Some Wizbang reader may think I'm nitpicking, but its news writing like this that helps to show that profession continues to sink.
THREE Grade 6 pupils have overdosed on prescription medicine apparently given to them by another student at their school.Straightforward news story so far. What has me bugged. Its the sentence in bold when in use what caused these overdoses.The girls, aged between 11 and 12, were taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital on Thursday morning after the incident at Woodbridge School, south of Hobart.
Concerned parents contacted the Sunday Tasmania yesterday, saying they were shaken by what had happened.
It is believed the medication was given to the girls by another student.
The drug is believed to have been a form of anti-epileptic medication.Is Damien Brown and the Herald Sun in the habit of telling bad taste puns? Disturbed or upset could have been used instead. I used to take anti-epileptic medications(Dilantin and phenobarbital) when I was a child. I outgrew the seizures, my brother had a friend whose seizures got worse as he got older. Its not a laughing matter.
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Comments (7)
Oh, come on. It took me qui... (Below threshold)1. Posted by mcg
| November 8, 2008 6:17 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Oh, come on. It took me quite a bit of time to figure out what the heck you were talking about. This is not an obvious pun.
1. Posted by mcg
| November 8, 2008 6:17 PM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on November 8, 2008 18:17
2. Posted by mcg
| November 8, 2008 6:17 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
In fact, if the parents used the word "shaken", which is quite likely, that's the best choice for the article.
2. Posted by mcg
| November 8, 2008 6:17 PM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on November 8, 2008 18:17
3. Posted by JohnS | November 8, 2008 6:50 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
I largely agree with mcg - "shaken" is a common enough term. If they had overdosed on salt, though...
3. Posted by JohnS | November 8, 2008 6:50 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on November 8, 2008 18:50
4. Posted by Mitchell | November 8, 2008 7:19 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Yes, this is nitpicking per any reasonable person.
You are now the resident nitpicker in chief. I can think of more important things to write about, on this blog or off, however.
4. Posted by Mitchell | November 8, 2008 7:19 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on November 8, 2008 19:19
5. Posted by BlogDog | November 8, 2008 8:38 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
I guess that means I can't post the "seizure salad" joke then.
That's OK. It is in bad taste.
5. Posted by BlogDog | November 8, 2008 8:38 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on November 8, 2008 20:38
6. Posted by jnials | November 8, 2008 10:13 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Epileptic medications are often used in treating certain mood disorders such as bipolar disorder. And bipolar kids are notoriously bad about understanding consequences.
6. Posted by jnials | November 8, 2008 10:13 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on November 8, 2008 22:13
7. Posted by Donna B. | November 9, 2008 1:15 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Sixth graders as a group are notoriously bad about understanding consequences.
When I was in the sixth grade the fad was that aspirin and coke would make you high. Fortunately no one took enough aspirin to have to be hospitalized.
I won't call you a nit-picker over this, just overly sensitive. I would have never made the connection if you hadn't pointed it out.
Making tenuous connections like this leads to political correctness and stuffiness.
7. Posted by Donna B. | November 9, 2008 1:15 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on November 9, 2008 13:15