Chinese Government Moves To Crack Down On Puns

FreedomFirstThenPeac (1235064) writes "A story in The Guardian tells us that in an Orwellian move to legislate language, the Chinese government is attempting to stop the use of puns because they are disruptive and may lead to chaos (not the mathematical kind) and as such are unsuitable for use. However, Chinese is rife with puns, with this example quoted in the story: "When couples marry, people will give them dates and peanuts – a reference to the wish Zaosheng guizi or 'May you soon give birth to a son.' The word for dates is also zao and peanuts are huasheng." The powerful date and peanut lobbies are up in arms, claiming that such a ban will cost them more than peanuts. Their claim? "If you outlaw puns. Only criminals will have puns."

Comments

Re:I laughed

[Firethorn]

How did that military service as the price for military issue gun ownership go?

1. That's your requirement, not mine.
2. Besides, 'everyone' is part of the militia(pretty much).
3. Finally, the amendment specifies the people's right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. The militia clause more means that if the government felt the need it could call the appropriate people up(fit, not to old, etc...) for mandatory militia training, whether they owned a firearm or not. Matter of fact, in the early militia acts they could force you to purchase a suitable weapon once notified of your obligation in the militia.

You didn't do it?

Are you speaking in general or specifically to me? Didn't your parents ever teach you about making assumptions?

Oh so you've twisted that amendment so that it's a right without responsibility - what a clever little coward you are.

Have you attended your mandatory internet speech training citizen? No? You're not allowed to post to the internet until you've completed it. It involves working at the post office for 4 years.

It's pathetic that a sporting club full of cowards who cannot properly manage their sport have bought so much influence in Washington.

Meh. You're jealous that all your side has is a few rich donors like Bloomberg and can't muster proper grass-roots support like the NRA* and other organizations can.

*You think the NRA is biased? I'm a member of the Gun Owners of America (GOA), the gun rights organization that thinks that the NRA is too compromising.