All Your Base Are ...

I was reading up on some techie-related stuff this morning, when I came across this ad, so jarringly bad grammatically that I just had to take a closer look.

It led to this article which was talking about Google domination of the Internet world. But that did not answer my question: How on earth did CNet News allow this article header to be published so blatantly without correcting it whatsoever. If I, a kuci blogger would take some pains to correct my grammar mistakes on my blog titles, what more a mammoth online presence like CNet News?

Strangely enough, a comment from a reader who took offense of that article shed light to this very interesting title. He said:

I think I'm just going to stop reading so I don't get so irritated. First of all, this phrase is far too played out.

Secondly, people commonly joke about a poorly translated Japanese animation when they use the "All your base are belong to us." phrase but it's really not funny because it's racially motivated. Racial intolerance is not cool.

Wow. What was THAT all about? Further comments from other readers (most of them irritated by the first commentor's statement) finally answered the question that gnawed upon my curious mind.

1. "All Your Base" is one of the funniest bits of pop-culture references of all time. Poor dubs and subs is the FUNNIEST thing about watching any foreign media. Non-English speakers get the SAME kick out of watching Hollywood films dubbed or subbed into their native language. Stuff gets lost and it's friggin' hilarious, so lighten up! Race has zero to do with it.

2. Everybody who is posting about freedom of speech and free thinking needs to CHILL THE F*CK OUT! Every time someone makes a comment that the majority of folks disagree with, ten people chime in with "this is what's wrong with America" comments. Settle down folks. The only thing to see here is a funny line about "All Your Base" and one guy who doesn't get the joke. Let's not overreact. And to everyone who has no idea what is being debated here, see:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_your_base

And for another "All Your Base" reference (again involving Google) see:

http://blogs.siliconvalley.com/gmsv/2005/09/google_take_all.html

It seems that the 'All Your Base' phrase shot to popularity in year 2001. I wonder where I had been to NOT even get a whiff of it. So now I know what it is all about. I am greatly enriched. Yaay.

Two things that came to mind from reading the heated comments over that seemingly bland and simple article:

1. Communication is a tough thing to do. No matter what you say or how you say it, there are some folks who would probably never get what you are trying to say. Written communication is worse because the hearers can't see your facial expressions nor hear the tone of your voice.
   
   On more than one occassion, I have been irritated by the stuff I read. Upon reading a second time or clarifying things with the author, I realised that more often than not, I had misconstrued the author's intent or the author chose a poor set of words to communicate his/her intent.
   
   So before flaming that person with a piece of my mind, I would normally sit over the matter for a while or clarify with that person first. There are some battles that one should rightly take up but when it comes to spoken or written words, I'd normally take the more cautious approach. Unless of course that if that person disses my loved ones and friends - something which I cannot take standing still. Yeah, blind loyalty has a way of clouding the mind in the heat of the moment.


2. The best type of people are those who can laugh at themselves. Ooooh, I wanna be one of those! A good sense of humour is essential for survival these days. Nuff said.

Over and out for now.