1. Ben Hill

    Ben Hill New Member

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    A slight case of dissing...

    Discussion in 'General Writing' started by Ben Hill, Jan 20, 2020.

    Hi all, putting a well know artist or performers down (in a jovial way of course).
    Conversation/dialog in book goes....
    ‘Keep busy King. Idleness breeds thought which breeds depression, a depression of the worst kind!’
    'Worse than the depression one gets after listening to the Osmonds?'
    ‘Hmm? A close call King, I’ll grant you that.’

    Am I OK with this?

    I have soooo much to learn....

    Cheers
    Ben.
     
  2. Naomasa298

    Naomasa298 HP: 10/190 Status: Confused Contributor

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    I'm confused - are you asking if this conversation is ok?

    What specifically are you concerned about? Apart from the repetition of "King", I don't see a problem with it, although it doesn't seem very natural.
     
  3. Xoic

    Xoic Prognosticator of Arcana Ridiculosum Contributor Blogerator

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    I don't know what the characters are like, but generally dissing doesn't go well with formal speech like calling yourself 'one', unless he's an intellectual who normally talks like that. Otherwise it might be better to say "Worse than listening to The Osmonds?"

    "A depression of the worst kind" also sounds a little awkward. Most people I know would say something like "Really bad depression". But if it's a professor or an intellectual, he might talk like that.

    Yeah, as Naomasa said, we need more information.
     
  4. Cephus

    Cephus Contributor Contributor

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    The dialog sounds very stilted, and let's be honest, mentioning the Osmonds dates your work. Unless your story takes place in the 50s or 60s, it really doesn't fit.
     
  5. Hammer

    Hammer Moderator Staff Supporter Contributor

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    It does date your work very much - you'd probably get a blank look from anyone under about 40, certainly from anyone under 30. It might be better to go even further back to a "classic" like Leonard Cohen? (or is that too depressing...?)

    I can't comment on whether the Osmonds would take legal action, but the authors of Red Dwarf got away with "never tangle with anything that's got more teeth than the entire Osmond family" (c:
     
  6. GingerCoffee

    GingerCoffee Web Surfer Girl Contributor

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    You need more posts before asking for critique.
     
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  7. Ben Hill

    Ben Hill New Member

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    Hi all, thanks for the replies. 1:Ginger Coffee. Not looking for critique. Don't write or know enough to do that yet. 2." But if it's a professor or an intellectual, he might talk like that. Well spotted Xoic. The character is an intellectual. 3: 'I'm confused - are you asking if this conversation is ok?' Sorry Naomasa, being a little wet behind the ears I may have worded my post incorrectly. Will learn from this. 4: Spot on Hammer, you hit the nail on the head....(sorry about that) with, 'I can't comment on whether the Osmonds would take legal action, but the authors of Red Dwarf got away with "never tangle with anything that's got more teeth than the entire Osmond family"
    Basically. Is putting a well know artist and or or performers down (in a jovial way of course) unsafe ground legally? Or is there an acceptable way (without ending up in court) to do it?

    Thanks all.
    Ben.
     
  8. Naomasa298

    Naomasa298 HP: 10/190 Status: Confused Contributor

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    You'll be fine, I imagine.

    The statement is an opinion, which is defined in UK law as not being defamatory. It's not a statement of fact. I don't know about the law anywhere else, and I'm not a lawyer.

    And it's so minor, I doubt anyone would take notice.
     
  9. Xoic

    Xoic Prognosticator of Arcana Ridiculosum Contributor Blogerator

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    In the US it would fall under what's called Fair Use (I think that's what it's called), which says that public figures such as celebrities have, well, made themselves public figures and therefore their public image is ok to ridicule, satire, parody etc. As long as you're not calling for action against them.

    Plus, if making fun of the Osmonds was actionable, half the population would be in jail. Probably more like nine tenths actually.
     
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  10. jannert

    jannert Retired Mod Supporter Contributor

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    Yeah, I think this hits the nail on the head. Basically, it's fine to deal with what makes a famous person famous, and give an opinion on that, in a piece of writing, but it's not okay to make up stuff about them.

    It would be okay to have a character in your story who can't stand Harry Potter books, or okay to disparage JKRowling because she donated £1 million to Better Together, to help prevent Scotland from becoming an independent country in 2014 (yep, she did)—but it wouldn't be okay to claim that JKRowling stole the idea of Harry Potter from you, or that she ate your hamster. (Unless you have undoctored photos.... :) )
     
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  11. Ben Hill

    Ben Hill New Member

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    Aaaaaah! My Hamster has gone missing!:ohno: Nice one Jannert.

    'Plus, if making fun of the Osmonds was actionable, half the population would be in jail. Probably more like nine tenths actually.' Like it I do! :-D

    Thanks again folks. For the help, and, the humour. Much appreciated.

    Ben.
     
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  12. Naomasa298

    Naomasa298 HP: 10/190 Status: Confused Contributor

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    Might be a bit in poor taste at the moment, given that Ozzy has been diagnosed with Parkinson's.
     
  13. Xoic

    Xoic Prognosticator of Arcana Ridiculosum Contributor Blogerator

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    Ozzy is an Osbourne, not an Osmond.
     
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  14. Naomasa298

    Naomasa298 HP: 10/190 Status: Confused Contributor

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    I'm easily confused.
     
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  15. Xoic

    Xoic Prognosticator of Arcana Ridiculosum Contributor Blogerator

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    Ok, wasn't sure where you were coming from. The ironic thing is the Osmonds and Ozzy are complete polar opposites.
     
  16. Hammer

    Hammer Moderator Staff Supporter Contributor

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    Ozzy Osmond. LoL

    Amazingly, he does seem to have the same stylist as Marie, but there the similarity probably stops...

    upload_2020-1-23_8-2-32.png
     
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