The Daily Three Things

Simund, Carl and Alfred want to know.....

We wished to make clear that simply throwin words around, to further an aenda, does not leitimize the misuse of those words.

Apparently, some  people think it is alriht to use the word refuee to describe the misplaced citizens of New Orleans. It is not alriht.

Apparently, some  people think it is alriht to use the word terrorism  when applied to   non-terrorist acts. It is not alriht.

Apparently, some  people think it is alriht to use the word rape as a metaphor. It is not alriht.

What words, phrases, or expressions do you feel should  not be used out of context?

Comments

[Destiny Anne]

the n word. everyone seems to be using it now a days as if its no big deal and as if there's no pain behind it.

[Jackie]

Trauma and *traumatic experience*.

[christina]

Umm...I'm not too comfortable with "whack job" and "Idiot Brigade".

[kimbofo]

Umm, this is a difficult one, because I deal with words every day (it's how I make my living) and one thing I realised very early on is that the English language is constantly evolving and over time the meaning of words change. For instance, only a few decades ago the word 'gay' meant happy; now it has an entirely different meaning. The intensity/offensiveness of swear words also changes over time; the f-word was once the most blasphemous thing you could possibly say, now it gets used with carefree abandon and hardly anyone blinks an eye. And the meaning of words also changes between cultures: for instance here in England 'pants' means underwear, whereas in Australia (my homeland) it refers to your trousers. So using words out of context isn't as black & white as you might think; if they get used out of context over and over again, then the meaning begins to shift.

[Utenzi]

Many dictionaries don't consider "alright" a word and even the ones that do wouldn't condone several of the uses in your essay above. There are times when "all right" should be used, if one feels one must use colloquialisms.

[Shane]

I'm with Kimbofo, though I don't recognise the term 'out of context' I can get frustrated at the use of some words. In particular, I find that variations on my use of the words liberal and conservative frustrate me most. I know, very illiberal of me.

[Courtney]

Retarded.

As a special education teacher, and a woman with an uncle who is mentally retarded, that word should really be reserved for the educational diagnositic category for which it represents.

[Sigmund, Carl and Alfred]

Utenzi, we are delighted that your criticism of us can only address matters so mundane and parochial.

[panthergirl]

"Pro-life". Baloney.

[kenju]

"alright", adv. All right. The form alright, though often used, is not recognized by authorities as proper.
Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary. 1960.

That is what I found in my dictionary; is it possible that over the years since 1960 the form 'alright' has become acceptable? Since so many more words and phrases we used to belive were unacceptable have been added to the lexicon, why not this one?

If "like" and "impact" and others I cannot remember now can be changed, why not "alright"?

[Paula]

I'm with Panthergirl!

[Shannin]

1. Ground zero
2. Morals
3. The "N" word

[Isabella]

Speaking as someone who also makes her living with words, I completely agree with Kimbofo.

I think "refugee" is being used correctly; I have no problem with "rape" as a metaphor, though I might agree that it's overused. As for "terrorism," I'd need some examples...

I have a big problem with "the War on Terror" — it's a war on terrorISM. Journalists were pretty good about it in the early days, but I guess they found the pressure overwheleming.

Also, people ought not to use "Islamic" and "Islamist" interchangeably.

(For the record, most authoritative sources — since 1960 even — do not recognize "alright," although why it has failed to gain acceptance is a mystery to me.)

[tommy]

using combat and war related phrases when you aren't talking about combat and war. Those two endeavors involve intentionally trying to kill another human being, sometimes many of them at once.

It is not something to be trivialized.

[Connie]

Speaking as someone who also maks her living with words, let me just say, who cares? The fact that someone makes a living with words does not give their comment, or opinion about words, more weight than someone who does not.

Michele is one of my closest friends and I know the man behind SCA (who also makes a very good living with words). You would never hear either of them use their professional credentials to make their point seem more important than other points.

A brief mention on the word ALRIGHT:

The question for this post was "what words, phrases, or expressions do you feel should not be used out of context?" The question was NOT "what word do you think I have used incorrectly?" The word "alright" might not have dictionary acceptance, however, it was not used out of context.

[Sigmund, Carl and Alfred]

Connie- how do you feel about co-marriage?

[kenju]

Please allow me to say I didn't think it was used out of context. I was just responding to Utenzi's criticism of it.

[wavybrains]

1. Adoption--used to refer to things other than children or as an insult
2. Gay/homosexual used as an adjective or out-of-context
3. Organic used out of context or to describe things which are most assuredly NOT organic.

[Connie]

Kenju, the second part of my comment was also directed at Utenzi's criticism.

Siggy, does a co-marriage offer the same perks Native Girl is given?

[Sigmund, Carl and Alfred]

Connie, if you are referring to monthly trips to DSW, by all means. Other than that, NG sets those ground rules.

[sleepingmommy]

When people flippantly respond "It's just semantics" in a debate of what someone did or did not mean when they said something...

If this is vague I'm sorry. It's an ongoing argument in my household.

[Mamacita]

I'm in education. I also make my living with words. There are too many euphemisms and they all annoy me.

That's my answer. All euphemisms.

[Jennie]

God, Jesus...when we are talking about God or Jesus, fine. We were are angry or exasperated or feel like cursing - that's out of context - at the very teensy least, according to the commandments. :)

[kimbofo]

Oh boy, visiting Michele's site used to be so much fun and now suddenly it's got all dark and serious. Connie, the reason I pointed out that I use words for a living was not because I wanted to give my comment more weight (I acutally resent that insinuation) but because I wanted to demonstrate that I couldn't think of any examples - in my work life and my 'blog' life - where I thought words were being used out of context. I'm sorry if you thought I was trying to "big up" myself.