Anyone remember the George Carlin bit about shell shock vs post tramatic stress syndrome? Well I was thinking about it and other various word evolutions(I said the "E" word so it fits R&S) Do you think that we keep changing the words we have for meanings that never change in an effort to make OURSELVES feel better? Ya know, as opposed to "Not hurting anyones feeling" ?
Like Shell Shock, then Battle Fatigue, then Post Tramatic Stress Sydrome... the guy is still all f****** up and in distress no matter what we call it... do our PC words merely seek to gloss over the unpleasentness WE have thinking of it? Cause I am sure he doesnt care... Of course there are many terms we do this with... this was a single example... now I am rambling... or am I "Speaking on beyond the needed point?"
2007-11-10 07:53:52 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I am not so sure
I think the PTSS has been used because the other terms dont quite cover everything
so maybe they use it to make it easier to diagnose many symptoms that lead to the same thing
however people do tend to change words over the years to be a little more PC without a doubt
2007-11-10 08:07:07 · answer #1 · answered by ☮ Pangel ☮ 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
When Garbage men started being called Sanitation Engineers. And everyone started "feeling" - instead of actually talking and fixing.
But at least humanity took half a step growth to maturity.
The pendulum is probably starting to move the opposite way shedding light on titles and words that don't fix or actually improve the situation.
Real change is messier.
2007-11-10 16:18:22 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
As salaamu 'alaikym, my friend.
Insha'Allah, the "political new speak" and the redefining words taking them from common speech to slang and then making them common speech once again has greatly contributed to the "dumbing" of America as one author put it some years past.
It has also contributed, in no small way,to the general inability of most English speakers in this nation to be able to both communicate their ideas and understandings as well as making it difficult for others to comprehend what one is trying to present.
As poorly as word usage is fairing, sadly, grammar seems to be fairing even worse.
Chaucer, Shakespeare and Dickens must surly be a spin in their respective graves.
Ma'a salaam.
2007-11-10 16:11:27 · answer #3 · answered by Big Bill 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Even basic words have been given different meanings through the years!
Giving ailments different titles isn't necessarily because we find it easier to cope with, or them to cope with the 'label', but merely a fact that words do constantly change?
Just a thought?!
2007-11-10 16:11:21 · answer #4 · answered by Watsit 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Terms may evolve, yes, but it is because what they define become better understood, so a clearer description is warranted, and more valid. If it makes a person more comfortable to use some terms rather than others, there is no harm in that, either.
2007-11-10 16:15:38 · answer #5 · answered by Jack B, goodbye, Yahoo! 6 · 6⤊ 0⤋