"I just wanted a multigrain bagel," Rosenthal told the Post. "I refused to say, 'without butter or cheese.' When you go to Burger King, you don't have to list the six things you don't want. Linguistically, it's stupid."Perhaps the professor and the barista could have used a bit of a few lessons in the language of anger. If they had both known their anger language perhaps they could have deflated the situation after going through the 12 Step Program in Language Anger Management, which has been helping defust angry linguistic mobs for months, if not years.
I'm sorry, Ms Rosenthal, but linguistically, your position is stupid hovering just above insanity. Most twenty-first century Americans understand that when ordering quick-take food at a counter, you will often be asked if you want various options. This is not limited to Starbucks. The competent thing to do, bringing all your meta-linguistic skills (the study of which is called "pragmatics") to bear, is say "no, thanks."The commenters at Starbucks Gossip are not terribly impressed either.
...Such inanities violate the co-operative principle (illustrated in comic form here) that underlies successful speaking...
I absolutely refuse to use Starbucks daft terminology for drink sizes. I also see no need to give my name when ordering. Now back to read the article and, no doubt, entertaining comments.Oh, the thing with asking your name is for conflict-resolution at the pick-up end. I only ever see them ask for names when there are enough people that there's possible confusion about whose drink is whose. They don't need your real name, just a unique identifier. Me, I just enjoy the suspense of seeing how my name will be spelled on the cup when I finally get it.
"Lynne Rosenthal, the English professor who caused a ruckus in an Upper West Side Starbucks when she refused to bow to what she called the coffee giant's 'linguistic fascism,' says she's no folk hero — but she won't ever patronize Starbucks again.She sure is a doozy!
... Rosenthal told DNAinfo that Starbucks' use of language was 'Orwellian,' a reference to George Orwell's depiction of government manipulation of language in the novel '1984.'
'It's all about control,' Rosenthal said. 'They're trying to control the language and in that way create a different reality. Unless you obey that language, they lose control.'
... Rosenthal said she's been flooded with calls from reporters and requests to appear on TV, but she's turned them all down.
I'm no leader,' Rosenthal said. 'If I were a leader, I'd be on TV tomorrow.'
... She added that an invented language is the only thing that separates Starbucks from run-of-the-mill coffee joints.
'Without the language, Starbucks would be nothing,' Rosenthal said. 'Even Dunkin' Donuts has frappuccinos, or whatever they're called there.'"
Q. Would you like your bagel with butter or cream cheese?Bagel, butter and cream cheese aren't words that Starbucks is "trying to control."
A. Neither, please. Thank you.
"At the shop of a bagel equipment manufacturer, Smith made two batches of bagels: one using New York City water, the other with Boston water. 'There was absolutely no difference between them,' Smith reported. 'What makes the difference is equipment, process and ingredients.'"posted by ericb at 1:50 PM on August 17, 2010
The coffee isn't that good, it's too expensive, and there are always too many people in line. So why go there?Bitter coffee is still good enough to flavor my warm milk, it's conveniently located, and the line moves rather briskly. Not that I go to Starbucks all that often, but it's not as bad as you make it out, especially when you work someplace that likes to give out gift cards in lieu of bonuses.
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posted by theredpen at 6:53 AM on August 17, 2010 [12 favorites]