On "Gone Missing"

I just listened to the broadcast for the first time.

WOW, I TALK FAST.

Perhaps it was because I was so nervous.

I wanted to listen to it because I’ve been reading the comments about my opinion on “gone missing,” and I’ve realized that I inadvertently said something that I did not mean.

When the first caller, Vijay, called in, he was talking about how he didn’t like when the expression “gone missing” was used in the news.

At one point, he said, “It shouldn’t be ‘gone missing,’ it should be ‘is missing.'”

When he said that, I thought he meant that in headlines, it should say “is missing” and that the headline should have read, “Seventeen-year-old girl is missing.”

I thought that he meant that headlines that use only the verb’s past participle are incorrect.

“‘Seventeen-year-old girl gone missing,'” I said. “Wouldn’t it be correct to say, ‘seventeen-year-old girl eaten by a bear’? This is in a headline. Um….using just a past participle, like that, that seems to be correct, to me.”

This is, genuinely, what I meant all along. I wasn’t even talking about the expression. I hope this explanation shows how I didn’t mean to say “gone missing” was okay; I meant to show that using the past participle only in headlines was okay, and is standard.

Now, I can truly answer the question: what do I think about “gone missing”? I actually haven’t ever thought about that.

If we’re talking about headlines, then just missing should work: Camp Counselor Missing Since Thursday.

You know what? It sounds a bit awkward, but I’m not entirely sure that it is outright wrong. I need to consult a few more sources.

However, based on personal opinion alone, I know that in journalism, you’re not supposed to use any words that place blame. For example, He is an admitted homosexual is incorrect because the word “admitted” implies blame. “Gone missing” sounds like the person became missing of his or her own accord, and that it is therefore his or her fault.

Therefore, I think that I would lean closer to saying no to “gone missing.”

And again, sorry about the fast talking, and the Valley Girl thing. I was very nervous. And I always forget that I can’t stand the sound of my own voice!

Also, to clear one other thing up: I do have a job, a real job, a job that requires a college degree, a job that requires 40 hours of work each week. I’ve worked there for almost a year and you can read all about it in Kate’s Adventures under the category “Working Girl.” (I choose not to identify my employer by name in my blogs.)

I said what I said on the broadcast because I know that there are so many better opportunities out there.

On "Gone Missing"

I just listened to the broadcast for the first time.

WOW, I TALK FAST.

Perhaps it was because I was so nervous.

I wanted to listen to it because I’ve been reading the comments about my opinion on “gone missing,” and I’ve realized that I inadvertently said something that I did not mean.

When the first caller, Vijay, called in, he was talking about how he didn’t like when the expression “gone missing” was used in the news.

At one point, he said, “It shouldn’t be ‘gone missing,’ it should be ‘is missing.'”

When he said that, I thought he meant that in headlines, it should say “is missing” and that the headline should have read, “Seventeen-year-old girl is missing.”

I thought that he meant that headlines that use only the verb’s past participle are incorrect.

“‘Seventeen-year-old girl gone missing,'” I said. “Wouldn’t it be correct to say, ‘seventeen-year-old girl eaten by a bear’? This is in a headline. Um….using just a past participle, like that, that seems to be correct, to me.”

This is, genuinely, what I meant all along. I wasn’t even talking about the expression. I hope this explanation shows how I didn’t mean to say “gone missing” was okay; I meant to show that using the past participle only in headlines was okay, and is standard.

Now, I can truly answer the question: what do I think about “gone missing”? I actually haven’t ever thought about that.

If we’re talking about headlines, then just missing should work: Camp Counselor Missing Since Thursday.

You know what? It sounds a bit awkward, but I’m not entirely sure that it is outright wrong. I need to consult a few more sources.

However, based on personal opinion alone, I know that in journalism, you’re not supposed to use any words that place blame. For example, He is an admitted homosexual is incorrect because the word “admitted” implies blame. “Gone missing” sounds like the person became missing of his or her own accord, and that it is therefore his or her fault.

Therefore, I think that I would lean closer to saying no to “gone missing.”

And again, sorry about the fast talking, and the Valley Girl thing. I was very nervous. And I always forget that I can’t stand the sound of my own voice!

Also, to clear one other thing up: I do have a job, a real job, a job that requires a college degree, a job that requires 40 hours of work each week. I’ve worked there for almost a year and you can read all about it in Kate’s Adventures under the category “Working Girl.” (I choose not to identify my employer by name in my blogs.)

I said what I said on the broadcast because I know that there are so many better opportunities out there.

So, like, I totally speak like a Valley Girl, you know?

Wow.

First of all, thank you for taking the time to read, comment and/or email! I appreciate it very much.

Secondly….

I had no idea that I apparently say “like” and “you know” so often!

I don’t talk like that, usually….at least, I don’t THINK I do….I’m going to have to speak to one of my more honest friends about that and get his or her opinion.

I’m hoping it was only because I was so nervous, being in the room with the headphones and the microphone and everything being live! That was truly nerve-wracking! I was trembling the whole time.

I have much more to say about the interview, but I’ll post later. I found a few errors in the Theatre District on my way home, and I’ll be posting the pictures in a bit.

Again, thank you for the emails and comments — and thank you for pointing out how annoying I really sound live! :-)

So, like, I totally speak like a Valley Girl, you know?

Wow.

First of all, thank you for taking the time to read, comment and/or email! I appreciate it very much.

Secondly….

I had no idea that I apparently say “like” and “you know” so often!

I don’t talk like that, usually….at least, I don’t THINK I do….I’m going to have to speak to one of my more honest friends about that and get his or her opinion.

I’m hoping it was only because I was so nervous, being in the room with the headphones and the microphone and everything being live! That was truly nerve-wracking! I was trembling the whole time.

I have much more to say about the interview, but I’ll post later. I found a few errors in the Theatre District on my way home, and I’ll be posting the pictures in a bit.

Again, thank you for the emails and comments — and thank you for pointing out how annoying I really sound live! :-)

NPR in Two Hours!!

I’m about to head out for my segment on NPR. It’s due to be on from 3:40-3:52 PM today on Talk of the Nation.

Every geographical area has a different schedule, and many communities will not be broadcasting Talk of the Nation live — including Boston! Can you believe it?

Other networks will likely be rebroadcasting the interview, but it will be at different times.

At any rate, it will definitely appear on npr.org.

Hope you listen!

NPR in Two Hours!!

I’m about to head out for my segment on NPR. It’s due to be on from 3:40-3:52 PM today on Talk of the Nation.

Every geographical area has a different schedule, and many communities will not be broadcasting Talk of the Nation live — including Boston! Can you believe it?

Other networks will likely be rebroadcasting the interview, but it will be at different times.

At any rate, it will definitely appear on npr.org.

Hope you listen!

Headed for NPR!

When I was sitting on the beach at White Lake today, I received an urgent phone call from my mother. She had just received a call from NPR. They were trying to track me down, and they found her! (We’re still not quite sure how.)

NPR wanted me to be a guest on “Talk of the Nation” this very afternoon.

I will never be able to adequately express the shock I felt at that moment.

I called the station to speak with the editor who had called, and she told me that she loved the piece in the Globe. She then asked me if I would rather go on the show next Monday, since it would fit both our schedules better. I agreed in an instant.

I cannot believe this!

More details to come.

For now, here are the pictures of the story in the City Weekly section of the Boston Sunday Globe:

80% of the page! Incredible!

You can see more of my adhesive commas in action in the top right corner. (They kind of look like ads, but they’re actually pictures that were taken on Newbury Street.)