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Are these "weasel words?" - I think so...

by TimothyW
8 replies
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For some reason I always pick up on weasel words, no matter how slight they may be.
Maybe I shoulda been a lawyer.

Anyhow, I see on my local TV channel, a LOCAL (small time) theater group is putting on the play, "RENT."

The tv spot says (about the play, IN GENERAL), "Rolling Stone RAVES..." and "The New York times SAYS..."

It's left a little ambiguous (on purpose??) whether those quotes are about the play WHEN IT OPENED in NY in the mid 1990's, or whether those "reviews" are about THIS local production of the play.

I think it's misleading to use the present tense -- RAVES and SAYS.

Should say "RAVED," and "SAID."

No?

What's your opinion?
  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    In ads for movies/books and art - it's common to use present tense to describe what "people say".

    They paid for the ad - so why would you worry about it?
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    Kay is right. Past and present tense. The play is going on now, right? Why would they past tense the review? I have no idea why you would think of this as weaseling. Weaseling is more saying something without saying something, or for the sole purpose of bending opinion.

    Example: Toothbight helps fight cavities.
    What does tooth bright do? It doesn't fight cavities - it helps. Is the help effective?
    Now that is weaseling.
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    Sal
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  • Profile picture of the author TimothyW
    The reviews were written 20 years ago about the original production of the play - different cast, in NY city. The production being advertised now (on the TV spot) is a local production - same play, but different cast, theater, director, etc. - by a small-time group, 20 years later.

    The people who wrote those reviews 20 years ago, have never seen the current production - yet the current production is using those 20 years ago reviews, in the present tense, AS IF the reviewers wrote those reviews after having seen the CURRENT (small time) production of the play. THAT's what I mean by misleading.
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    • Profile picture of the author HeySal
      Originally Posted by TimothyW View Post

      The reviews were written 20 years ago about the original production of the play - different cast, in NY city. The production being advertised now (on the TV spot) is a local production - same play, but different cast, theater, director, etc. - by a small-time group, 20 years later.

      The people who wrote those reviews 20 years ago, have never seen the current production - yet the current production is using those 20 years ago reviews, in the present tense, AS IF the reviewers wrote those reviews after having seen the CURRENT (small time) production of the play. THAT's what I mean by misleading.
      Ah. Okay - now it makes sense.

      Yeah, I would think that puts the cast in a very pressured situation to do an outstanding job of the play. Hope they live up to the hype. At least we can see that people thought it had a good story to it.
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      Sal
      When the Roads and Paths end, learn to guide yourself through the wilderness
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      • Profile picture of the author Kay King
        about the play, IN GENERAL
        I still think it's fine when it's about the play, in general.

        The play - and the production - are different things. I doubt a small local theater production is going to match "Rent" on Broadway....but would anyone expect it to? The play, however, is the same script, same timeline, same story.

        I'm still missing something, I guess. I don't understand why you'd care or what you want to do with the information. Maybe it's my lack of imagination.
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  • Profile picture of the author LarryC
    It's definitely misleading if they're publishing reviews for a production from 20 years ago to promote a new local production.
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  • Profile picture of the author TimothyW
    I think it would be less misleading if they used "raved" and "said" in the past tense.
    That way the current local public is more likely to see that the reviews quoted, were from when the show was originally done, way back when.
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    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      Offer to pay for the ad - and maybe they'll let you write the copy?
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