zone" and--just like when you write--keep your agreements with yourself to do NO writing.
Then, after you've taken some days, a week, two weeks, re-commit to your project. Set reasonable goals for daily writing tasks. Think about the energy you found during your break, and turn it back toward your writing.
Judith
I've been off my writing schedule.
Instead of jotting down ideas or editing previous work, I've been writing personal letters, working on websites, and just taking care of home tasks. Even housework almost feels like guilty pleasures sometimes; writing as a professional takes hard work, attention to detail, and lots of energy.
It's good to balance that energy once in awhile. Do something physical rather than mental. Even creative projects take mental energy. Most times, creativity breeds more energy. But, sometimes, when pushing to meet deadlines, creative mental energy just drains writers.
The time to take breaks from writing is before you've gotten burned out.
Look at your life and your world without thinking of words. Insead of thinking "how would I write about this," just take in the scenery. Too often, writers have so many words running in their brains constantly, it almost becomes background static, like a radio tuned to nothing.
When you leave the house, leave your project behind. Don't carry it with you--in your hands, pack, or in your brain. Let it go. It'll wait a week or more.
Do a mixture of "must do", "need to do", and "want to do" tasks. If you take a writing break only to start your "must do" chores, you won't feel like you've really gotten any break. Consider the time much like a real vacation, when you've stuffed your luggage, held the mail, and just get away.
If you find writing or story ideas floating in your head, sure, go ahead and jot those down. Carry a blank notebook so you won't be writing on paper scraps that you'll lose. But don't work on the ideas, polish dialogue, or force yourself to write entire scenes. Just a few key words will help jog your memory for later. But you don't have to write it all during your break.
If you must do a little toward your writing craft, choose to read. Reading helps writers because we can see how others structure ideas and words. But don't read as though it's a job! Read for pleasure, to learn something new about people or places, or just read because a book is nearby. Read something you don't normally read. Comic books make for good relaxation. A cheesy romance might be something you never open, but many of those books contain nice location descriptions and enough sex to wake your biology. I'll pick up a mystery when I want a change from my non-fiction; I don't always figure out "who done it" but it's fun to use that side of my brain.
If you're waiting in lines (movie theatre, grocery store, etc.) and your mind drifts to your project, shift your focus to a related writing theme. For example, think about why you write, why you enjoy it (or hate it), why you do it, and what obstacles get in your way. Writers can lose sight of why they ever started writing in the first place. Take time to remember why you're word-possessed.
There's plenty of ways to really get breaks from writing. The key is to allow those pleasurable times, without letting your most recent project still be hanging onto you. Compartmentalize--stick your novel or other writing in a mental "box" and put it up on a shelf while you take time to do other things. Breaks won't destroy the work you've done, or destroy you. Instead, breaks will fill you with new ideas, new plans, and new energy to reume your project.
So, get out the dust rag and mop, tackle the attic, clean the garage... go out to the movies, see a play, have a picnic in the park... Just get away from writing and all the duties involved in writing. Make this week a "no writing zone" and--just like when you write--keep your agreements with yourself to do NO writing.
Then, after you've taken some days, a week, two weeks, re-commit to your project. Set reasonable goals for daily writing tasks. Think about the energy you found during your break, and turn it back toward your writing.
Judith
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Editing Tip: Prepositions
Writers find much fluff congeals around prepositions, especially when lengthy descriptions meet wordy thoughts. Check your writing and highlight each preposition. Look for series of these "helper" words. If you find many in one sentence, rearrange words so you can delete them.
Examples:
The mother took the hand of the little girl, who held the doll of her little playmate."
The mother took the little girl's hand, which clutched a little playmate's doll.
In reviewing the temperatures among small, uninhabited islands of the world, scientists found temperatures varied between them of about two degrees.
Scientists found an approximate two degree difference among the world's small, uninhabited islands.
Examples:
The mother took the hand of the little girl, who held the doll of her little playmate."
The mother took the little girl's hand, which clutched a little playmate's doll.
In reviewing the temperatures among small, uninhabited islands of the world, scientists found temperatures varied between them of about two degrees.
Scientists found an approximate two degree difference among the world's small, uninhabited islands.
above about across against along among around at | before behind below beneath beside between beyond by | down during except for from | in inside into like near of off on | since to toward through under until up upon with within |
Holiday weekends are great to do a few hours of editing tasks! Take your writing outside, get some sun and fresh air, and let the sun's rays zap extra prepositions from your work.
Have you found examples of prepositional barrages in other people's writing, such as in news stories on the Internet? If so, put them into a Comment and Submit them to this Blog!
Judith
Errors in Internet Journalism #1 Or, the difference between "pole" and "poll"
From "13 Questions with Hilary Duff, posted May 25, 2008:
"It's good to hear that the most memorable experiences aren't creepy ones.There was one weird thing in Venezuela that happened. Some guy got backstage [at a concert] and climbed up my lighting poll, and he was like dangling over me as I was about to start my song. He was waving their flag and screaming my name. That was kind of scary. I just walked off stage. I was like, "This guy is going to jump on me." He climbed up there like a monkey, so fast. But at the same time, I don't think he wanted to hurt me, you know?"
I think Hilary Duff would spell it "lighting pole."
Judith
Source: http://movies.aol.com/celebrity-interview/hilary-duff-war-inc?icid=1615984944x1203051177x1200309034
"It's good to hear that the most memorable experiences aren't creepy ones.There was one weird thing in Venezuela that happened. Some guy got backstage [at a concert] and climbed up my lighting poll, and he was like dangling over me as I was about to start my song. He was waving their flag and screaming my name. That was kind of scary. I just walked off stage. I was like, "This guy is going to jump on me." He climbed up there like a monkey, so fast. But at the same time, I don't think he wanted to hurt me, you know?"
I think Hilary Duff would spell it "lighting pole."
Judith
Source: http://movies.aol.com/celebrity-interview/hilary-duff-war-inc?icid=1615984944x1203051177x1200309034
Friday, May 23, 2008
Online Journalism Redundancy
A redundancy in writing can occur from different errors, including:
- Repetition of a word, phrase, or idea
- Catgory redundancies
--- example: boiling hot temperature (just say boiling hot... or just say hot)
- Duplicate descriptions that mean the same thing
I spotted a severe duplicate today in a photo caption.
"Just as her last photo controversy seemed to be but a faint memory, Miley Cyrus and her penchant for self-taking scantily clad photos of herself has struck again, as new photos of the 15-year-old star raising her shirt and posing in underpants have hit the community site LiveJournal."
Let's see... The words "penchant for self-taking scantily clad photos" means "of herself." If the writer did not mean "of herself," there would be no need to say "self-taking."
The writer (or editor) should have picked one and deleted the other. The sentence could have been written:
1./ Just as her last photo controversy seemed to be but a faint memory, Miley Cyrus and her penchant for taking scantily clad photos of herself has struck again, as new photos of the 15-year-old star raising her shirt and posing in underpants have hit the community site LiveJournal.
2./ Just as her last photo controversy seemed to be but a faint memory, Miley Cyrus and her penchant for self-taking scantily clad photos has struck again, as new photos of the 15-year-old star raising her shirt and posing in underpants have hit the community site LiveJournal.
Writer's tips:
Locating redundancies can be as easy as reading words out loud. Writers can also:
1./ Copy and paste one sentence, and enter a line break after every descriptive phrase. Read each as separate ideas. If an idea repeats, revise and delete any redundancy.
2./ LOOK for words with similar meanings.
3./ Be cautious about over-emphasis, where redundancies can easily slip into a sentence.
4./ Don't list several words from the Thesaurus when hunting for adjectives. Learn to describe simplistically and precisely. Even saying a man was "strong, muscular, and Herculean" becomes redundant because each describes strength. Instead, pick one.
5./ Make characters with opposing attributes: "He was muscular but unable to even lift his 40-pound daughter." This is probably one of the easiest ways to avoid adjective redundancy when creating character descriptions.
When editing, always read to pick up redundancies and re-write or delete them. Avoid having your publisher, editor--or even your reader--end up pointing out your repetition.
Judith
Source of quoted material:
FROM: http://news.aol.com/entertainment/music/music-news-story/ar/_a/more-racy-miley-pics-see-daylight/20080523121109990001?icid=1615984944x1202945850x1200307242 (photo caption)
- Repetition of a word, phrase, or idea
- Catgory redundancies
--- example: boiling hot temperature (just say boiling hot... or just say hot)
- Duplicate descriptions that mean the same thing
I spotted a severe duplicate today in a photo caption.
"Just as her last photo controversy seemed to be but a faint memory, Miley Cyrus and her penchant for self-taking scantily clad photos of herself has struck again, as new photos of the 15-year-old star raising her shirt and posing in underpants have hit the community site LiveJournal."
Let's see... The words "penchant for self-taking scantily clad photos" means "of herself." If the writer did not mean "of herself," there would be no need to say "self-taking."
The writer (or editor) should have picked one and deleted the other. The sentence could have been written:
1./ Just as her last photo controversy seemed to be but a faint memory, Miley Cyrus and her penchant for taking scantily clad photos of herself has struck again, as new photos of the 15-year-old star raising her shirt and posing in underpants have hit the community site LiveJournal.
2./ Just as her last photo controversy seemed to be but a faint memory, Miley Cyrus and her penchant for self-taking scantily clad photos has struck again, as new photos of the 15-year-old star raising her shirt and posing in underpants have hit the community site LiveJournal.
Writer's tips:
Locating redundancies can be as easy as reading words out loud. Writers can also:
1./ Copy and paste one sentence, and enter a line break after every descriptive phrase. Read each as separate ideas. If an idea repeats, revise and delete any redundancy.
2./ LOOK for words with similar meanings.
3./ Be cautious about over-emphasis, where redundancies can easily slip into a sentence.
4./ Don't list several words from the Thesaurus when hunting for adjectives. Learn to describe simplistically and precisely. Even saying a man was "strong, muscular, and Herculean" becomes redundant because each describes strength. Instead, pick one.
5./ Make characters with opposing attributes: "He was muscular but unable to even lift his 40-pound daughter." This is probably one of the easiest ways to avoid adjective redundancy when creating character descriptions.
When editing, always read to pick up redundancies and re-write or delete them. Avoid having your publisher, editor--or even your reader--end up pointing out your repetition.
Judith
Source of quoted material:
FROM: http://news.aol.com/entertainment/music/music-news-story/ar/_a/more-racy-miley-pics-see-daylight/20080523121109990001?icid=1615984944x1202945850x1200307242 (photo caption)
Thursday, May 8, 2008
HEADLINE
Pedophile Suspect Caught in New Jersey, by DAVID PORTER, AP. Posted: 2008-05-08 15:47:48 Filed Under: Crime News, World News (on AOL). NEWARK, N.J. (May 8) - "Wayne Nelson Corliss, 58, was arrested Thursday morning in his Union City apartment. He is suspected of sexually abusing at least three boys from Southeast Asia thought to have been 6 to 10 years old, according to the international police agency."
Few issues rile my senses as much as child abuse. Millions of faceless, nameless victims suffer child abuse every day in the USA. Many more millions suffer atrocities throughout the world. These defenseless children need more adults to stand up, become their voices, their advocates, their protectors.
Child abuse has, unfortunately, been inflicted for centuries. Although we've made some progress, no community or country has managed to stop abuse.
Recently, Interpol has appealed to the public in order to catch their most wanted criminals. Mr. Wayne Nelson Corliss, 58, of Union, New Jersey, was Interpol's most recent appeal. He is accused of sexually abusing young boys, ages 6 to 10 years, in Southeast Asia. This particular area of the world, as many other overseas countries, has a high percentage of very young girls and boys being abused by adults who should protect them. Television undercover specials have shown roomfuls of these children, as middle-aged men come to look over the "goods," haggle about prices, and eventually, have their way with the child (or children). Their pimps (their abusers) loudly proclaim which 5-year olds know how to perform oral sex, and which have yet to have intercourse. The children speak openly about what they can do--what they know of sex! No little girl or boy should ever see adult genitalia for the purpose of adult gratification. Sadly, these children see far too much for their young eyes.
The children--from some of the poorest countries and neighborhoods--know very little of a "normal childhood." Whether their parents permitted them to enter the sex industry, or pimps procured orphan children, none of the minors have access to any adult courageous enough to stand strongly between the child and the forthcoming abuse.
If the Court finds Mr. Corliss guilty of the charges raised against him, I believe the punishment should be strong--and swift. Unfortunately, often the Courts only punish with very short minimum sentences.
It's time for the World to revise sentencing of child abusers. Sexual abuse of minors demands life sentences, especially when victims are pre-teen, and mandatory restitution to the abuser's victims. Every cent a convicted abuser earns should go to the children they hurt. Victims certainly receive life sentences of many "abuse issues" that plague them throughout their lives. Powerless, helplessness, shame, poor self-image and body image, and the perception of a lack of future are only some of the problems child abuse victims suffer through adulthood.
The past has shown that "counseling" and "aversion therapy" fails to rehabiliate sexual abusers. Studies support that little helps change pedophiles' thinking and behaviors.
Neighbors and friends of Mr. Wayne Nelson Corliss expressed disbelief that this supposed kind and witty man could ever do such evil and vile acts against children. Unfortunately, kindness and personality have little to do with identifying who will or will not abuse minors. Children become victimized partly because the abuser's outward demeanor seems "so nice." Pedophiles would be easier to spot if they acted like people expect abusers to be: someone vile and evil. Society must recognize, finally, that even "the nicest," "most giving," and "very sensitive" adults (both men and women) can (and do) hurt our children.
When society finally wakes up, realizes the harm abusers do, and become ready to enact stricter punishments, maybe then parents can rest easier, knowing that any convicted abusers will stay in jail until they die. And, possibly, abusers will take notice that acts against children will cost the abusers their own lives if they choose to victimize a minor.
Congratulations Interpol. And, thank you to the thousands of citizens who called and E-mailed their tips in this case.
Judith
Pedophile Suspect Caught in New Jersey, by DAVID PORTER, AP. Posted: 2008-05-08 15:47:48 Filed Under: Crime News, World News (on AOL). NEWARK, N.J. (May 8) - "Wayne Nelson Corliss, 58, was arrested Thursday morning in his Union City apartment. He is suspected of sexually abusing at least three boys from Southeast Asia thought to have been 6 to 10 years old, according to the international police agency."
Few issues rile my senses as much as child abuse. Millions of faceless, nameless victims suffer child abuse every day in the USA. Many more millions suffer atrocities throughout the world. These defenseless children need more adults to stand up, become their voices, their advocates, their protectors.
Child abuse has, unfortunately, been inflicted for centuries. Although we've made some progress, no community or country has managed to stop abuse.
Recently, Interpol has appealed to the public in order to catch their most wanted criminals. Mr. Wayne Nelson Corliss, 58, of Union, New Jersey, was Interpol's most recent appeal. He is accused of sexually abusing young boys, ages 6 to 10 years, in Southeast Asia. This particular area of the world, as many other overseas countries, has a high percentage of very young girls and boys being abused by adults who should protect them. Television undercover specials have shown roomfuls of these children, as middle-aged men come to look over the "goods," haggle about prices, and eventually, have their way with the child (or children). Their pimps (their abusers) loudly proclaim which 5-year olds know how to perform oral sex, and which have yet to have intercourse. The children speak openly about what they can do--what they know of sex! No little girl or boy should ever see adult genitalia for the purpose of adult gratification. Sadly, these children see far too much for their young eyes.
The children--from some of the poorest countries and neighborhoods--know very little of a "normal childhood." Whether their parents permitted them to enter the sex industry, or pimps procured orphan children, none of the minors have access to any adult courageous enough to stand strongly between the child and the forthcoming abuse.
If the Court finds Mr. Corliss guilty of the charges raised against him, I believe the punishment should be strong--and swift. Unfortunately, often the Courts only punish with very short minimum sentences.
It's time for the World to revise sentencing of child abusers. Sexual abuse of minors demands life sentences, especially when victims are pre-teen, and mandatory restitution to the abuser's victims. Every cent a convicted abuser earns should go to the children they hurt. Victims certainly receive life sentences of many "abuse issues" that plague them throughout their lives. Powerless, helplessness, shame, poor self-image and body image, and the perception of a lack of future are only some of the problems child abuse victims suffer through adulthood.
The past has shown that "counseling" and "aversion therapy" fails to rehabiliate sexual abusers. Studies support that little helps change pedophiles' thinking and behaviors.
Neighbors and friends of Mr. Wayne Nelson Corliss expressed disbelief that this supposed kind and witty man could ever do such evil and vile acts against children. Unfortunately, kindness and personality have little to do with identifying who will or will not abuse minors. Children become victimized partly because the abuser's outward demeanor seems "so nice." Pedophiles would be easier to spot if they acted like people expect abusers to be: someone vile and evil. Society must recognize, finally, that even "the nicest," "most giving," and "very sensitive" adults (both men and women) can (and do) hurt our children.
When society finally wakes up, realizes the harm abusers do, and become ready to enact stricter punishments, maybe then parents can rest easier, knowing that any convicted abusers will stay in jail until they die. And, possibly, abusers will take notice that acts against children will cost the abusers their own lives if they choose to victimize a minor.
Congratulations Interpol. And, thank you to the thousands of citizens who called and E-mailed their tips in this case.
Judith
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