Being triggered by the words of another just because of their sex and skin color isn't a good counter argument. It made her and everyone applauding her look defensive and desperate.
@@amesailor I'd argue that she is pointing out a behavior that she finds disrespectful - that is, correcting someone else's speech, or being critical of slang instead of engaging with the actual conversation. The fact that she observes this behavior from people with more social capital - those with authority, those older than herself, those with more validated opinions historically - is relevant to her point. I like these two poems together because they both point out flaws in the other's perspective. Taylor Mali does not consider the role slang and 'uptalk' have in social situations or among marginalized groups. Conversely, Melissa Lozada-Oliva doesn't engage with formal communication. The 'talking with authority' part is left out in her response, possibly because she acknowledges that there is a time for speaking or communicating clearly and with more traditionally accepted language. When you consider both poems, you end up with a core debate about who is taken seriously, and whose job it is to validate the voices of the young, uneducated, or socially marginalized. Both poets believe in the power and importance of young people's voices in changing the world. One calls on young people to present themselves with intention and purpose. The other calls on those with authority to listen to, or perhaps simply accept, young women as they are and choose to be.
The lack of punctuation and grammar in this post shows that this poem is not aimed at you, even though it describes you. It's aimed at the people who cringed at your post.
Mali once told a story about a college girl who tried to wean off of "like" by substituting "not unlike". It's not unlike using your voice, but it does make you sound not unlike an idiot.
What’s hilarious is that English is a conglomeration of languages that’s been edited and added to with each generation- creative license not just a tool, but a trope. But y’all care about whether or not someone sounds “like an idiot” in their second language, outside of a classroom, in an unprofessional or professional setting, or when not giving speeches. Cool.
In case you haven’t realized it has somehow become necessary for old white men to tell me how to speak (?) They like, interrupt a conversation that isn’t even theirs, and are like “speak like you mean it” and like “the internet is ruining the English language.” And they like, put my “parentheticals,” my “likes” and “ums,” and “you knows” on a wait list. Tell them no one will take them seriously in a frilly pink dress. Or that make-up. Tell them they have a confidence problem. That they should learn to speak up, like the hyper-masculine words were always the first to raise their hands. Invisible red pens and college degrees have been making their way into the middle of my sentences. I’ve been crossing things out every time I take a moment to think. Declarative sentences, so-called, because they declared themselves to be the loudest, most truest, most taking up the most space, most totally white man sentences. Have always told me that being angry has never helped like, anybody. Has only gotten in the way of helping them declare more shit about how they’ll never be forgotten like, ever. It’s like F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway were geniuses for turning women into question marks. It’s like rapes happen all the time on campuses, but as soon as Jon Krakaeur writes about it, suddenly it’s like innovative nonfiction, and not like something girls are like making up for like attention. And it’s like maybe I’m always speaking in questions because I’m so used to being cutoff. Like maybe, this is a defense mechanism: Maybe everything girls do is evolution of defense mechanism. Like this is protection, like our “likes” are our knee pads. Our “ums” are the knives we tuck into our boots at night. Our “you knows” are best friends we call on when walking down a dark alley. Like this is how we breathe easier. But I guess feelings never helped anybody. I guess like, tears never made change. I guess like everything girls do is a waste of time (?) So welcome to the bandwagon of my own uncertainty. Watch as I stick flowers into your “punctuation mark” guns, ’cause you can’t just challenge authority. You have to take it to the mall, too. Teach it to do the “bend and snap.” Paint its nails, braid its hair, tell it it looks like, really good today. And in that moment before you murder it with all of the in your like, softness, you let it know that like this, like this moment is like, um, you know, me using my voice. -Melissa Lozada Olivia
What do white men have to do with language? White men aren't telling you not to overuse "um"s or raise the pitch of your voice to make every sentence sound like a question, people who have even the slightest amount of respect for eloquence are. And when they tell you that, they aren't telling you to shame you for being a woman, they're telling you so that you sound articulate and not like you've never taken an English class. When you're able to form more fluent sentences and use slightly wider vocabulary, news shock, you sound more mature. And nobody shames others for using "ums" and "you knows" every once in a while. But when it dominates your speech, you don't sound as articulate, and you shouldn't intentionally use vocal shortcuts to "empower" yourself or to spite a white man. There's a reason people use "um"s and "yeah"s when jokingly impersonating teenagers: younger, less mature people are typically the ones using them in excessive. It's not a source of pride to intentionally dumb-down your language. I don't understand why the poet keeps comparing being an oppressed woman to using ineloquent language. White men specifically are not the ones forcing intelligent language on women, and telling someone not to use "like" every three words is not at all comparable to telling someone they can't challenge authority. I'm sorry for the long response. As someone who appreciates even remotely correct English composition, I disagree with a poet justifying and priding themselves on their intentionally poor speech under the guise of defying "white men".
@@justaperson2938 if you don’t listen to someone or shame them just because you dislike how they speak, then you’re exactly the target audience of that poem.
@@justaperson2938 Did you read the poem? Upspeech is the fault of white men. The hesistance, the uhms, the likes, the uncertainty, from not knowing if and when we're going to be interrupted? The insecurity that comes when a man tries to dominate the conversation, raising his voice, speaking so concisely so that you can, uhm, hear the fact that they don't like respect you and what you're saying in every space in their sentence? The space that they take any time a woman doesn't fill her speech with "ineloquent language" while trying to compose what she's saying. It's not about "defying" white men, it's about not letting them shame us for a "problem" that they created and benefit from.
+Isaaca Johnson The moment she brings up that he is in fact a "white man" (I was surprised she forgot to use the word "cis"!) I couldn't bear watch it any further. What the fuck does sexism and/or racism have to do with this? Fucking hell. People manage to bring that up in every fucking conversation. Seems that "white men" aren't allowed to have an opinion anymore. We're too priviledged to have an opinion! She was almost accusing him of being a sexist and racist just because he's made a poem about the use of language that he (as an English teacher!) doesn't seem to like. That is just fucking stupid. If I missed anything from stopping the video ~50 seconds in, let me know.
I concur with Unilythe... The moment she addressed the argument not on its merits but because he was a "white man" made everything that came out of her mouth not worth listening to. She didn't even follow her own argument, nor actually address what he said. But that's a common tactic on both sides of the political fence. You don't like that conservative's argument? Call him a nazi. You don't like that liberal's argument? Call them a snowflake. So much easier than actually debating and discussing ideas.
He never directs this at women. In the 90s, when this poem was written, this was the way people talked. Watch a teen movie from 94. This poem is what helped me find my voice and it’s disappointing how many people find fault with a man encouraging a generation to say what they mean. Maybe it means a generation did, i hope.
The issue with that is, this is a criticism most often lobbed at women, even then. And the use of filler words and question-like inflections is much more common among women because a) we feel we have to keep speaking or we’ll get cut off and b) it softens our points so that we are not perceived as being overly confident/bossy/bitchy. He didn’t have to verbally direct it at women for it to be disproportionately about and aimed at us.
@@morganmartin5860 I disagree. I think using "like" or "um" or softening the tone of your voice is applicable to men and women. Getting cut off isn't exclusive to women, and neither is being perceived as overbearing or too bossy. Mali encourages putting conviction behind your words and not detracting from your sentences by adding ancillary "like"s or "yeah"s, which can be applied to everyone's speech.
This is a poem for people who think having an attitude is more important than backing it up with facts and knowledge. Another good one is "Day Two" by Kevin Burke.
I feel like people misunderstand this poem entirely. Mail isn’t wholly disregarding the informal use of the words ‘like,’ ‘totally,’ and ‘whatever,’ or the upturned way people end their sentences. He’s encouraging people to think about their convictions and put that conviction behind their words. There’s a time and place to be lax and a time and place to take yourself seriously so others will too. I also believe the poem made in response to this proves his point. The woman didn’t like what Mail was saying, and she expressed that with conviction behind her words. And what to you know? People listened.
Knowing when you are ANNOYING your audience and Knowing when to use this inflection can change the Monetary Value of your Speech quickly. This is an awesome example of an audience forced to hear an alienating communication style.
@@Skenjbear she explained how we have like evolved to realize our generation has to speak in questions or we'll be cut off or something. how the way we dress apparently assumes our intelligence??? Taylor doesn't seem to understand that the reason we talk this way is that we 1) feel way more comfortable 2)are trying not to seem like pushy or needy because our generation is seen as lazy or whatever and god forbid we ask for help or talk about our problems. he is a fantastic poet and I really do respect him but he like doesn't understand the fact that the way we talk is the evolution of fear and avoidance of confrontation. we don't want to speak up because we are so used to being pushed right back down. we should be listened to with no judgment on how we look or how we speak, just on what is being said. please listen to her poem it is such an amazing piece of art. like I said Taylor Mali is an incredible writer and I marvel at his confidence and writing ability, but this I just can't really agree with. I understand what he means, speak with authority if you want to challenge it but it is so daunting to see a sea of people doing the same thing and you begin to doubt if you would even be heard you know? it is super difficult to raise yourself up if you are constantly being put down. so, I'll say it one more time in case you couldn't like hear me or whatever, listen to like totally whatever by melissa Lozada oliva bc it is a beautiful poem (also I really don't think you listened to her poem bc she absolutely proved nothing of what he said to be true my guy)
@@Skenjbear It's basically quite ridiculous to just say "the way THOSE PEOPLE are speaking is fucked up". Like, there's really clear communicative functions of all those words and this way of speaking.
I wish I could "like" this a million more times. I've had the same frustrations he's voicing for so long. Changing linguistics frankly has nothing to do with it: he's talking about values, conviction, how it's become "uncool" to really believe in things, to be passionate, to CARE. I've experienced it so many times -- younger people, and even those my own age sometimes, react with fear or offense when I speak passionately about anything (it doesn't matter what the topic is, how important, or how viscerally emotional it is in itself -- even getting "excited" about basic human rights is now seen as "crazy" by younger people). They immediately distance themselves, and try to pass off their reprehensible apathy with "maturity." Well, that's bullshit, and Taylor Mali brings up some excellent points. This "aggressively inarticulate" uncertainty (great phrase) is really about making it acceptable to be apathetic and morally neutral about EVERYTHING, no matter how much real human beings are suffering as a result of both active evil AND its passive counterpart, which is indifference/apathy. Being a white man has nothing to do with it: he's RIGHT. (And also, to my knowledge, a very liberal public school teacher.) I'm far from being a conservative myself, but that has nothing to do with it, either: Truth is true no matter who says it.
faithcps I agree. I feel like I'm always walking on eggshells in a society that can't handle me saying what I think. I must make myself seem less confident for others comfort.
F C omg, you probably, like, havent met very many young people have you. So like, this is totally whatever. The way I speak, the way I say things can mean the same as if i were to like, y'know speak LIKE THIS ENGLISH TEACHER. IT MEANS THE SAME THING. I CAN STILL BE PASSIONATE AND CARE EVEN IF I ADD LIKE IN MY SENTENCES TOO MUCH.
@@xena9055 Well it has nothing to do with linguistics. The "like"s and "whatever"s that have become colloquial today have not affected the societal pressures that have existed for centuries. It was no easier in the 1200s to voice how you felt when it was controversial. The speaker targeting people, usually women, who include uncertainty in their speech patterns is misguided. These people suffer from a lack of conviction regardless of if their opinion is controversial because their voice has been silenced. It's not at all the same issue.
People who think this poem is "sexist" have, apparently, a very low opinion of women. Women do not inherently speak this way. Women are not inherently incapable of speaking their mind with dignity and confidence. Stop insulting my sex. Grow a spine and speak like an adult.
Take everyone's utterly worthless opinions and amp them up with a pushy deluded certainty. Great. Gussying up your opinions with the trappings of conviction doesn't mean your opinion is any less tentative or that you are expressing yourself honestly or that what you saying might be true. On the other hand, most people are persuaded by displays of confidence and certainty, however, this is actually a function of human frailty as truth does NOT correlate with conviction. So, the video's distilled message really is, "you can sell your claims to people by seeming to believe certainly in them." Indeed, this is a fundamental method for the manipulation of others.
@Ulysses432 Well, just because reading isn't your strong suit doesn't mean you can't park your (vehement) strawman argument wherever you want. [On the other hand, you could be shooting for satire here. If that's the case, then accept my warm regards!]
Moorland Gaming LOL like ooh because one of the 5 forms of oppression is cultural dominance which means that the dominant group (people in power aka white men as courtesy of patriarchy) get to create and control the discourse thus creating the standard of normal on which all other perspectives and ideas are measured against so like the fact that a women’s response to this is being heard by more people thus has more power over the cultural discourse is actually like,, what it’s all about?? Haha lol
🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 00:00 🎙️ *Introduction and Observation* - The speaker introduces the topic of the uncoolness of sounding certain and observes the prevalence of uncertain language in communication. 01:10 🤷♂️ *Society's Inarticulation* - Reflects on the societal shift towards uncertainty and the decline of conviction in expression. - Questions the loss of conviction and the impact on societal discourse. 02:20 🗣️ *Call to Action* - Urges the audience to speak with conviction. - Emphasizes the importance of expressing beliefs with determination. - Highlights the need to go beyond questioning authority and actively assert one's perspective. Made with HARPA AI
You're kidding right? Tons of people believe all sorts of things with conviction. It's perfectly acceptable to believe something with conviction. What is less acceptable is believing something without evidence, you know, like religion. What you are witnessing is a slow shift in humanity, from magical thinking to skeptical, evidence based thinking.
I love convicted people speaking with conviction. Glad this guy uses humour to mock the spirit of the age which says it is not cool to believe anything with certainly. Need more preachers with this attitude in the church too!
"say it like you mean it" always reminds me of my homophobic uncle and the way he would say it in his policing the femininity out of my (now out of the closet) little cousin.
I have to agree with him. If I spoke like that when I was a kid, my mama would have backhanded me for talking back! Smart mouthing her. We have become so dumbed down our youngest generation compared to the rest of the world, sound so backwards.
So this is kinda ridiculous. All these tag questions and interjections and stuff are there for the communicative purpose of a conversation/speech. "You know" and "okay" have the purpose of asking input of your audience, a bit like saying "do you still understand, are you following what I'm saying?"; "like" is partly for saying "I'm still talking, keep listening", etc etc
I disagree. It’s a way to hijack a discussion. No one can get a word in edgewise. I have a colleague who does the, “Ya know what I mean?” tag endlessly. She asks for input and then proceeds to ramble on with “because I...so...because...ya know what I mean.” Repeat several times. I’ve timed her monologues at up to 8 minutes. I dunno. It comes across as narcissism to me. Does she really want to hear others? Or does she just like to hear herself talk?
@@deeanngrip6146 well, that might be a your colleague problem, because what I was saying is not just an opinion, it's a linguistic fact, and this video is still ridiculous
Why should he judge my choice in vocabulary? I speak in questions cause my opinion will be questioned whether I choose to put it into an interrogative state or not. Like, what is wrong with pausing to think. I have to speak talk to even be heard at all, right? So, I use words like, umm, so, like, just so that I can think for a moment so that I don't offend some random person with my actual opinion. But then again I'm just some immature teenage girl with no real hard opinions. On like, any, you know, actual topics. And it's like so stupid for me to use my own slang. Like, it's as if my generation, is like, the first to like, totally, like, come up with our own like short terms and like filler words. Like, I say like cause it is the only way I can announce that I have an actual opinion, I'm just trying to find the best way to word this so that it doesn't like offend you.
Blake Raine Exactly, you're trying to not offend anyone. Because we can't say anything that we mean without someone feeling attacked unless we make ourselves seem less sure of ourselves and therefore less threatening.
I think you definitely missed the point of both the poem and the previous comment, and probably religion too. Lots of people hold strong convictions, the point of the poem (and the previous commenter obviously agrees with it) is that we have been trained to not express them as strongly as we feel them for fear of being judged and ridiculed for the convictions we hold (similar to the ridicule you just expressed about religious convictions) You don't have to agree/understand to be respecful
I didn't miss the point of anything. Holding strong convictions and expressing then is fine. Here is what you don't understand. I respect peoples right to believe whatever they wish, I don't have to respect their belief.
Don't think I'm a nerd just cuz I have like noticed this, okay? I have nothing personally invested in my own opinions. I'm just like inviting you to join me on the bend wagon of my own uncertainty... ?
I love this! I am a seminary graduate, and I sent it to our homiletics professor. This video should be required viewing for every broadcast journalism student or anyone planning to start podcasting.
Admittedly I find myself on both sides of the fence. I appreciate the importance of learning “proper” speech, so to speak, the importance of being “well spoken”, but I also realize these are terms that serve to one-up and “other” people. So I’m divided when teaching my children. I’ve said many times before, and I quote, “I don’t give a flying fuck how you speak amongst your friends, so long as we and other authority figures don’t hear it. As a matter of respect please speak “properly” and avoid using foul language when addressing us.” Yes, I see my hypocrisy, but that’s where, “because I’m an adult” comes in. I know, I’m a mixed up mess on this and many subjects. It’s hard when one’s conservative upbringing and later developed progressive mindset fight.
We had a spelling test, yes, a spelling test, in my English class today (I'm a senior in high school) and I got everything right. I was actually disturbed at how many people did not get words like "definitely" "beautiful" and "necessary" right. Mr. Mali has a point about what my generation is becoming.
Uhm, no. What's his point exactly? That the way he speaks is better than the way "those people" speak? While just ignoring the clear communicative functions of that way of speaking.
Why tf do ppl get mad when ppl use the word like? It's a damn word get over it, like it's not like I'm giving a very important speech or something I'm just like trying to talk?
Look I don't like him because I don't think he understands that some people have to use like and in to help them think because I find it difficult to say what I'm thinking or write what I'm thinking down this whole thing took me almost 20 minutes to write
I highly recommend Melissa Lozada-Oliva’s poem by the name Like Totally Whatever. For anyone doing homework on this, it’s an excellent counter point.
Being triggered by the words of another just because of their sex and skin color isn't a good counter argument. It made her and everyone applauding her look defensive and desperate.
@@amesailor I'd argue that she is pointing out a behavior that she finds disrespectful - that is, correcting someone else's speech, or being critical of slang instead of engaging with the actual conversation. The fact that she observes this behavior from people with more social capital - those with authority, those older than herself, those with more validated opinions historically - is relevant to her point.
I like these two poems together because they both point out flaws in the other's perspective. Taylor Mali does not consider the role slang and 'uptalk' have in social situations or among marginalized groups. Conversely, Melissa Lozada-Oliva doesn't engage with formal communication. The 'talking with authority' part is left out in her response, possibly because she acknowledges that there is a time for speaking or communicating clearly and with more traditionally accepted language. When you consider both poems, you end up with a core debate about who is taken seriously, and whose job it is to validate the voices of the young, uneducated, or socially marginalized. Both poets believe in the power and importance of young people's voices in changing the world. One calls on young people to present themselves with intention and purpose. The other calls on those with authority to listen to, or perhaps simply accept, young women as they are and choose to be.
@@LLivLLaffLLuv you absolutely wrecked that guy ya know
@@LemurJackson lol thanks, I think that comment's one of my best internet moments
@@LLivLLaffLLuv love your comparison!! Could not agree more.
Seems that a lot of folks failed to understand the poem.
I adore Taylor Mali, and this is one of my favorites of his poems.
"I'm just inviting you to join me on the bandwagon of my own uncertainty." So great, and a Scrabble shirt to boot.
White men can say anything and it'll be the most hilarious joke I watched this all with a straight face
This the real humour
cringe man
I wish I was as cool as you
The lack of punctuation and grammar in this post shows that this poem is not aimed at you, even though it describes you. It's aimed at the people who cringed at your post.
@@Astallder shut up nerd
maybe saying "um" or "like" is a way of thinking what they're going to say next.
maybe speaking in questions is, like, us using our voices.
As a linguist, I can say all these thing indeed have very communicative purposes of different sorts
They make you sound like an idiot though lol
@@fuzedcable5612 ur mom sounds like an idiot
Mali once told a story about a college girl who tried to wean off of "like" by substituting "not unlike".
It's not unlike using your voice, but it does make you sound not unlike an idiot.
What’s hilarious is that English is a conglomeration of languages that’s been edited and added to with each generation- creative license not just a tool, but a trope. But y’all care about whether or not someone sounds “like an idiot” in their second language, outside of a classroom, in an unprofessional or professional setting, or when not giving speeches. Cool.
In case you haven’t realized it has somehow become necessary for old white men to tell me how to speak (?)
They like, interrupt a conversation that isn’t even theirs, and are like “speak like you mean it” and like “the internet is ruining the English language.”
And they like, put my “parentheticals,” my “likes” and “ums,” and “you knows” on a wait list.
Tell them no one will take them seriously in a frilly pink dress. Or that make-up.
Tell them they have a confidence problem. That they should learn to speak up, like the hyper-masculine words were always the first to raise their hands.
Invisible red pens and college degrees have been making their way into the middle of my sentences. I’ve been crossing things out every time I take a moment to think.
Declarative sentences, so-called, because they declared themselves to be the loudest, most truest, most taking up the most space, most totally white man sentences.
Have always told me that being angry has never helped like, anybody.
Has only gotten in the way of helping them declare more shit about how they’ll never be forgotten like, ever.
It’s like F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway were geniuses for turning women into question marks.
It’s like rapes happen all the time on campuses, but as soon as Jon Krakaeur writes about it, suddenly it’s like innovative nonfiction, and not like something girls are like making up for like attention.
And it’s like maybe I’m always speaking in questions because I’m so used to being cutoff.
Like maybe, this is a defense mechanism: Maybe everything girls do is evolution of defense mechanism.
Like this is protection, like our “likes” are our knee pads.
Our “ums” are the knives we tuck into our boots at night.
Our “you knows” are best friends we call on when walking down a dark alley.
Like this is how we breathe easier.
But I guess feelings never helped anybody.
I guess like, tears never made change.
I guess like everything girls do is a waste of time (?)
So welcome to the bandwagon of my own uncertainty.
Watch as I stick flowers into your “punctuation mark” guns, ’cause you can’t just challenge authority. You have to take it to the mall, too.
Teach it to do the “bend and snap.” Paint its nails, braid its hair, tell it it looks like, really good today.
And in that moment before you murder it with all of the in your like, softness, you let it know that like this, like this moment is like, um, you know, me using my voice.
-Melissa Lozada Olivia
Love this poem
Its actually Oliva, no second "i" in the name.
What do white men have to do with language? White men aren't telling you not to overuse "um"s or raise the pitch of your voice to make every sentence sound like a question, people who have even the slightest amount of respect for eloquence are. And when they tell you that, they aren't telling you to shame you for being a woman, they're telling you so that you sound articulate and not like you've never taken an English class. When you're able to form more fluent sentences and use slightly wider vocabulary, news shock, you sound more mature.
And nobody shames others for using "ums" and "you knows" every once in a while. But when it dominates your speech, you don't sound as articulate, and you shouldn't intentionally use vocal shortcuts to "empower" yourself or to spite a white man. There's a reason people use "um"s and "yeah"s when jokingly impersonating teenagers: younger, less mature people are typically the ones using them in excessive. It's not a source of pride to intentionally dumb-down your language.
I don't understand why the poet keeps comparing being an oppressed woman to using ineloquent language. White men specifically are not the ones forcing intelligent language on women, and telling someone not to use "like" every three words is not at all comparable to telling someone they can't challenge authority.
I'm sorry for the long response. As someone who appreciates even remotely correct English composition, I disagree with a poet justifying and priding themselves on their intentionally poor speech under the guise of defying "white men".
@@justaperson2938 if you don’t listen to someone or shame them just because you dislike how they speak, then you’re exactly the target audience of that poem.
@@justaperson2938 Did you read the poem? Upspeech is the fault of white men. The hesistance, the uhms, the likes, the uncertainty, from not knowing if and when we're going to be interrupted? The insecurity that comes when a man tries to dominate the conversation, raising his voice, speaking so concisely so that you can, uhm, hear the fact that they don't like respect you and what you're saying in every space in their sentence? The space that they take any time a woman doesn't fill her speech with "ineloquent language" while trying to compose what she's saying. It's not about "defying" white men, it's about not letting them shame us for a "problem" that they created and benefit from.
You guys look up "Button Poetry:Like totally,whatever?" in response to this!
+Isaaca Johnson I love that poem so much.
+Isaaca Johnson the one on button poetry is my favorite
+Isaaca Johnson The moment she brings up that he is in fact a "white man" (I was surprised she forgot to use the word "cis"!) I couldn't bear watch it any further. What the fuck does sexism and/or racism have to do with this? Fucking hell. People manage to bring that up in every fucking conversation. Seems that "white men" aren't allowed to have an opinion anymore. We're too priviledged to have an opinion!
She was almost accusing him of being a sexist and racist just because he's made a poem about the use of language that he (as an English teacher!) doesn't seem to like. That is just fucking stupid. If I missed anything from stopping the video ~50 seconds in, let me know.
+Unilythe Because it's POC and (young) women who create their own way of speaking and are ridiculed for it. Science agrees, google it.
I concur with Unilythe... The moment she addressed the argument not on its merits but because he was a "white man" made everything that came out of her mouth not worth listening to.
She didn't even follow her own argument, nor actually address what he said.
But that's a common tactic on both sides of the political fence. You don't like that conservative's argument? Call him a nazi. You don't like that liberal's argument? Call them a snowflake.
So much easier than actually debating and discussing ideas.
Melissa Lozada-Oliva has entered the chat.
"I'm pathetically weak and I'll remain this way and it's your fault."
The most stupidest assignment I’ve had to do for school bro
Ong bro doing that Shit rn
send me yours lol@@isaacamaya5362
I hate this guy cuz he is my homework
same
online school
Me too, first week and first semester
Apparently he is the homework of many people
same
same
"Join me on the bandwaggon of my own uncertainty." I might need to get that printed on a t-shirt
Make sure to spell bandwagon correctly if you do.
He never directs this at women. In the 90s, when this poem was written, this was the way people talked. Watch a teen movie from 94.
This poem is what helped me find my voice and it’s disappointing how many people find fault with a man encouraging a generation to say what they mean. Maybe it means a generation did, i hope.
The issue with that is, this is a criticism most often lobbed at women, even then. And the use of filler words and question-like inflections is much more common among women because a) we feel we have to keep speaking or we’ll get cut off and b) it softens our points so that we are not perceived as being overly confident/bossy/bitchy. He didn’t have to verbally direct it at women for it to be disproportionately about and aimed at us.
@@morganmartin5860 I disagree. I think using "like" or "um" or softening the tone of your voice is applicable to men and women. Getting cut off isn't exclusive to women, and neither is being perceived as overbearing or too bossy. Mali encourages putting conviction behind your words and not detracting from your sentences by adding ancillary "like"s or "yeah"s, which can be applied to everyone's speech.
He, like, looks like a, you know, Drill Sergeant, like, yeah.
One of my favorite def poetry slam poems.
This is a poem for people who think having an attitude is more important than backing it up with facts and knowledge. Another good one is "Day Two" by Kevin Burke.
The interrogative infection has caused delusional devotion to anyone who seems to have any kind of authority
The next poem on your list:
Melissa Lozada-Oliva - "Like Totally Whatever"
Eeew.. What the fuck is wrong with that girl?
Love how she had to make her point by building on what a man had laid out for her.
Bish this was my online work. I'm suddenly not fluent in English anymore.
Ah yes, schoolwork moment
a lot of these poets have in common they went somewhere to study to get wherever they are now
I feel like people misunderstand this poem entirely. Mail isn’t wholly disregarding the informal use of the words ‘like,’ ‘totally,’ and ‘whatever,’ or the upturned way people end their sentences. He’s encouraging people to think about their convictions and put that conviction behind their words. There’s a time and place to be lax and a time and place to take yourself seriously so others will too.
I also believe the poem made in response to this proves his point. The woman didn’t like what Mail was saying, and she expressed that with conviction behind her words. And what to you know? People listened.
EXACTLY
this guy is so full of it
I didn’t want to watch this in class
WHY WE HAVE TO WATCHING THIS
Unlike what most think I think this poem is about not having confidence in what your saying, and how when we do somehow, suddenly we've become uncool.
Knowing when you are ANNOYING your audience and Knowing when to use this inflection can change the Monetary Value of your Speech quickly. This is an awesome example of an audience forced to hear an alienating communication style.
i will never let a man in a tucked in scrabble shirt tell me how to talk-
Okay, you know?
lookup "like totally whatever" by Melissa Lozada-Olivia she completely destroys this guy
ikr
Ikr
Can you please explain how she "totally destroyed this guy" ?
If anything, she proved his point. This generation is really fucked up
@@Skenjbear she explained how we have like evolved to realize our generation has to speak in questions or we'll be cut off or something. how the way we dress apparently assumes our intelligence??? Taylor doesn't seem to understand that the reason we talk this way is that we 1) feel way more comfortable 2)are trying not to seem like pushy or needy because our generation is seen as lazy or whatever and god forbid we ask for help or talk about our problems. he is a fantastic poet and I really do respect him but he like doesn't understand the fact that the way we talk is the evolution of fear and avoidance of confrontation. we don't want to speak up because we are so used to being pushed right back down. we should be listened to with no judgment on how we look or how we speak, just on what is being said. please listen to her poem it is such an amazing piece of art. like I said Taylor Mali is an incredible writer and I marvel at his confidence and writing ability, but this I just can't really agree with. I understand what he means, speak with authority if you want to challenge it but it is so daunting to see a sea of people doing the same thing and you begin to doubt if you would even be heard you know? it is super difficult to raise yourself up if you are constantly being put down. so, I'll say it one more time in case you couldn't like hear me or whatever, listen to like totally whatever by melissa Lozada oliva bc it is a beautiful poem (also I really don't think you listened to her poem bc she absolutely proved nothing of what he said to be true my guy)
@@Skenjbear It's basically quite ridiculous to just say "the way THOSE PEOPLE are speaking is fucked up". Like, there's really clear communicative functions of all those words and this way of speaking.
I wish I could "like" this a million more times. I've had the same frustrations he's voicing for so long. Changing linguistics frankly has nothing to do with it: he's talking about values, conviction, how it's become "uncool" to really believe in things, to be passionate, to CARE. I've experienced it so many times -- younger people, and even those my own age sometimes, react with fear or offense when I speak passionately about anything (it doesn't matter what the topic is, how important, or how viscerally emotional it is in itself -- even getting "excited" about basic human rights is now seen as "crazy" by younger people). They immediately distance themselves, and try to pass off their reprehensible apathy with "maturity." Well, that's bullshit, and Taylor Mali brings up some excellent points. This "aggressively inarticulate" uncertainty (great phrase) is really about making it acceptable to be apathetic and morally neutral about EVERYTHING, no matter how much real human beings are suffering as a result of both active evil AND its passive counterpart, which is indifference/apathy. Being a white man has nothing to do with it: he's RIGHT. (And also, to my knowledge, a very liberal public school teacher.) I'm far from being a conservative myself, but that has nothing to do with it, either: Truth is true no matter who says it.
faithcps I agree. I feel like I'm always walking on eggshells in a society that can't handle me saying what I think. I must make myself seem less confident for others comfort.
F C omg, you probably, like, havent met very many young people have you. So like, this is totally whatever. The way I speak, the way I say things can mean the same as if i were to like, y'know speak LIKE THIS ENGLISH TEACHER. IT MEANS THE SAME THING. I CAN STILL BE PASSIONATE AND CARE EVEN IF I ADD LIKE IN MY SENTENCES TOO MUCH.
@@xena9055 Well it has nothing to do with linguistics. The "like"s and "whatever"s that have become colloquial today have not affected the societal pressures that have existed for centuries. It was no easier in the 1200s to voice how you felt when it was controversial. The speaker targeting people, usually women, who include uncertainty in their speech patterns is misguided. These people suffer from a lack of conviction regardless of if their opinion is controversial because their voice has been silenced. It's not at all the same issue.
To me, he sounds like I used to talk as a Canadian Kid. Inflection at the end of all my sentences.
People who think this poem is "sexist" have, apparently, a very low opinion of women. Women do not inherently speak this way. Women are not inherently incapable of speaking their mind with dignity and confidence. Stop insulting my sex. Grow a spine and speak like an adult.
Take everyone's utterly worthless opinions and amp them up with a pushy deluded certainty. Great. Gussying up your opinions with the trappings of conviction doesn't mean your opinion is any less tentative or that you are expressing yourself honestly or that what you saying might be true.
On the other hand, most people are persuaded by displays of confidence and certainty, however, this is actually a function of human frailty as truth does NOT correlate with conviction. So, the video's distilled message really is, "you can sell your claims to people by seeming to believe certainly in them." Indeed, this is a fundamental method for the manipulation of others.
EXACTLY
@Ulysses432 Well, just because reading isn't your strong suit doesn't mean you can't park your (vehement) strawman argument wherever you want. [On the other hand, you could be shooting for satire here. If that's the case, then accept my warm regards!]
This has been going on since 1982! Hardly new even 13 years ago!
he's LIKE amazing!
I'm watching it right now
our girl melissa got 865k views... taylor... no ones listening
coz it's all about views these days, huh. Like, ooh, "She got 500k more views. Haha, checkmate." LOL
Moorland Gaming LOL like ooh because one of the 5 forms of oppression is cultural dominance which means that the dominant group (people in power aka white men as courtesy of patriarchy) get to create and control the discourse thus creating the standard of normal on which all other perspectives and ideas are measured against so like the fact that a women’s response to this is being heard by more people thus has more power over the cultural discourse is actually like,, what it’s all about?? Haha lol
I struck a nerve over your 44 views on that epic dodge didn’t I white man
🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation:
00:00 🎙️ *Introduction and Observation*
- The speaker introduces the topic of the uncoolness of sounding certain and observes the prevalence of uncertain language in communication.
01:10 🤷♂️ *Society's Inarticulation*
- Reflects on the societal shift towards uncertainty and the decline of conviction in expression.
- Questions the loss of conviction and the impact on societal discourse.
02:20 🗣️ *Call to Action*
- Urges the audience to speak with conviction.
- Emphasizes the importance of expressing beliefs with determination.
- Highlights the need to go beyond questioning authority and actively assert one's perspective.
Made with HARPA AI
Tell you one North American who doesn't speak like that, I've noticed: Tom Cruse. Can't figure out what might be behind that....
The script he gets handed..?
Great Quentin Tarantino impression
Genius :D
like, whatever, i know how to speak.
Legendary stuff!
That’s deep dude
Absolute fabulousness
Inviting you to join me on the bandwagon of my own uncertainty :D
You're kidding right? Tons of people believe all sorts of things with conviction. It's perfectly acceptable to believe something with conviction. What is less acceptable is believing something without evidence, you know, like religion.
What you are witnessing is a slow shift in humanity, from magical thinking to skeptical, evidence based thinking.
FINALLY A DEF POETRY VIDEO THATS NOT IN 240P!!!!!!!! YES
This brother sounding like Jack Black out here
I love convicted people speaking with conviction. Glad this guy uses humour to mock the spirit of the age which says it is not cool to believe anything with certainly. Need more preachers with this attitude in the church too!
I want?... to die?
Immaculate wordsmith invoking cognitive inspiration.
Mali for president.
I swear I heard him say, "Now get off my lawn."
It is not enough these days to question authority.
You've got to speak with it too.
This is brilliant
Contrary to the BUMPER STICKER - hilarious.
"say it like you mean it" always reminds me of my homophobic uncle and the way he would say it in his policing the femininity out of my (now out of the closet) little cousin.
He's one of those "your generation sucks" pretentious types, but he sure is talented.
People hating on this guy in the comments don't have the faintest idea of what they are talking about.
Looove this guy!
Does anyone know where he got that shirt he's wearing?
we are all here for class but what class are u here for? i’m in public speaking
I'm here for English
English
I’m here for my class that the teachers have literally named “poetry”... so... I’ve already watched 3 of these...
Oh god I love this guy! I feel bad though, cause I really do speak like that sometimes...
I have to agree with him. If I spoke like that when I was a kid, my mama would have backhanded me for talking back! Smart mouthing her. We have become so dumbed down our youngest generation compared to the rest of the world, sound so backwards.
Exactly.
So this is kinda ridiculous. All these tag questions and interjections and stuff are there for the communicative purpose of a conversation/speech. "You know" and "okay" have the purpose of asking input of your audience, a bit like saying "do you still understand, are you following what I'm saying?"; "like" is partly for saying "I'm still talking, keep listening", etc etc
I disagree. It’s a way to hijack a discussion. No one can get a word in edgewise. I have a colleague who does the, “Ya know what I mean?” tag endlessly. She asks for input and then proceeds to ramble on with “because I...so...because...ya know what I mean.” Repeat several times. I’ve timed her monologues at up to 8 minutes. I dunno. It comes across as narcissism to me. Does she really want to hear others? Or does she just like to hear herself talk?
@@deeanngrip6146 well, that might be a your colleague problem, because what I was saying is not just an opinion, it's a linguistic fact, and this video is still ridiculous
Challenge Accepted 👏👏👏
HOLY FUCK! A def jam video in 720p? What reality is this?
this dude majorly inspired me in high school. Much love
Awesome sauce! You and I are in the same club buddy.
Why should he judge my choice in vocabulary? I speak in questions cause my opinion will be questioned whether I choose to put it into an interrogative state or not. Like, what is wrong with pausing to think. I have to speak talk to even be heard at all, right? So, I use words like, umm, so, like, just so that I can think for a moment so that I don't offend some random person with my actual opinion. But then again I'm just some immature teenage girl with no real hard opinions. On like, any, you know, actual topics. And it's like so stupid for me to use my own slang. Like, it's as if my generation, is like, the first to like, totally, like, come up with our own like short terms and like filler words. Like, I say like cause it is the only way I can announce that I have an actual opinion, I'm just trying to find the best way to word this so that it doesn't like offend you.
Blake Raine Exactly, you're trying to not offend anyone. Because we can't say anything that we mean without someone feeling attacked unless we make ourselves seem less sure of ourselves and therefore less threatening.
This is his opinion and you are being a hypocrite. Writing is part of himself and think what you want but don't say it out loud.
I dunno. Maybe he wants to make sure you dont sound stupid. Because when people say stuff like that, i puke..
You know?
whatever.
I think you definitely missed the point of both the poem and the previous comment, and probably religion too. Lots of people hold strong convictions, the point of the poem (and the previous commenter obviously agrees with it) is that we have been trained to not express them as strongly as we feel them for fear of being judged and ridiculed for the convictions we hold (similar to the ridicule you just expressed about religious convictions) You don't have to agree/understand to be respecful
I agree with this 100% I feel like I can't speak my mind so it take me about to say thing so I say like and um in between to help me
This should have millions of views.
No it shouldn't it's stupid
I sold them in the farmer's market and I got this 2 magic beans
sounds like that guy from frasier
brilliant
Greatness
I didn't miss the point of anything. Holding strong convictions and expressing then is fine.
Here is what you don't understand. I respect peoples right to believe whatever they wish, I don't have to respect their belief.
VHS on top
Don't think I'm a nerd just cuz I have like noticed this, okay? I have nothing personally invested in my own opinions. I'm just like inviting you to join me on the bend wagon of my own uncertainty... ?
I might be drunk!
I love this! I am a seminary graduate, and I sent it to our homiletics professor. This video should be required viewing for every broadcast journalism student or anyone planning to start podcasting.
sounds exactly flea lol
Admittedly I find myself on both sides of the fence. I appreciate the importance of learning “proper” speech, so to speak, the importance of being “well spoken”, but I also realize these are terms that serve to one-up and “other” people. So I’m divided when teaching my children. I’ve said many times before, and I quote, “I don’t give a flying fuck how you speak amongst your friends, so long as we and other authority figures don’t hear it. As a matter of respect please speak “properly” and avoid using foul language when addressing us.” Yes, I see my hypocrisy, but that’s where, “because I’m an adult” comes in. I know, I’m a mixed up mess on this and many subjects. It’s hard when one’s conservative upbringing and later developed progressive mindset fight.
Anyone else here for AP Lang
Thats so very very sad
Is that Mos Def?
STOP ATTACKING MEEEEEE
Outstanding!!!!
OMG! I like sooo lurv this dude!
We had a spelling test, yes, a spelling test, in my English class today (I'm a senior in high school) and I got everything right. I was actually disturbed at how many people did not get words like "definitely" "beautiful" and "necessary" right. Mr. Mali has a point about what my generation is becoming.
The response poem to this poem proves his entire point wrong lol
Uhm, no. What's his point exactly? That the way he speaks is better than the way "those people" speak? While just ignoring the clear communicative functions of that way of speaking.
Why tf do ppl get mad when ppl use the word like? It's a damn word get over it, like it's not like I'm giving a very important speech or something I'm just like trying to talk?
@Maxcherrybailbonds Like...totally.
Men, like, can't write poetry or whatever.
Good
Amazing!!! Read this at a Speech/Debate competition in the Poetry category
this is a great video. I am going to use this as a weapon.
If "you hate this guy" you don't get it.
Look I don't like him because I don't think he understands that some people have to use like and in to help them think because I find it difficult to say what I'm thinking or write what I'm thinking down this whole thing took me almost 20 minutes to write
why are they laughing
Hey, what's up.
What happened to our convictions?