BS: Abuse of words

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 12:29 PM

That's an officer for you, Bill. :)

E

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Bill D
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 12:28 PM

Epona...here's hoping some of them know the difference between 'contingent' and 'contingency'

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Little Hawk
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 12:24 PM

The French troops were right to mutiny in WWI. It would have been more appropriate to execute the generals who kept sending thousands of men to die in futile attacks on entrenched postions, if anyone.

The Russian army also mutinied in 1917, and simply started walking home. That sparked a revolution which overthrew the Czarist system.

The German army and navy finally mutinied at the very end of the war in the fall of 1918.

With a little more awareness on the part of the individual soldier, ALL the citizen armies would have mutinied way back in 1914, and have ended the whole useless misery right then and there. They were dying for nothing.

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 12:19 PM

Bill D,
All National Guard troops still left in the states have been put on alert for activation.

E

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Little Hawk
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 12:16 PM

Oh, GOOD ones, Ake! Remember "Gott Mitt Uns" (the slogan of the Wehrmacht)? It means "God is with us". And they believed it, of course... Why wouldn't they, being typical normal human beings in the grip of an ambitious ruling $ySStem?

Here are some of a different kind:

"hood", when you mean neighbourhood
"fro", when you mean afro
"bro", when you mean brother
"'ite", when you mean "all right"
"know'm'sayin'" when you mean "Do you know what I'm saying?"
"Nam" when you mean "Vietnam"
"humungous" when you mean huge
"bodacious" when you mean beautiful
"hellacious" when you mean hellish
"kick ass" when you mean "win a major victory"

It makes me feel ill. It's like the total devolution of human consciousness to the lowest level of insentient brutality and idiocy. And it is constantly glamourized in American movies and TV shows, as if it was something cool or good! That's not a civilization to be proud of...it's a deranged, sick mind and body waiting to self-destruct.

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: artbrooks
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 12:15 PM

Peter K.: Petain, commander of the French army, threatened decimation during/after the great mutiny in Spring, 1917. He backed off, individual trials were held, 554 soldiers were condemned and 49 actually executed.

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Bill D
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 12:10 PM

on the news yesterday, a National Guard officer assured reporters that a large 'contingency' of troops was on the way!

I think that's what's worrying folks.

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: akenaton
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 12:03 PM

"freedom"
"democracy"
"civilisation"

I could go on ad-nauseum....Ake

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Little Hawk
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 12:03 PM

"shot on sight"

Well, it's not too easy to shoot someone who is not in sight is it? Except with long range artillery, I suppose...

sexist - way overused these days.

racist - ditto.

"I'm like...blah, blah, blah. So, she's like, blah, blah, blah. And I'm like...blah, blah bah. But she's like..."

HI*&%GHEI:GHIEJ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Wesley S
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 11:56 AM

In order to serve you better.....

For your convenience....

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 11:46 AM

"working vacation" NOT!

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: John P
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 11:33 AM

Anyone care to take a stab at the current meaning(s) of the word "virtual"?

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: JennyO
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 11:31 AM

"Your call is important to us!"      

NOT

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Pseudolus
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 11:28 AM

"...and the sign said anybody caught trespassin....would be shot on sight."

Not sure why I posted that...it just popped into my head...

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Amos
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 11:25 AM

You guys are gonna make me barf!! These are some of my most despised manipulative platitudes! LOL


A

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: GUEST,Guy Who Thinks
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 11:16 AM

For a low, low price of just...

Congratulations on your purchase....

Fair and balanced

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 11:15 AM

"costs only" would be the correct form in the context you cited, Jerry - it's a good example of a word often placed inccorectly rather than given the wrong meaning.

Mack, what army resorted to decimation in WW1?

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 10:52 AM

"Only."

And it "only" costs (insert totally ridiculous dollar amount."

Substitute "just" for variety.

"Free" is another one. When phone solicitors tell me something is "free," and I'm feeling particularly ornery and don't hang up, I keep asking "How much does it cost?" until eventually they get to the point in their sales pitch where they use the word "only," and then I say... "Then that's how much it costs?"

Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: GUEST,Tír Eoghain
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 10:49 AM

Bit like The Plantation of Ulster all over again....

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: GUEST,Tír Chonaill
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 10:41 AM

"Anybody failing one of these prerequisites may be shot at sight"

Time to review the regulations, maybe, Wilfried.

They've reviewed the Geneva Convention to accomodate the present state of affairs.

In China, villagers have formed their own 'armies' (albeit with pitchforks and scythes) to resist State Sponsored removal programmes. No uniform, no uniform leadership, and probably not aware as to the laws of warfare.

Would you agree these people should be shot on sight?

Giok?

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 10:39 AM

As a soldier, and in charge of many more, there's nothing philosophical about it. Wearing a uniform does not make you a soldier. Very simple and concise, Wilfried. Thanks for your input though. :)

E

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: mack/misophist
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 10:39 AM

IIRC, decimation was last used in WWI. For cowardice, not mutiny.

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 10:33 AM

Epona, don't become philosophical. Cling to the regulations. Wearing uniform is one of the four prerequisites for soldiers due to the Hague Land Warfare Order [translation could be wrong, I'm afraid]; also under   uniform leadership, carrying the weapons in the open, and respecting the laws of warfare. Anybody failing one of these prerequisites may be shot at sight.

Mrr, decimation is the old Roman punishment for mutinous units. Every tenth man was killed, mutineer or not.

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: GUEST,Guy Who Thinks
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 10:32 AM

Genocide

Freedom-fighters

Fascist

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Midchuck
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 10:27 AM

"Presently" - which actually means "real soon now" but is almost always used as though it meant simply "now."

Peter.

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: JennyO
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 10:19 AM

Surprised no-one has mentioned "anonymous volunteer fellow posters" and "impose their personal judgement" yet.

And "peace could well break out" has been ruined for me forever.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: rumanci
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 09:40 AM

"at this moment in time"

how about using just NOW instead ?

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 09:35 AM

MacKenzie, wearing a uniform doesn't make you a soldier either, though. There's much, much more to it than clothing...:)

E

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: John Hardly
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 09:34 AM

It's a brand new Tennessee waltz
You're literally waltzing on air...

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: GUEST,Mrr
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 09:32 AM

I thought decimate was to reduce TO 1/10th, not BY 1/10th.
How about the new use of literally to mean anything but literally?

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Amos
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 09:32 AM

Well, yes, actually. People do say "point in space" quite often, as in discussing LaGrangian orbits: "As far back as 1978, NASA's International Sun-Earth Explorer 3 was plopped into the L-point, becoming the first spacecraft to orbit a point in space rather than a heavenly body."

A

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: Rapparee
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 09:20 AM

"Penultimate" does not mean the "the very top."

"More clear" -- the word (like many others) is "clearer."

"Past history" -- well, yeah, most history is past. All of it, in fact.

"Point in time" (you don't say "point in space" do you?)

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 09:18 AM

People in everyday street clothes who describe themselves as "soldiers" fighting for whatever freedom it is they believe they're owed. Real soldiers wear uniforms!
G..

Subject: RE: BS: Abuse of words
From: artbrooks
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 09:17 AM

Decimate: the word means to reduce by 1/10, but it is almost always used to mean "totally destroyed".

Subject: BS: Abuse of words
From: Bunnahabhain
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 09:09 AM

Are there words or phrases you hear regularly that are abused enough to really annoy you?

I'll start the list off.

Disaster- The hurricane is a real disaster.

September the 11th was a terrorist attack, not a disaster, as it was called by a number of places.

There have been various train 'disasters' in the UK in the last few years. They have had lower casulties than an average day on the roads. They're accidents, not disasters.

Anyone got any others that come to mind?