Comments on: L.A. Times Grammar Police Attacks National Geographic Channel Ad

By: dblanchard

dblanchard — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:04:06 +0000

I’m not necessarily right here, but I think the grammaticality (the well-formedness) of “live curious” is just fine. The phrase is “rescued” by completing it, something we Americans often neglect to do, and something that is perfectly reasonable when the context is clear.

“Live curious about the world.” is worlds apart from “Live curiously about the world.” The former extolling curiosity, and the later only encouraging odd transient behavior.

Still, I can’t rescue “Think different.” while preserving the obvious intent of the message. “…if you talk you ask, …if you doubt you question, …”
“Think different thoughts.” or even “Think different things.” doesn’t capture the imploring “Think about things differently.” Sorry SJ.

If Neil had any room to criticize it would be in the circularity of the copy. “…if you talk, you ask; if you ask, you think; …if you doubt, you question; if you question, you understand….” I see greater issue with “ask” and “question,” “think” and “understand” being to related than the adjective/adverb issue. However, it does create a nice flow, and perhaps a parallelism that the writer wanted to capture.

By: Juan Ayora

Juan Ayora — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 07:29:13 +0000

Where did Dan Neil got the idea that NG main focus is animals, I grew up learning about people and cultures thanks to NG.
I also have 2 questions:
1.- Who asked Mr. Neil to outline the editorial requirements of NG;
2.- Who named him overlord, supreme ruler and all-knowing entity about what a creative ad should say or not.

He forgets that in the creative area, we only have opinions, but no one owns a final truth.

By: Steven Holmes

Steven Holmes — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 04:43:38 +0000

I agree with Steve’s assessment. As with most things, strong arguments can be made from different positions. Logic has its own limitations and ultimately language, written and oral, is simply a ‘bridge between minds’ (to quote an old college Political Science professor).

I get NGC’s message…and it resonates with me. That’s all that matters in my view.

By: Scott Rinckenberger

Scott Rinckenberger — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:00:24 +0000

I’ve got to agree that Dan Neil is way out of line espousing the Discovery Channel’s ad tagline “The world is just awesome” over the succinct and fresh “Live Curious”. Further, I certainly don’t need to see preening gibbons in order for National Geographic to live up to its history. But I am with him in feeling curious at the seemingly random verbiage being voiced over the beautiful visuals. Perhaps the copy writer behind the commercial was living a little too curious before sitting down at his/her desk to write?

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:49:48 +0000

NG need to take a page from that Durango ski resort and cancel Neil’s subscription. Maybe they should put his photo up at all news stands with instructions to not sell the magazine to him as well.