STEPHEN FRY

I tell them that they are all Wilde quotes... the speech that beat me last time was quoting Voltaire so I'm going to quote Oscar Wilde X 10000!

Wilde rules (!)
I hope that this time you´ll get the response they denied you last time !!! (but what do you expect of an audience that cannot distinguish between "discover" and .. was that "research" or "investigate" ?? )
Happy quoting, boffinbabe

(!) Oh, that's right, the discover-incident. What a disgrace for supposedly learned people whose job is to judge other (younger!) peoples' work.

Would someone explain this incident to me please? i haven't been here very long :-//

Yup, found the old thread. Back in september boffinbabe gave a public speech about toilets which was judged by a jury. Apart from telling her that her speech was 'flippant' they reproached her for pointing out the difference between 'discovery' and 'invention' since those two words were perfectly the same:

and that I mentioned the difference between discovery and invention when they are actually the same thing according to the latin origin (WTF definition and origin is a different thing entirely, example being that we did not invent America- we discovered it) then started on about "besides, the victorian sewage systems are far better than the toilet and the pyramids."

That is the crappiest crap I've ever heard! In earnest, that moron doesn't know his arse from his elbow. 'Invent' comes from Latin 'invenire' and means, big surprise, to 'invent' or 'find' something. 'discover' derives from 'dis-cooperire' which means to 'uncover', 'reveal' or 'expose' something. There is a huge difference as you correctly pointed out. aaarg, ignorance Mad
Cheer up and don't be too disappointed! Everyone can give a speech on political correctness but only a few people manage to talk coherently and witty about toilets! Flippant? Can't imagine that.

Oooh I didnt know about any of this, where the Jury English or American by chance? just I find that the every day joe public of so called "well educated" countries (and you can add Ireland in there even though its not well known for it) often are as thick as two planks when it really comes down to it.

I dont want to diss americans as a whole - but there are those few who believe that the America is the land of all creation and brilliance.... I once heard a guy yabber on about how they, the Americans, SAVED England in World War II...

Well it wasn't so much jury as three Rotary Club Toffs- one of whom (the one that was judging me) decided that he hated me and was a pompous arse!
Made poor little me cry! - in the car, not in front of him.
But yes- a highly traumatising experience and I am flattered that several of you remember it!
I had got to the third round of the competition and was up against only sixth formers- and me in year 9- and they were all rambling and rubbish/// not that I'm biased.

Yes!!! I love public speaking- it's the one thing I'm confident I'm good at!

I love the Jeeves pictures - I am currently listening Wodehouse stories on a cd - according to my husband a sure sign of old age! Bring on the knitting!