There are a half a dozen words now that old people can't use because there are a half dozen factions that have three other definitions for them .

Some use them one way , others use them another way , others think that they are pejorative.

some can't define them at all .

its all so confusing,

I'll say what I damned well please, and deal with the consequences.

"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less." "The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make words mean so many different things." "The question is," said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be master—that's all."

Between trying to learn and understand the brand new stuff
that comes at me at the speed of a fastball
and remembering the old stuff,

The last thing I need is for the old stuff to be changing .

Maybe it's age related ,

The word racist has no meaning any more.

"Niggardly" seems to get folks fired up.

I don't change word meanings. I use words the way I learned them and expect people to understand them the same way. If they don't, it's THEIR problem, not mine. Am I inflexible? You bet, and I consider it a good thing. I am consistent.

flashguy

quote:

Originally posted by Plugugly:
"Niggardly" seems to get folks fired up.

Cool it

Are you looking for specific words to be named? If so, then how about the word "guys"?? Means NOTHING anymore.... used to mean a person with an appendage swinging between HIS legs, but not anymore. Sorry, Gals - you are NOT "guys".......

"Equality" no longer refers to opportunity. It refers to outcome.

“Optics”. I’ve been hearing this more and more listening to newspeak.

An example would be the startup of professional teams in the Covid 19 era. The reporter said something like, “In hindsight, and given the optics of the situation, we will move forward in a very cautious manor”.

It just sounds like mumble jumble office speak. But I’ve heard it more than once to be annoying.

Hummer. I saw a slogan at one of the big box clothing stores (younkers?) for Father’s Day some recent years ago - “give dad a hummer” (opportunity to win a HumVee). I think someone must have been fired for that.

Supercalifragilisticexpealidocious (even though the sound of it is something quite atrocious).

If you say it loud enough, you'll always sound precocious.

Supercalifragilisticexpealidocious.

Every thing is "epic"

Nobody misuses the word “literally” more than Sean Hannity.

The word "gay" is a great example. It's rare to see or hear it used to convey its original meaning.

quote:

Originally posted by cheesegrits:
The word "gay" is a great example. It's rare to see or hear it used to convey its original meaning.

Mrs tac's NAME is Gay.

The one that bugs me lately is "Dope". In my day Dope meant someone slow, or Drugs. Now, apparently, it means "great".

The term "hero" is quickly becoming diminished if not meaningless due to overuse.

quote:

Originally posted by Rover88:
"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less." "The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make words mean so many different things." "The question is," said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be master—that's all."

Language changes over time, whether it pleases us or not. Some changes bother me and some don't, but it would be foolish to pretend that they haven't happened.