http://blogs.reuters.com/gbu/2008/04/04/the-wrong-place-2/ Reader reaction to Reuters news Sun, 7 Sep 2008 06:27:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 http://blogs.reuters.com/gbu/2008/04/04/the-wrong-place-2/#comment-335725 Marius Sun, 06 Apr 2008 23:47:23 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/gbu/2008/04/04/the-wrong-place-2/#comment-335725 look and learn the countries and the capitals, before writing an article. look and learn the countries and the capitals, before writing an article.

]]> http://blogs.reuters.com/gbu/2008/04/04/the-wrong-place-2/#comment-335716 Paul Papadopoulos Sat, 05 Apr 2008 11:07:03 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/gbu/2008/04/04/the-wrong-place-2/#comment-335716 "Western observers"? Until about twenty years ago when a reporter wanted to express his or her view in disguise they would use the catch phrase "according to some observers". Did they mean the pistachio peddler on the street corner who actually saw the Kamikaze girl blow herself up? Then the phrase was changed to "According to Western Diplomats". As somebody who has lived as an expatriate in a few exotic places where westerners are a very small group their diplomats usually know squat. They are too busy perusing the fare at lavish buffets and if they do chat it is small talk of the most trivial and profane kind with each other or figures in the local establishment. If they are bold enough to talk to "dangerous" people to find out facts they are liable to be called "spies" and deported. So now it's "western observers". Not fans of cowboy films but a mongrelisation of the previous two aphorisms. “Western observers”? Until about twenty years ago when a reporter wanted to express his or her view in disguise they would use the catch phrase “according to some observers”. Did they mean the pistachio peddler on the street corner who actually saw the Kamikaze girl blow herself up? Then the phrase was changed to “According to Western Diplomats”. As somebody who has lived as an expatriate in a few exotic places where westerners are a very small group their diplomats usually know squat. They are too busy perusing the fare at lavish buffets and if they do chat it is small talk of the most trivial and profane kind with each other or figures in the local establishment. If they are bold enough to talk to “dangerous” people to find out facts they are liable to be called “spies” and deported. So now it’s “western observers”. Not fans of cowboy films but a mongrelisation of the previous two aphorisms.

]]> http://blogs.reuters.com/gbu/2008/04/04/the-wrong-place-2/#comment-335701 Giovanna Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:13:22 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/gbu/2008/04/04/the-wrong-place-2/#comment-335701 while I like reading this section, I am as amused by how rude some of the comments are pointing to errors made. while I like reading this section, I am as amused by how rude some of the comments are pointing to errors made.

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