Comment by GrantMoyer
1 year ago
For some reason, I found myself unreasonably upset at the suggestion that I should avoid a word solely because people will assume it indicates malintent. But after taking a step back to reflect, I realize it's not a big deal to avoid one word. I'm perfectly capable of condescension without having to rely on any specific word.
I've come around to that conclusion on other verboten words, if other people don't like them it's not a big deal for me to stop using them. And I suppose it's less typing to push to main than it is to push to master.
Fine, kudos to you for being so pliable, but I hope you and parent realize that's essentially the road to nuspeak.
Our language matters more than just linguistically, it matters culturally.
So, when someone wants to delete a word or usage, well it requires a lot of thought about the implications.
Sometimes it's a good thing, a lot of times there is a charged , sometimes political, motivation behind the desire for change.
Yeah, but usually it isn't about the "deletion" of a word (however that would look like) it is about becoming aware about the way that word impacts the world around us — and then potentially wielding it with more care — or wielding it to hurt and stump people — if that is what we want.
There is always a gap between what we mean to say and how the actual words we use are received on the other side. Only if we are able to anticipate how our choice of words might be received within different contexts we have a chance to narrow that gap. And since language is an interpersonal, intercultural, intergenerational beast that is not an easy achievment.
The worst we can do is assume language as a fixed static thing that isn't allowed to evolve over time and has one definitive meaning for all people always.
That means understanding how words are received is always beneficial to people who want to communicate effectively — whether you avoid words because you know what thoughts/feelings theh produce in others is more a question of your character and your upbringing.
Agreed, and I've also come around to the inverse conclusion: if there are words people would like me to use (someone's preferred pronouns, the in-house terminology, the name someone introduced themselves with) then it's not a big deal for me to use them.
It's weird to frame this as some imposition and that you're doing a favor to everyone by being a thoughtful communicator. Language is all about thinking about how what you say is going to be reflected in the minds of others. If you aren't already doing that constantly you are a bad communicator. You can choose to say things that sting intentionally if you want, but doing so because you haven't thought about it is just poor form.
Please stop using contractions. As a non-native English raised English learner the use of the contractions is difficult to hear the distinction at times.
> that I should avoid a word solely because people will assume
Nice deployment of 'solely.' I can see you did not want to say 'just because.'
That’s the spirit. Throw a little creativity behind it and you can condescend under any constraints.
Would be nice if I could just flip a switch and stop using all language that I want to cut out.
I am currently working on getting rid of "I think" and ending statements with a "haha" (I hate this one). Sometimes I write a work message like: "I think we can just create a new token for it haha" and I want to slap myself. haha.
If I wrote that sentence as "We can create a new token for it" instant boost in respect from my peers and director level promotion in the works.
[flagged]