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G4EBT > GAME 04.09.08 09:36l 100 Lines 3425 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 649015G4EBT
Read: GUEST
Subj: Re: They're "jealous", VK2TV
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Sent: 080904/0733Z @:GB7FCR.#16.GBR.EU #:12879 [Blackpool] FBB-7.03a $:649015G4
From: G4EBT@GB7FCR.#16.GBR.EU
To : GAME@WW
Ray, VK2TV wrote:-
>They're all jealous, Bob.
Not so. We can't be - it wouldn't make sense grammatically. Aussies
can be 'jealous' of their sporting prowess - we can only be 'envious'.
Australia's efforts are to be admired by those who take an interest
in the Olympics, which is why I (enviously) wrote:
>Look what a fantastic job the Aussies did in Sydney in 2000 because
>they "do" sport in a big way. What did we get? The "Dome".
May I - as a card-carrying, gold standard, copper-bottomed, world-class
know-all pedant of the first order, respectfully point out that one can
only be jealous of one's own possession, which is why we "jealously" guard
them.
One cannot be jealous of the possessions or achievements of others.
It's a common grammatical error to use jealous when the correct term
to use is envious. We are jealous of what we own - we may, or may not,
be envious of what others own. If someone buys a flash new car that we'd
love to own, we're not jealous - we're envious.
An clip from an earlier bull I wrote will illustrate envy v jealousy:
>After Rebecca Adlington's 400m freestyle gold set the tone for Britain in
>the pool, John Coates, the head of the Australian Olympic Committee and
>an International Olympic Committee member since 2001, was asked for his
>thoughts. "It's not bad for a country that has no swimming pools and very
>little soap," he said.
An appalling thing for a senior ambassador of Australia to say at such an
event, but it's as good example as any to illustrate envy, and the way
that some Aussies so quickly lower their guard and lapse into xenophobia.
Stupid too, because Oz did really well in the Games overall.
I doubt the xenophobic comments reflects the attitude of the participants,
but as we've seen in cricket (sledging), rugby, and other sports, some
Aussies are poor losers, and even when they win can't do it with good
grace and resist the temptation to gloat.
And boy, do they get prickly if anyone taunts them for it.
I don't care whether we win or lose at sport - we expect to lose.
If we win, it's a bonus, but if we lose, it's business as usual.
I continued:
>Australia's minister for sport, Kate Ellis, then quipped that the Brits
>would falter against Aussies in head-to-head contests. "British sportsman
>and women in the past have been known to choke under the pressure when up
>against the Aussies," she deadpanned.
How silly is that? I'm sure she said it tongue in cheek, but it's
not important - it's Australia's reputation on the line here.
I digress - back to jealousy v envy.
The dictionary defines Jealous (adj) thus:
1)Suspicious of being displaced by a rival
(often postpositive followed by "of"),
2)resentful (of), vindictive (towards), esp through envy,
3) (often postpositive and followed by of) possessive and
watchful in the maintenance or protection (of)
4) Characterised or resulting from jealousy
5) Obsolete (except in biblical use), demanding
excessive loyalty - "for I am a jealous God".
6) An obsolete word for zealous.
(C13 from Old French, gelos, from Medieval Latin, zelous,
from Greek, zelos)
Hope that helps.
Best wishes
David, G4EBT @ GB7FCR
British Vintage Wireless Society Member
G-QRP Club Member, No: 1339
Cottingham, East Yorkshire.
Message timed: 08:29 on 2008-Sep-04
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