Society/Culture The misuse of terms in bad faith, why do we do this?

[Seeds]

I'll start with the obvious, woke, the term has been twisted into a definition of irrational political correctness when that's universes away from the actual meaning.

My google search just now comes up with this, doesn't sound like a pejorative does it? Yet is used as a pejorative ad nauseum
View attachment 2138983

If you're using this term as a pejorative, you're discrediting yourself.

'Gay'

This google search has the original definition, yet accepts the term as a definition of homosexual, the term has been twisted into meaning homosexual, when the original meaning is basically happy, when and why was this term hijacked to define homosexuals and worse used as a pejorative?

View attachment 2138986

It's become so much so that it seems using it to define homosexuals or as a slur does not discredit your position, why not? The original meaning is universes away from 'homosexual'

'Patriarch'

This one really grinds my gears, used to define an ahole, when a 'Father' is originally defined as the carer and guider. Since when does this term immediately define a person who abuses power and oppresses? Why? Why are 'fathers' painted in such a bad light? Patriarch should be used to define a good person, not an abusive pos.

View attachment 2138993

'Patriotism' or 'patriot'

View attachment 2138994

Since when and who decided this is a bad thing? Immediately the naive offence seekers will use this term as a pejorative trying to imply 'anti globalist!'. or 'isolationist!' when all it is, is pride in ones nation of ones birth. Since when has this become taboo? Why?

So cheering on the Tillies in a soccer match against another country is a no no now, I say no it isn't, GAGF. I will not accept that patriotism is a bad thing

I really detest these misuses of terms as pejoratives, it's infantile and petulant. I'll let Barack sum it up for me

There is a negative emotional sentiment we feel towards certain words because of what they orginally meant.

People want to take that emotional sentiment and apply it to different situations depending on ones agenda. I.e people have figured out that they can convince people of their views on an issue by taking advantage of our associative bias with words.

Violence is one such word that is being misused in this way. It triggers anger and sadness and even disgust because we obviously dont want people to be physically hurt. People have recognised this emotional trigger and now try to apply the word violence to other situations that have nothing to do with people being physical hurt.

Poverty is another such word. Poverty in western countries was almost completely irradicated as orginally defined. Bureaucrats recognised the emotional power of the word poverty and didnt want to lose it so they switched the definition of poverty in the west to be an inequality term.

There are numerous other words that are being misused in this way. Socialism and racism are two obvious others.

The problem with this approach is not only is it deliberatively manipulative. But it devalues the original meaning.

 

[Gethelred]

There is a negative emotional sentiment we feel towards certain words because of what they orginally meant.

People want to take that emotional sentiment and apply it to different situations depending on ones agenda. I.e people have figured out that they can convince people of their views on an issue by taking advantage of our associative bias with words.

Violence is one such word that is being misused in this way. It triggers anger and sadness and even disgust because we obviously dont want people to be physically hurt. People have recognised this emotional trigger and now try to apply the word violence to other situations that have nothing to do with people being physical hurt.

Poverty is another such word. Poverty in western countries was almost completely irradicated as orginally defined. Bureaucrats recognised the emotional power of the word poverty and didnt want to lose it so they switched the definition of poverty in the west to be an inequality term.

There are numerous other words that are being misused in this way. Socialism and racism are two obvious others.

The problem with this approach is not only is it deliberatively manipulative. But it devalues the original meaning.

Typing on your phone again?

On one hand, this is an interesting post even if you only barely satisfy the point you want to make. On the other, it completely undermines an argument about language for you to use the incorrect prefix on eradicated and consistently forget a syllable in originally.

 

[Achy Blakey Heart]

Fascist
Misogyny - Although after Gillards use of this word in parliament its definition was softened significantly in the Macquarie dictionary.

 

[Gethelred]

Fascist
Misogyny - Although after Gillards use of this word in parliament its definition was softened significantly in the Macquarie dictionary.

I have a question.

When you flag the use of 'fascist', are you flagging its use as a synonym for didactic, it's use on left wing people/perspectives, or it's use on someone like Orban or Trump?

 

[Achy Blakey Heart]

I have a question.

When you flag the use of 'fascist', are you flagging its use as a synonym for didactic, it's use on left wing people/perspectives, or it's use on someone like Orban or Trump?

I think what I've noticed is we overutilize weaponized terms such as this and others, as some sort of insulative retort to someone who sees the world differently to us. The issue is that it's used in many situations where the tru8e meaning of the word is not appropriate, but in the feigns of anger and outrage, reach for any shoe that seemingly even slightly fits, in order to shut the other person down This supposes a number of nasty things about that individual, that are likely completely false.

And the poisonous, divided, radicalizing online environment goes on at the expense of meaning, growth, and spreading love.

 

[Roobs321]

to the earlier convo, before commencing every Friday weekly assembly at primary school as we’re getting seated by class one of our teachers used to warm up the crowd by leading a school singalong of these folk ballads:

The Whale - Fielding and Dyer
The Unicorn - Irish Rovers
Botany Bay - John Williamson

and maybe others I’ve forgotten

I think that was a tradition at the school for decades. It was as second nature as Nutbush

 

[Gethelred]

I think what I've noticed is we overutilize weaponized terms such as this and others, as some sort of insulative retort to someone who sees the world differently to us. The issue is that it's used in many situations where the tru8e meaning of the word is not appropriate, but in the feigns of anger and outrage, reach for any shoe that seemingly even slightly fits, in order to shut the other person down This supposes a number of nasty things about that individual, that are likely completely false.

And the poisonous, divided, radicalizing online environment goes on at the expense of meaning, growth, and spreading love.

Hang on a minute.

By using this word as an example in this thread, you are saying that the word fascism is being misused. How - and when - is it being misused?

This is all very well and good - making a plea for harmony - but if someone refers to someone as a dickhead when they've behaved like a dickhead, they're not being disharmonious so much as they're being accurate.

 

[CM86]

I'm a centrist.​

I'm not racist.​

I'm not a Trump supporter.​

I support free speech.​

Keep politics out of ...​

 

[the_interloper]

I'm a centrist.​

I'm not racist.​

I'm not a Trump supporter.​

I support free speech.​

Keep politics out of ...​

You would dominate this thread.

 

[CM86]

You would dominate this thread.

Thanks, lil bro.

 

[the_interloper]

Thanks, lil bro.

No worries, champ!