"The the Impotence of Proofreading," by TAYLOR MALI

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  • Опубліковано 26 сер 2024
  • This poem was not so hard to memorize as many people suspect. It's a string of jokes that follows a storyline, and all I have to do is remember the story and be sure to land the jokes in order. I wrote it in the late 1990s while teaching at a private school in New York City called The Browning School; indeed, when the poem was published in my book, "What Learning Leaves," I dedicated it to "the students of The Drowning School in New York, New York, NY."
    Let me offer here my sincerest apologies to all the ASL interpreters over the years who have tried to interpret this poem for any hearing-impaired audience members. Sorry for turning the attention of the audience toward you in your moment of struggle. But thank you for adding to the performance and teaching us some ASL in the process! I will never forget the signs for IMPOTENCE, CLIT, and DOUCHE. Special mention must go here to Sarah Bement, the program coordinator for Deaf Studies at Northwestern Connecticut Community College, who remains the most successful interpreter of this poem ever! Yes, she's done it on at least three separate occasions (getting better each time!), but she COMMITS to every joke. She told me that sometimes she signs what I actually SAY, sometimes what I MEAN to say, and sometimes she needs to sign BOTH, back to back! The result is always the glorious and unmistakeable sound of deaf people laughing out loud (a split-second after the rest of the audience). Thank you and Godspeed wherever you are!
    Lastly, this poem has cost a handful of teachers their jobs, and I am sorry about that, too. No poem is perfect for everyone, but seventh grade is too young to be given the text of this poem in its entirety.
    Performed at the very first Page Meets Stage pairing at the Bowery Poetry Club on November 12, 2005, which featured me (Taylor Mali) and my mentor Billy Collins. I remember that this day started for me in Copenhagen, Denmark, at the end of a two-week long tour of international schools where I'd been teaching. After a frantic day of travel-thank goodness the time change worked to my advantage-the day finished sharing the stage with Billy Collins in front of a sold out crowd at the Bowery Poetry Club. As the evening progressed, you can see Billy begin to relax and enjoy himself more, chuckling in places during my poems. Special thanks to Chad Anderson for filming and editing the night.

КОМЕНТАРІ • 739

  • @doogless
    @doogless 15 років тому +42

    I can't even imagine how hard it was to say all that without slipping up and using the right words.

  • @stephenhsu3461
    @stephenhsu3461 10 років тому +122

    This is one of the most interesting poems I have ever heard before. It is amazing how you’re able to speak typos in a normal way. I understand everything you are saying even though you’re saying it with typos because of your tones and that is what makes it such an amazing poem. I can understand it even with the purposely made mistakes. It is like a dig on technology because technology can not fix language and tone, only the physical word. I also like the Freudian slips.

  • @PhelanVelvel
    @PhelanVelvel 9 років тому +47

    The way that it sounds just like a basic essay any teenager would write, but with the typos intact, is perfect.

  • @phoenixsplash135
    @phoenixsplash135 9 років тому +105

    'manly manly students' gets me every time

  • @dalepalmitier7114
    @dalepalmitier7114 7 років тому +69

    My Public Speaking teacher showed this to my class when we were going over how to write a speech outline. Very rarely have I ever laughed so hard while inside a classroom.

    • @MgMtNick
      @MgMtNick 6 років тому

      Dale Palmitier Dr Suess?

    • @Geminicricketi
      @Geminicricketi Рік тому +1

      @@MgMtNick four reel 😂😂😂😂

  • @NutjobwithaMachete
    @NutjobwithaMachete 9 років тому +106

    I send this to my students all every term.

    • @RandyLutcavich
      @RandyLutcavich 9 років тому +3

      Nutjob with a Machete Funny enough... Correction: You send this to all of your students every term. Not to your students all every term.

    • @NutjobwithaMachete
      @NutjobwithaMachete 9 років тому +13

      Randy Lutcavich
      :-) Thus proving the the impotence of proofreading! Especially if you're dyslexic like me.

    • @samalphonse619
      @samalphonse619 5 років тому +1

      Thank you! 😜

    • @Geminicricketi
      @Geminicricketi Рік тому +2

      may leacher sent it to me as whale. so necessarily. see what i did there lol

  • @dehartfamily3091
    @dehartfamily3091 7 років тому +17

    every scholar and student should watch this - it's literally a prerequisite for the impotence of ensuring you relay your ideas in a coherent manner (importance). Yeah

  • @patrickhallett6220
    @patrickhallett6220 5 років тому +17

    “Humidifying experience” gets me every time 😂

  • @SunbeamPink
    @SunbeamPink 3 роки тому +4

    I’ve watched this Hillary us video so manly times that I practicality have the the entirely poem mesmerized.

  • @collectorx91
    @collectorx91 11 років тому +9

    I love how much fun Billy Collins is having watching him. That's the best part for me.

  • @cypressholmes56
    @cypressholmes56 5 років тому +5

    The casual use of innuendos is so funny!

  • @alice0427
    @alice0427 14 років тому +2

    I am a high school English teacher, and this makes me CRY with laughter. My kids aren't so worried about getting into a good collegue. They are, however, worried about getting into a good "collage."

  • @vRED13vTTV
    @vRED13vTTV Рік тому +1

    i come back every so often and watch this again, and it never fails to make me laugh

  • @SophieSnyderDIYbaby13DIYbaby13
    @SophieSnyderDIYbaby13DIYbaby13 9 років тому +31

    Once of the vest poems I Eden herd

  • @PoeticallyTwizted
    @PoeticallyTwizted 6 років тому +3

    It's been years since I've come back to this video. And because of you Mr. Mali, I read every typo in this tone. Including my own! Haha

  • @SweetTKO284
    @SweetTKO284 13 років тому +2

    Fantastic! Billy Collins giggling along side of Mali completely made this for me!

  • @hayami7
    @hayami7 14 років тому +4

    This is AMAZING! I laughed so hard but I couldn't keep myself from admiring he's talent for speaking.
    It must have taken him hours of practice to get this perfect, as he just did!

  • @has985
    @has985 3 роки тому +1

    Very creative. I'll remember it forever.

  • @rosalindsongsmith3670
    @rosalindsongsmith3670 4 роки тому +16

    Two things. I can totally relate to this poem because I've completely fucked up words without realizing it until I turned in my assignment. One time, everyone in my English class was told to write a short story. Honestly, I thought I'd done really well. Then my teacher pulled me aside and basically asked me if I'd checked my work before turning it in. I lied and said yes. And her response was, "Then why did you say that the cops were shitting in every direction?" Obviously I meant to put shooting, but I was sort of tired at the time and just didn't catch it. And does anybody realize another thing about this poem? This guy basically created a new word. Assmates. I am totally going to use that from now on. Lol. But only if my classmates are being utter dumbasses.

  • @dianaschwab6108
    @dianaschwab6108 6 років тому +1

    This is a great pairing of two talented poets, Taylor Mali and Billy Collins.

    • @JSamuel
      @JSamuel 5 років тому

      Actually it's just Mali.

  • @vivdiva
    @vivdiva 13 років тому

    I love Taylor. A friend sent me here. I started feeling tingly at "totally, as if," and fell head over heels at "what teachers make." He turns me on. I hate school, my BA took 12 years and I am ready to sign up for his English class tomorrow. All of them. I'm going to figure out how to set each of these to play in my virtual house on a loop so in less than an hour one evening he's already made me smarter.

  • @PhoenixBorealis
    @PhoenixBorealis 3 роки тому +1

    Back after several years. I quoted you to my husband, and he was completely in the dark about it.

  • @jannab128
    @jannab128 11 років тому +1

    I show this video to my students every semester and laugh each and every time. You would not believe some of the things students have turned in over the years that were unintentionally funny because they didn't bother to proofread. So please take his pisces of advice. ;)

  • @Buttermommy
    @Buttermommy 3 роки тому +1

    Thank you Mr Barnes I didn't look this up because you said so

  • @chimiangelpro
    @chimiangelpro 14 років тому +1

    Oh dear God! That is so accurate, I should know. My mother often went through my papers alongside my father and when they were done it looked as if they had bled all over the paper. Good job Mr. Mali.

  • @jabadoodle
    @jabadoodle 10 років тому +10

    Damn! Even listing my brian wants to here it coercively rather than as is actuarially is; must be fear impassible to reform live.

  • @KStruckman
    @KStruckman 15 років тому +3

    i absolutely love Taylor Mali, he made me want to become a teacher. Now I'm applying to George Mason University to major in education and am working at Sylvan Learning Center. Thank you Taylor!
    also this video is absolutely hysterical! My english teacher showed this to my class last week and we were all dying of laughter : )

    • @jasminechibanda7889
      @jasminechibanda7889 Рік тому

      Many years later and hopefully you're teaching 😂

    • @katiestruckman8086
      @katiestruckman8086 Рік тому

      @@jasminechibanda7889 I am not - until the US decides to treat teachers fairly, I and many others will not re-enter a classroom. This includes adequate compensation, preventing abuse from administration, and a safe work environment where we don't fear being gunned down by military-grade weapons.

  • @Y3LLOWmedia
    @Y3LLOWmedia 11 років тому

    This is one of my absolute favorites.
    If you ever have the chance to see him live--GO! I got to see Taylor live at Portland Poetry Slam one night randomly. It was an amazing, hilarious, inspiring evening of poetry.

  • @chaz4957
    @chaz4957 8 років тому +4

    Good stuff. A word of warning. A friend showed this to a high school class in upstate NY and because he was probationary, was fired on the spot by a reactionary Superintendent. Another English teacher made
    issue with the screening.

    • @fatnessisrampant
      @fatnessisrampant 8 років тому +3

      It's so clever but in fairness I wouldn't show it to a class. Too many questionable words in it for kids.

    • @theco22wen
      @theco22wen 7 років тому +2

      fatnessisrampant my professor showed this to us in class. It's so funny!

  • @HeyMcJude
    @HeyMcJude 14 років тому

    Taylor Mali - you make me want to throw my twin set and pearls on to the stage! You rock!

  • @chiefbool
    @chiefbool 13 років тому

    i like how my drama teacher showed this to our 7th grade class as an introduction to monologs.... thx Mr.King

  • @bookwormgirl000
    @bookwormgirl000 9 років тому +5

    laughed so hard all the way through. this is amazing :D

  • @unbridged77
    @unbridged77 14 років тому +1

    "I remember one time during my junior mint". Haha oh man, that one really got me.

  • @mazznix18
    @mazznix18 10 років тому

    Best thing ever, watch it over and over again and always makes me laugh.

  • @TheYesteryearGirl
    @TheYesteryearGirl 11 років тому +1

    This cracks me up. It must have been so hard to memorize!

  • @RadarRecon
    @RadarRecon 14 років тому

    As a medical transcriptionist, I toughly enjoined this pretension about proof breading. Simple replacement off won ward with an udder can be delerious to a patience heath.

  • @DeanAndersonPost0568
    @DeanAndersonPost0568 13 років тому

    This video was one of the best lessons in my English 098 class at Parkland Community College.

  • @SonofTzeentch
    @SonofTzeentch 14 років тому

    Simply brilliant. Not just the obvious double entendres, but all other 'plays-on-spelling' as well.

  • @zhawkruns4ever316
    @zhawkruns4ever316 9 років тому +44

    This could also be called "damn you autocorrect"

    • @AdamSanford
      @AdamSanford 5 років тому +2

      More like "my dictation program doesn't hear what I say." This goes beyond autocorrect.

  • @sigridmac09
    @sigridmac09 12 років тому +3

    This is hilarious. I'm an editor and I'm going to share this with all my friends. What a riot. Particularly loved line about how he wanted to get into a good colleague. Haha!

  • @Dennispokemon1
    @Dennispokemon1 10 років тому +3

    Wow, this guy's a genius.

  • @TheSharpenedPencil
    @TheSharpenedPencil 13 років тому +1

    how does he do this without cracking up? i would be curled up in a ball, giggling on the floor before the end of the second line!

  • @WilkineBrutus
    @WilkineBrutus 14 років тому +2

    This was an amazing poem. Education is absolutely key in every aspect. I'm a Haitian-American teaching English in South Korea...I thank education for that. That's definitely a side note though...
    Lets praise Mr.Mali again for his work. Onelove!

  • @LiyemEanapay
    @LiyemEanapay 9 років тому +33

    English Torturer... Amen!

  • @k0911340
    @k0911340 15 років тому

    Truly genius poetry
    each time I listen I find something new!

  • @iprobablyforgotsomething
    @iprobablyforgotsomething 6 років тому +1

    I haven't irl-lol'd in a long time, especially so hard I couldn't breathe! *clap clap clap* Thank you for posting.

  • @somedancer125
    @somedancer125 11 років тому

    I loved this! My college professor showed the class this today. The performance has made me appreciate poetry more than did before today.

  • @treyviathan
    @treyviathan 15 років тому

    While people could have been kinder, I think what they are trying to have you see is that students not checking their work are not conveying what they are meaning to say. This therefore changes the meaning and context of what they write. This is pure genius. He delivers the message so clearly not only in the words he chooses, but his actions as well. It makes everyone take a step back and think. Not many people can express themselves so creatively. Sorry you were too offended to see this.

  • @shponglefan
    @shponglefan 15 років тому

    Genius! I bow down to thee good sir.

  • @Polterguist
    @Polterguist 13 років тому

    I just saw this in English 101 today. This is on the brink of genius.

  • @Indigo41000
    @Indigo41000 12 років тому

    My My mind = blown !! this is incredible! I see why this guy has a million views! I had to listen to this twice because it was just that awesome!

  • @lovetosing615
    @lovetosing615 11 років тому

    I LOVE this! I can't stop watching this. He came to my school and he's amazing- really interesting person too.

  • @Goddessa39
    @Goddessa39 16 років тому

    Lol! My college Creative Writing teacher showed us this little bit of fun and another of Mali's shorts. It was awesome. It also had a lot to show for our current 'prospects'.

  • @gryphontamer
    @gryphontamer 14 років тому

    This? I must watch before grading undergraduate papers. Even though they make me cry.

  • @BirdTricks
    @BirdTricks 14 років тому +6

    Love it!

  • @Maniac8275
    @Maniac8275 14 років тому +1

    This is absolutely brilliant. I love it!

  • @raphaellaw766
    @raphaellaw766 10 років тому

    Oh my gosh, this is amazing.
    You really can make innuendos outta anything...
    wow. *grin* definitely gonna be reading my stuff aloud from now on...

  • @drewsauveterre8867
    @drewsauveterre8867 10 років тому +16

    His is how it sounds when your rad UA-cam commence out loud.

  • @HeyItsAlyssa94
    @HeyItsAlyssa94 15 років тому

    taylor mali came to my school today! he is great!

  • @kaaak305
    @kaaak305 14 років тому

    our teacher made us listen to this in class today...that's one funny poem.

  • @superzack101
    @superzack101 13 років тому

    This is is absolutely brilliance.

  • @theallamericandogrunnergir922
    @theallamericandogrunnergir922 4 роки тому

    This was awesome even more needed today than ever!

  • @thyckkandae
    @thyckkandae 13 років тому

    I LOVE it! This poem was a perfect example of "The Importance of Proofreading"

  • @PudentaMagic
    @PudentaMagic 10 років тому +6

    For more hysterics ... watch this with the auto-captioning turned on.

  • @bakshter
    @bakshter 12 років тому

    Just met Taylor Mali at the poetry club!! He's a great guy and hilarious too

  • @Shivierie
    @Shivierie 13 років тому

    Billy Collins laughter makes me happy :)

  • @invisivblexworld
    @invisivblexworld 12 років тому

    bowery used to have page vs stage. billy must have been representing the page that night. what an epic pairing.

  • @jannab128
    @jannab128 12 років тому

    Comedy for English professors. Priceless!

  • @MrDubsGP
    @MrDubsGP 15 років тому

    This has so happened to me, it's fun to get together with other teachers and share some of the best word choices! I use some of them as examples in class.

  • @YumZag
    @YumZag 15 років тому +1

    idk how many times i watched this. IT'S SOO FUNNY!
    "It was quite possibly one of the most humidifying experiences of my life being laughed at like that pubicly" haha! too funny!

  • @harrypotterfantng
    @harrypotterfantng 12 років тому

    I love this poem! We watched it today in English, and I cried from laughter! So funny!

  • @vyshious
    @vyshious 15 років тому +1

    "Challenged menstrually" I DIED, this was sooo god.

  • @skml17
    @skml17 12 років тому

    This never seizures to amaze me.

  • @cristanaahulsee1513
    @cristanaahulsee1513 10 років тому

    This is just amazing. BRAVO!

  • @rusheena
    @rusheena 13 років тому

    I saw this in my English class today and had to find it, so funny! lmho!

  • @christiJK
    @christiJK 12 років тому

    hahaha this made my day. i was looking for examples of preformers of poetry for my presentation... i think i found what i was looking for.

  • @violante1031
    @violante1031 12 років тому

    saw him last night. I love you, Taylor Mali!!

  • @sweetlikedaim
    @sweetlikedaim 11 років тому

    I love that he got a fist bump in the end. that's awesome.

  • @GHZoner
    @GHZoner 12 років тому

    I am officely showing this to my studious next channel I get!

  • @mpeters1988
    @mpeters1988 15 років тому

    on top of this guy being hilarious, i realized at the end that sitting next to him was billy collins, my favorite poet!

  • @ro4eva
    @ro4eva 10 років тому +1

    I totally glove thus buy!

  • @Saula166
    @Saula166 16 років тому

    lol my teacher showed me this, funny man.. we watch it here at Texas Tech all the time! for lectures lol.

  • @araya52
    @araya52 11 років тому

    He's a fab poet!!! I seen him in person....he's a fantastical writer and very romanticall...lol

  • @TLHM4ever
    @TLHM4ever 12 років тому

    My sophomore English teacher sent me here. AWESOME.

  • @debblouin
    @debblouin 13 років тому

    This has to be the best ever!!!!

  • @marchemalheur
    @marchemalheur 13 років тому

    I wish I could like this twice.

  • @Mertrisse
    @Mertrisse 16 років тому

    Brilliant...loved it.

  • @amyj91
    @amyj91 12 років тому

    I love this I watch it over and over

  • @dropdeadbabey
    @dropdeadbabey 15 років тому

    AHAHA WE WATCHED THIS DURING ENGLISH CLASS, I WAS LAUGHING AND ACTUALLY CRYING AT THIS HILARIOUS VIDEO!!
    he's pretty much awesome

  • @Honeysuckle3213
    @Honeysuckle3213 15 років тому

    i love the the impotence of proofreading..
    it is so classic... its brilliant

  • @CollinBiedenkapp
    @CollinBiedenkapp 14 років тому

    I was almost in tears hearing this! That's hilarious!

  • @prinsesbibitje
    @prinsesbibitje 13 років тому

    I'll never get sick of this one.

  • @powned209
    @powned209 15 років тому

    I saw this guy at The Prospect Theater Project and i have to say he is a really really funny guy i got him to sign my book :) I can't wait till i buy his cd and put it on my ipuuud

  • @snowleezard
    @snowleezard 15 років тому

    LOL! seriously, I'm actually laughing out loud
    I'm terrible at proofreading and spelling which makes this even funnier

  • @iceprincess1257
    @iceprincess1257 14 років тому

    i want to know how he does this with a straight face. its hilarious! i love it!

  • @dosdandelions8879
    @dosdandelions8879 6 років тому

    Trooly egg salent my freind! Great fully I laff and njoy thiz.

  • @SakuraSan101
    @SakuraSan101 14 років тому

    My God, these CCs are going to break my brain. The captioners should proofread their stuff!

  • @IceColdGamer94
    @IceColdGamer94 11 років тому

    Saw this in English class today laughed like crezzy.

  • @shethingsd
    @shethingsd 16 років тому

    Very funny! I'm an English teacher and while I'm not offended by the poem, I am quite often offended by the absolute garbage I'm forced to read...Love this and I've seen nearly all of these. Oh, and ask my students, I apparently teach "Collage English"...

  • @AndrewBram1991
    @AndrewBram1991 13 років тому

    You teach me by teaching me to teach myself. This is and isn't a joke.