• SplashJackson@lemmy.ca
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    4
    arrow-down
    37
    ·
    4 days ago

    Who the fuck “works forces”? That line’s been bothering me since the first Matrix movie.

    It’s just poor grammar; put together for a snappy lyric, and everybody repeats this selfsame line on every single ACAB thread without even thinking about it.

    Fuck!

    • lennivelkant
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      2 days ago

      That’s a feature with poetry all over: twisting grammar to make the content fit the line. “Some of those that work on the police forces” just doesn’t fit as well. It gets the point across anyway, so what’s the issue?

      • SplashJackson@lemmy.ca
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        3
        arrow-down
        7
        ·
        edit-2
        3 days ago

        I’m disappointed in you; posting one thing, getting a reply, and then changing your original post to taint the meaning of the reply. Is that how your mama taught you to debate online?

      • SplashJackson@lemmy.ca
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        arrow-down
        15
        ·
        4 days ago

        Did you read my whole diatribe or just react to the first five words?

        Maybe I’m the one that can’t read English. Can you point out to me, where exactly within the definition you linked to me does it say the proper pronoun to refer to these bastards is ‘force-worker’?

        What I’m saying is that the grammar is fucked. Nobody says, ‘Remember Ted? He works forces now.’ No, they’ll say, ‘Remember Ted? He’s a fuckin’ pig now.’

        • lemmyman@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          17
          arrow-down
          1
          ·
          edit-2
          4 days ago

          I read the whole diatribe at least three times before responding.

          The grammar pedantry is just silly, it’s fucking song lyrics, have you listened to music before? Read a poem? Liberties are taken, and that’s that.

          the reason the line is repeated so often is because it is unique and atypical (deriving from its “poor grammar”), and therefore recognizable

          Try it out - “some cops are kkk members.” Not as catchy or iconic, sorry.

          • SplashJackson@lemmy.ca
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            2
            arrow-down
            7
            ·
            edit-2
            3 days ago

            All they had to add was the word “in”; barely a silly bull

            “Some of those that work in forces, are the same that burn crosses”

            But noooo that would be too much work!

            Well, let me tell you sonny jim, no revolution is won by laziness! Anyone whose played Dance Dance Revolution can tell you that.

      • SplashJackson@lemmy.ca
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        3
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        3 days ago

        True, and even that Kyle Wren guy’s lightsaber was a burning cross; I think we’re on to something here