InfoD-Cafe: "The American People"

[Conrad Taylor-3]

This is a Transatlantic question about the interface between  
information and rhetoric, from a puzzled Englishman, or should that  
be a Brit. (I happen to live within both Venn circles.)

On our radio news, I often hear verbatim inclusions of statements  
made by American public figures; for example I have heard quite a lot  
in recent days from President Obama on the oil spill disaster, and I  
am also thinking about an event not so long ago where there was said  
to be a threat of another terror attack in New York. On these  
occasions, reference is often made to what "The American People" are  
thinking, or doing, or feeling, or should be feeling, thinking or doing.

Often these references to "The American People" occur in contexts  
where the limited circle this sketches is counter-productive. For  
example I was bemused to hear a public official stating that "The  
American People" should remain in a high state of vigilance and that  
Americans should inform the authorities of anything that might  
indicate preparations for a terror attack in New York.

I thought that was an odd turn of phrase because New York on any  
given day must have hundreds of thousands of non-Americans on the  
streets. Aren't the authorities interested in having those people  
also being vigilant? And, if appropriate, reporting suspicious  
activities to the authorities?

Or is it, as I suspect, that references to "The American People" is a  
rhetorical speech-tick, the purpose of which is to make the speaker  
sound patriotic and therefore Good, and the tick has become so well  
established that it bursts forth automatically when it is unnecessary  
and even, as I say, potentially counter-productive?

Thanks in advance for comment,

Conrad
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[Gunnar Swanson]

Conrad,

Jon Stewart can explain it better than I can:
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-may-5-2010/american-apparently

The phrase is interesting rhetorically because it can be used  
grammatically in the plural (to avoid fascist overtones) while  
functionally in the singular (to imply unity.)

"High vigilance" is a difficult phrase to make sense of so we don't  
want to confuse foreigners with it. As The Daily Show points out, The  
American People "get it" (and, by implication, you un-American people  
don't.)

Gunnar
----------
Gunnar Swanson Design Office
1901 East 6th Street
Greenville NC 27858
USA

gunnar@...
[phone]

http://www.gunnarswanson.com



On May 30, 2010, at 3:44 AM, Conrad Taylor wrote:

> This is a Transatlantic question about the interface between
> information and rhetoric, from a puzzled Englishman, or should that
> be a Brit. (I happen to live within both Venn circles.)
>
> On our radio news, I often hear verbatim inclusions of statements
> made by American public figures; for example I have heard quite a lot
> in recent days from President Obama on the oil spill disaster, and I
> am also thinking about an event not so long ago where there was said
> to be a threat of another terror attack in New York. On these
> occasions, reference is often made to what "The American People" are
> thinking, or doing, or feeling, or should be feeling, thinking or  
> doing.
>
> Often these references to "The American People" occur in contexts
> where the limited circle this sketches is counter-productive. For
> example I was bemused to hear a public official stating that "The
> American People" should remain in a high state of vigilance and that
> Americans should inform the authorities of anything that might
> indicate preparations for a terror attack in New York.
>
> I thought that was an odd turn of phrase because New York on any
> given day must have hundreds of thousands of non-Americans on the
> streets. Aren't the authorities interested in having those people
> also being vigilant? And, if appropriate, reporting suspicious
> activities to the authorities?
>
> Or is it, as I suspect, that references to "The American People" is a
> rhetorical speech-tick, the purpose of which is to make the speaker
> sound patriotic and therefore Good, and the tick has become so well
> established that it bursts forth automatically when it is unnecessary
> and even, as I say, potentially counter-productive?
>
> Thanks in advance for comment,
>
> Conrad
> ___________________________________________________________________
>
> Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers:
> infodesign-cafe@...
>
> To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit:
> http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe
>
> For all Information Design matters:
> http://InformationDesign.org
>
> Problems? Write to:
> InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin@...
> ___________________________________________________________________

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[Conrad Taylor-3]

Thanks for the pointer to Jon Stewart, Gunnar, but in a beautifully  
ironic twist I got the error message: "Sorry, Videos are not  
currently available in your country".

Thanks for also remending me of the adjectival phrase "un-American".  
 From 1938 to 1975 you had the House Un-American Activities  
Committee, which I guess did a great job of cracking down on  
outbreaks of Morris Dancing, Mongolian throat-singing and cricket.

Conrad


On 30 May 2010, at 10:47, Gunnar Swanson wrote:

> Conrad,
>
> Jon Stewart can explain it better than I can:
> http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-may-5-2010/american-apparently
>
> The phrase is interesting rhetorically because it can be used
> grammatically in the plural (to avoid fascist overtones) while
> functionally in the singular (to imply unity.)
>
> "High vigilance" is a difficult phrase to make sense of so we don't
> want to confuse foreigners with it. As The Daily Show points out, The
> American People "get it" (and, by implication, you un-American people
> don't.)
>
> Gunnar
> ----------
> Gunnar Swanson Design Office
> 1901 East 6th Street
> Greenville NC 27858
> USA

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[Gunnar Swanson]

Conrad,

I've been waiting for HUAC to revive. In the mean time, I'm well  
practiced with my opening line: "I am not now, nor have I ever been, a  
member of the Republican or Democratic parties."

Sorry about the unavailable-in-your-country link. Since Viacom is the  
last media outlet in the known universe that is not owned by Rupert  
Murdoch, they probably figure that some old fashioned nationalism is  
in order. The video was a series of clips of different politicians  
declaring what "The American People" want. After exploring the  
contradictory wants, Stewart speculated how dumb we (the American  
people) must be, followed by clips of politicians declaring how smart  
the American people are and how the American people "get it."

Maybe you can get The Daily Show on one of the websites that feature  
gun camera footage and David Hasselhoff talking to his daughter.

Gunnar
----------
Gunnar Swanson Design Office
1901 East 6th Street
Greenville NC 27858
USA

gunnar@...
[phone]

http://www.gunnarswanson.com



On May 30, 2010, at 6:07 AM, Conrad Taylor wrote:

> Thanks for the pointer to Jon Stewart, Gunnar, but in a beautifully
> ironic twist I got the error message: "Sorry, Videos are not
> currently available in your country".
>
> Thanks for also remending me of the adjectival phrase "un-American".
> From 1938 to 1975 you had the House Un-American Activities
> Committee, which I guess did a great job of cracking down on
> outbreaks of Morris Dancing, Mongolian throat-singing and cricket.
>
> Conrad
>
>
> On 30 May 2010, at 10:47, Gunnar Swanson wrote:
>
>> Conrad,
>>
>> Jon Stewart can explain it better than I can:
>> http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-may-5-2010/american-apparently
>>
>> The phrase is interesting rhetorically because it can be used
>> grammatically in the plural (to avoid fascist overtones) while
>> functionally in the singular (to imply unity.)
>>
>> "High vigilance" is a difficult phrase to make sense of so we don't
>> want to confuse foreigners with it. As The Daily Show points out, The
>> American People "get it" (and, by implication, you un-American people
>> don't.)
>>
>> Gunnar
>> ----------
>> Gunnar Swanson Design Office
>> 1901 East 6th Street
>> Greenville NC 27858
>> USA
> ___________________________________________________________________
>
> Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers:
> infodesign-cafe@...
>
> To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit:
> http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe
>
> For all Information Design matters:
> http://InformationDesign.org
>
> Problems? Write to:
> InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin@...
> ___________________________________________________________________

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[Randal-4]

There may currently issues involving the Comedy Central website.

I was able to get this video from Vodpod at:

http://vodpod.com/watch/3560382-american-apparently

I was accessing this from India. Jon Stewart is currently still about  
all you need to know what is going on in the United States.

-- Randal


On May 30, 2010, at 3:37 PM, Conrad Taylor wrote:

> Thanks for the pointer to Jon Stewart, Gunnar, but in a beautifully
> ironic twist I got the error message: "Sorry, Videos are not
> currently available in your country".
>
> Thanks for also remending me of the adjectival phrase "un-American".
> From 1938 to 1975 you had the House Un-American Activities
> Committee, which I guess did a great job of cracking down on
> outbreaks of Morris Dancing, Mongolian throat-singing and cricket.
>
> Conrad
>
>
> On 30 May 2010, at 10:47, Gunnar Swanson wrote:
>
>> Conrad,
>>
>> Jon Stewart can explain it better than I can:
>> http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-may-5-2010/american-apparently
>>
>> The phrase is interesting rhetorically because it can be used
>> grammatically in the plural (to avoid fascist overtones) while
>> functionally in the singular (to imply unity.)
>>
>> "High vigilance" is a difficult phrase to make sense of so we don't
>> want to confuse foreigners with it. As The Daily Show points out, The
>> American People "get it" (and, by implication, you un-American people
>> don't.)
>>
>> Gunnar
>> ----------
>> Gunnar Swanson Design Office
>> 1901 East 6th Street
>> Greenville NC 27858
>> USA
> ___________________________________________________________________
>
> Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers:
> infodesign-cafe@...
>
> To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit:
> http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe
>
> For all Information Design matters:
> http://InformationDesign.org
>
> Problems? Write to:
> InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin@...
> ___________________________________________________________________

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[Paul Linnell]

Hi there

Can anyone tell me which enlightened manufacturers include with their products a DVD with video demonstrations of set-up and operation? I do not mean the print manual as PDF dump on a CD-ROM, which is the usual scenario. There are stacks of third-party video demonstration on videojug, ehow, and the like. Many thanks.

Paul

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[Paul Linnell]

Hi there

Can anyone tell me which enlightened manufacturers include with their products a DVD with video demonstrations of set-up and operation? I do not mean the print manual as PDF dump on a CD-ROM, which is the usual scenario. There are stacks of third-party video demonstration on videojug, ehow, and the like. Many thanks.

Paul


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[Matt Carey]

Hi Paul

I recently purchased a paddling pool for home. One of the new type with a single inflatable rim at the top which keeps the shape. In the box was a DVD with set-up instructions. The video covered a range of models but I watched it because I couldn't work out the filler valves on the paddling pool. There were three adaptors in the box, none of which fitted the valve on the pool itself. The video didn't help me, but I did spend 10 minutes watching some very tanned American people setting up the deluxe model! :)

best
Matt


On 17 Aug 2010, at 09:58, Paul Linnell wrote:

> Hi there
>
> Can anyone tell me which enlightened manufacturers include with their products a DVD with video demonstrations of set-up and operation? I do not mean the print manual as PDF dump on a CD-ROM, which is the usual scenario. There are stacks of third-party video demonstration on videojug, ehow, and the like. Many thanks.
>
> Paul
> <winmail.dat>___________________________________________________________________
>
> Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers:
> infodesign-cafe@...
>
> To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit:
> http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe
>
> For all Information Design matters:
> http://InformationDesign.org
>
> Problems? Write to:
> InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin@...
> ___________________________________________________________________

------------------------------------------------
Lift: creative communication design
phone: [phone] **New number**
mobile: [phone]
aim: studiolift
web: http://www.studiolift.com

*This email is confidential and intended for the addressee only


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[Stephen Morrin]

Hi Paul,

 

For my last birthday I was given a Powerball - a type of executive toy which uses a gyroscope to improve wrist strength while tearing the skin from your fingers. It came with a DVD which demonstrated how to get the most from your Powerball. It didn't address the skin loss issue.

 

Thanks,

 

Stephen 

--- On Tue, 17/8/10, Paul Linnell <pagl@...> wrote:

From: Paul Linnell <pagl@...>
Subject: InfoD-Cafe: manufacturers' product demonstrations on DVD
To: "Discussions about information design" <infodesign-cafe@...>
Date: Tuesday, 17 August, 2010, 9:58

Hi there

Can anyone tell me which enlightened manufacturers include with their products a DVD with video demonstrations of set-up and operation? I do not mean the print manual as PDF dump on a CD-ROM, which is the usual scenario. There are stacks of third-party video demonstration on videojug, ehow, and the like. Many thanks.

Paul

-----Inline Attachment Follows-----

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[Alan Litchfield]

Hi Paul,

I bought one of these quite a while ago. It came with an instructional  
DVD and boy you need it at first.
http://www.myhomeworkshop.com/zvise.html

Some pretty weird manipulation of the video, sorry. Also, the guy  
featured on mine is not the same as this character.

Recently I bought one these that also came with a DVD.
http://au.oztent.com/

Alan


On 17/08/2010, at 8:58 PM, Paul Linnell wrote:

> Hi there
>
> Can anyone tell me which enlightened manufacturers include with  
> their products a DVD with video demonstrations of set-up and  
> operation? I do not mean the print manual as PDF dump on a CD-ROM,  
> which is the usual scenario. There are stacks of third-party video  
> demonstration on videojug, ehow, and the like. Many thanks.
>
> Paul
> <
> winmail
> .dat
> >___________________________________________________________________
>
> Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers:
> infodesign-cafe@...
>
> To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit:
> http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe
>
> For all Information Design matters:
> http://InformationDesign.org
>
> Problems? Write to:
> InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin@...
> ___________________________________________________________________

--
Alan T Litchfield
AlphaByte
PO Box 141, Auckland, 1140
New Zealand
http://www.alphabyte.co.nz
http://www.alphabyte.co.nz/beatrice

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[David Sless]

My experience has been mixed.

When I was renovating and building our lovely home in Melbourne we decided to put in a spiral staircase from our ground floor up to our study/office.

We chose a scandinavian kit form of the staircase and it came with a video in which Zven and the lovely Helga explained how to build the staircase. On the basis of the video I allocated 6 hours in my project plan for the work. It took me six days to do it…

More recently, with utube I have had much more success with some routine stuff around hardware upgrades etc. I think there is a growing craft know-how in this area.

David
--







blog: www.communication.org.au/dsblog
web: http://www.communication.org.au

Professor David Sless BA MSc FRSA
CEO • Communication Research Institute •
• helping people communicate with people •

Mobile: [phone]
Phone: [phone]
Skype: davidsless

60 Park Street • Fitzroy North • Melbourne • Australia • 3068

On 18/08/2010, at 6:07 AM, Alan T Litchfield wrote:

> Hi Paul,
>
> I bought one of these quite a while ago. It came with an instructional  
> DVD and boy you need it at first.
> http://www.myhomeworkshop.com/zvise.html
>
> Some pretty weird manipulation of the video, sorry. Also, the guy  
> featured on mine is not the same as this character.
>
> Recently I bought one these that also came with a DVD.
> http://au.oztent.com/
>
> Alan
>
>
> On 17/08/2010, at 8:58 PM, Paul Linnell wrote:
>
>> Hi there
>>
>> Can anyone tell me which enlightened manufacturers include with  
>> their products a DVD with video demonstrations of set-up and  
>> operation? I do not mean the print manual as PDF dump on a CD-ROM,  
>> which is the usual scenario. There are stacks of third-party video  
>> demonstration on videojug, ehow, and the like. Many thanks.
>>
>> Paul
>> <
>> winmail
>> .dat
>>> ___________________________________________________________________
>>
>> Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers:
>> infodesign-cafe@...
>>
>> To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit:
>> http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe
>>
>> For all Information Design matters:
>> http://InformationDesign.org
>>
>> Problems? Write to:
>> InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin@...
>> ___________________________________________________________________
>
> --
> Alan T Litchfield
> AlphaByte
> PO Box 141, Auckland, 1140
> New Zealand
> http://www.alphabyte.co.nz
> http://www.alphabyte.co.nz/beatrice
>
> ___________________________________________________________________
>
> Use the following address to post a message to all subscribers:
> infodesign-cafe@...
>
> To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your options, visit:
> http://list.InformationDesign.org/mailman/listinfo/infodesign-cafe
>
> For all Information Design matters:
> http://InformationDesign.org
>
> Problems? Write to:
> InfoDesign-Cafe-Admin@...
> ___________________________________________________________________

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