tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post2446809603636742482..comments2024-03-29T09:09:24.834+00:00Comments on Poul Anderson Appreciation: British UnderstatementKetlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08588156788583883454noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post-47908404793817691572017-03-07T07:02:50.644+00:002017-03-07T07:02:50.644+00:00Kaor, DAVID!
If the occasions you told us about h...Kaor, DAVID!<br /><br />If the occasions you told us about hadn't been so serious, I would have laughed at what seemed comically excessive understatement by Mawson and his colleague. Needless to say, I'm sure Mawson made an immediate dash to rescue his friend once he realized the other man truly was in danger.<br /><br />SeanSean M. Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13973738112230622557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post-86080431373830531702017-03-06T22:43:11.074+00:002017-03-06T22:43:11.074+00:00Paul and Sean:
On a more appealing note (nobody ge...Paul and Sean:<br />On a more appealing note (nobody getting killed), an essay by Evan S. Connell discussed Antarctic explorer Sir Douglas Mawson, including Mawson's tendency to understatement about his dangerous calling. <br /><br />For instance: Mawson has fallen into a crevasse and is dangling at the end of a line attached to the sled he was pulling (he'd already had to kill and eat the dogs). He's surrounded by ice, of course, and there's an awful lot of NOTHING below him — no bottom to the crevasse in sight. If the sled, currently stuck in deep snow, works free, he'll find out the hard way HOW far down the crevasse reaches. What's more, during his fall quite a bit of loose snow managed to get inside his clothing, because he'd loosened it for ventilation while working up a sweat towing that sled. "Very chilly it was," Mawson reports.<br /><br />According to Connell, Mawson survived falling into enough crevasses that it becomes almost boring to report on all of them. "If he had dropped into another abyss and plummeted half a mile to the bottom you would expect, after six hours or so, to see him pop out of the ice, resentful of these unwarranted calamities."<br /><br />Yes. "Very chilly it was."<br /><br />Mawson also reported how one day on another expedition, a colleague twice asked him if he was busy. The SECOND time, the other fellow explained, "I am so sorry to disturb you, Mawson, but I am down a crevasse and I really don't think I can hold on much longer."David Birrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08973889429164886381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post-45127156078367093562017-03-06T19:36:37.833+00:002017-03-06T19:36:37.833+00:00Kaor, DAVID!
Ugh, outnmumbered SEVENTY THOUSAND t...Kaor, DAVID!<br /><br />Ugh, outnmumbered SEVENTY THOUSAND to 4000? However admirable the stiff upper lip attitude is, the British officer should have made sure the US general understood the actual situation. And the general should have pressed the British officer for exact figures!<br /><br />SeanSean M. Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13973738112230622557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post-26857040084311948282017-03-06T17:44:27.980+00:002017-03-06T17:44:27.980+00:00See also THE PROTECTOR'S War, p. 13: "You...See also THE PROTECTOR'S War, p. 13: "You chaps! Do hurry - we're in a spot of bother here!"paulshackley2017@gmail.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17704115766930975286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post-29044965295362042252017-03-06T16:35:29.467+00:002017-03-06T16:35:29.467+00:00Paul and Sean:
It can be taken too far.
A distre...Paul and Sean:<br />It can be taken too far. <br /><br />A distressing example occurred during the Korean War when an American high officer, told by the British 29th Infantry Brigade that things were "a bit sticky," didn't know that statement was "stiff upper lip" for "outnumbered 70,000 to 4,000, situation critical." He thus ordered the unit to remain in place and continue defending the Imjin river. The brigade's casualties were quite high.David Birrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08973889429164886381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3538502828554372917.post-35559568328914280912017-03-06T14:58:08.608+00:002017-03-06T14:58:08.608+00:00Kaor, Paul!
I agree, Sir Nigel's "That ...Kaor, Paul! <br /><br />I agree, Sir Nigel's "That was inspired, Hordle" is classical British understatement! An American would have used much more effusive language. E.g., "That was terrific, Hordle," Or, "That was awesome, Hordle." (Smiles)<br /><br />SeanSean M. Brookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13973738112230622557noreply@blogger.com