But the Whole Election is Out of Context!

So much of the way in which we understand language, not to mention pretty much everything else, is simply context.

Thanks to the folks at Language Log we have a discussion of how Sarah Palin was taken out of context when some claimed that she thought we were on a God ordained mission in Iraq. A simple matter of understanding both the situation and reading the whole passage is all that is necessary to understand what is being said here.

At the same time we have ridiculous attacks on Obama regarding sex education for kindergarten children and the “lipstick on a pig” thing. There is so much really stupid stuff being said one can hardly keep up. I’ve been limiting my reading on most of these issues to Politifact and various headlines. I note that Politifact has a very large number of “pants on fire” ratings right now, as well they should.

But the fact is that the entire election is out of context, and apparently there are few people who are willing to look at things in their context. The special pleading from all sides is truly astounding, and I have a very hard time believing that the folks who write or say all this believe what they’re saying.

When it comes to politics, the technology of the information age is facilitating a misinformation age.

Demand better!