Criticisms of ‘Based Brief’

Discussion started by Dennis Hackethal

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One of the people running ‘Based Brief’ has requested criticism, specifically of their latest newsletter titled ‘Honduras rugpulls Próspera and other ZEDEs’. These criticisms aren’t meant to be exhaustive.


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Honduran Supreme Court declares ZEDEs unconstitutional, putting Próspera and other ZEDEs in jeopardy.

Not everyone knows what a “ZEDE” is. Is it an acronym? What does it stand for?

#698 · · Dennis HackethalOP, 6 months ago · Criticism

I now see that the newsletter links to an explanation further down:

ZEDEs are SEZs in Honduras.

But that’s too late. May have already lost readers at that point.

#700 · · Dennis HackethalOP, 6 months ago

How could I explain a term in the headline?

‘Honduran Supreme Court declares zones for employment and economic development (ZEDEs) unconstitutional’

#727 · · Dennis HackethalOP, 6 months ago
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Not a lawyer but reproducing the entire letter from Próspera ZEDE is presumably a violation of their copyright.

#712 · · Dennis HackethalOP revised 6 months ago · 2nd of 2 versions · Criticism

I didn't know that. I figured linking to the tweet that posted it would be fine.

#717 · · Dirk Meulenbelt, 6 months ago · Criticized1 criticim(s)

Providing the source doesn’t fix the (potential) copyright violation, if that’s what you’re suggesting.

#728 · · Dennis HackethalOP, 6 months ago · Criticism of #717
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Related to #700:

ZEDEs are SEZs in Honduras.

What are SEZs?

#701 · · Dennis HackethalOP, 6 months ago · Criticism

I suppose that too warrants an explanation.

#718 · · Dirk Meulenbelt, 6 months ago
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made […] legally possible

Just say ‘legalized’

#703 · · Dennis HackethalOP revised 6 months ago · 2nd of 2 versions · Criticism

Gotcha

#719 · · Dirk Meulenbelt, 6 months ago
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achieved via allowing

‘by allowing’

#705 · · Dennis HackethalOP, 6 months ago · Criticism

Indeed

#720 · · Dirk Meulenbelt, 6 months ago
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lighter taxes and regulations

‘lower taxes and lighter regulations’ (I don’t think taxes can be ‘light’)

#706 · · Dennis HackethalOP, 6 months ago · Criticism

I suppose not

#721 · · Dirk Meulenbelt, 6 months ago
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Prospects for Próspera and other ZEDEs look dire and in a recent post […]

The alliteration threw me off a bit here. And if they’re dire they’re not really prospects. ‘Outlook’ might work better here.

#707 · · Dennis HackethalOP, 6 months ago · Criticism

Agreed

#722 · · Dirk Meulenbelt, 6 months ago
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The Honduran Supreme Court still needs to publish an explanatory addendum on the passed law to explain how (existing) ZEDEs will be dealt with after this ruling.

Passive voice hides accountability. Who will deal with ZEDEs? Use active voice accordingly.

#708 · · Dennis HackethalOP, 6 months ago · Criticism

Agreed

#723 · · Dirk Meulenbelt, 6 months ago
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Zu- series of popup projects

That hyphen looks out of place.

#709 · · Dennis HackethalOP, 6 months ago · Criticism

There are a bunch of things that start with Zu, such as ZuBerlin, ZuThailand, etc. I suppose that too could've been explained clearer

#724 · · Dirk Meulenbelt, 6 months ago

I see. It’s the hyphen being followed by a space that threw me off. Did you get that from Dutch? I know German has it, too, but I don’t think English does. ‘Zu series’ might work.

#729 · · Dennis HackethalOP, 6 months ago
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In the coming period, expect us to pick up on many of the talks’ subject matter.

False possessive

#710 · · Dennis HackethalOP, 6 months ago · Criticism

Interesting. I recall this felt 'off'. I keep learning grammar details after 20 years of knowing English.

#726 · · Dirk Meulenbelt, 6 months ago
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We will update you on news, events, and do longer form write-ups […]

‘longer-form’

[…] on the projects discussed in the talks, […]

You mentioned the talks in the previous sentence. Remove “discussed in the talks” and instead say ‘discussed projects’ or ‘projects that were discussed’.

[…] as we now have many more news sources we didn’t yet know about.

Don’t explain yourself to your readers. Remove this part.

#714 · · Dennis HackethalOP revised 6 months ago · 2nd of 2 versions · Criticism

agreed

#725 · · Dirk Meulenbelt, 6 months ago
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