Darene  +  433414 Mon, 22 Oct 07 03:15 PM Hello, Please help me explain the meaning of this in red: A strong left orientation is quite uncomfortable with anything that does not have schedules, outlines and structure. Here, one wants to know, "Do I use pencil or pen?" Or "How many words are required to complete this essay." We say to left brained people, "Just the facts ma'am, just the facts!"   Isn't ma'am a title used for females only? if so, why did the author use it here? and what does he mean by that? Thank you. Darene Joined on Wed, May 16 2007 Saudi Arabia Junior Member 92 Essays

	Mister Micawber  +  433421 Mon, 22 Oct 07 03:20 PM "Just the facts ma'am, just the facts!" -- this is a well-known line of dialogue from an old TV show called Dragnet.  Detective Sgt Friday was always using this line to get factual answers from the witness to a crime.  Similarly, left-brained people are preoccupied with factual information processing. Mister Micawber Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004 Yokohama Veteran Member 30,805 'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.'

	Darene  +  433425 Mon, 22 Oct 07 03:24 PM This makes it more difficult to be translated. So, is the author here  trying to emphasize the fact that left brainers are fond of details? Darene

	Grammar Geek  +  433427 Mon, 22 Oct 07 03:26 PM Fond of facts, not abstract ideas. Grammar Geek Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006 Veteran Member 19,676 Barbara, who answers in American English. My housekeeping skills attest to the truth of the second law of thermodynamics: Left to themselves, things get more and more random!

	Darene  +  433433 Mon, 22 Oct 07 03:36 PM Please just tell me what  the author is trying to say so that I paraphrase it, I gave up traying to translate that line.. Darene

	Grammar Geek  +  433439 Mon, 22 Oct 07 03:42 PM Details are okay as long as they are factual, and not fanciful ideas, speculation, or interpretation. If you are trying to translate this, then omit the phrase entirely - it's a cultural reference to people familiar with Dragnet and although it's become a standard expression in the U.S., it has no meaning elsewhere, apparently. You can just say "We say we want only facts, not speculation or interpretation." Grammar Geek