NationStates Jolt Archive

Just curious about what people think about the way language is used in the U.S.A.

I'm talking about the likes of "war on terror", "war on drugs", "war on cancer", "war on crime, and "war on poverty". The fact that Bush uses phrases like "smoke 'em outta their hole" and "terrorist killers" (that's pretty self-defeating there Georgey).

Terms like "senior citizen", and "little people", and "handi-capable"/"differently abled". Euphimistic language.

Hate to be plain, but I just think it's a pile of crap.

I'm interested in knowing what Americans (and anyone who has a view on it) think about the kind of language that's used in their country.

--Rav

Hey - I live in Canada, but its pretty much the same thing here, and I think its crap too.

I like to make up euphimisms for people that do not need them. For example, there is "vertically challenged" (short) or "alternatively muscled" (wimp).

not my kind of guy---wanker

I especially like "African American" as, apparently, the only choice for people who have never been in Africa (as have the 5 generations before them) and who are not Americans. :confused: :D

In Dutch, the political correctness is much the same.
Fortunately, the "war on ..." doesn't translate well into Dutch, so that's only used by the most Americanized brainwashees.

And indeed: political correctness, and constantly finding new euphemisms because someone saw something negative in some word, is irritating!

I'm black. Not African-American, just black. The phrase African American has never been used by any self-respecting black person and most of us find it hilarious and stupid that white people (not caucasians, just white) feel the need to use it.

For example, there is "vertically challenged" (short) or "alternatively muscled" (wimp).

And what about the "well cushioned", the "people with multifocused vision" and the "intellectually unstressed"? :D

I'm black. Not African-American, just black. The phrase African American has never been used by any self-respecting black person and most of us find it hilarious and stupid that white people (not caucasians, just white) feel the need to use it.

I never use that term. It's so dumb.

In other news, *yay I'm getting responses*

:D

This is a good form of newspeak;

"war on terror", "war on drugs", "war on cancer", "war on crime, and "war on poverty".

See how war is made to counter things most people in general consider bad? The effect is that in the long run "war" on itself is seen as a good thing, it becomes something that benefits, cures, hence assuring (if people don't think too much about the nature of the language they use) that war is acceptable...

Hehe. It exists everywhere. Luckily not as bad in Finland as it is in more corrupt countries.

Damn fun to make jokes out of though but in serious politics... Hell no.

And what about the "well cushioned", the "people with multifocused vision" and the "intellectually unstressed"? :D
Lemme guess, fat, four-eyes, smartass?

I currently live in Newcastle, but i spent 1999-2003 in the States and the language is by far much more liberally and vulgarly spoken. Things like there radio and television programmes, their advertisments, even normal conversation between employees at a coffee shop has its shares of shits and fucks. It's not that I take offence to the language used, just how it's used in public, brandishinng it like it's nothing. But, if I were to go back someday, I'd probably use my share of foul language just to fit in.

fighting for peace is like fucking for virginity

fighting for peace is like fucking for virginity


No, thats not correct.

Sometimes you really do have to kill all the the bad people and destroy their war machine to get peace.


On another note: I call black people black and white people white, I don't use hyphen-american words.

I can't understand why politicians and talking heads refer to U.S. soliders as warriors. What an insult. They're not warriors, they're soliders. There is a difference. Although there have been a few exceptions in history, in general soldiers make mince meat out of warriors.

Sometimes you really do have to kill all the the bad people and destroy their war machine to get peace.

Sometimes you have to kill the evil granny that's behind it all.

Sometimes you have to kill the evil granny that's behind it all.

Lmao :D

No, thats not correct.

Sometimes you really do have to kill all the the bad people and destroy their war machine to get peace.

"All the bad people?"

The soldiers on the other side you mean? Their generals or their leaders? The people who were dragged into a war on the other side? Both sides in any war commit atrocities, there is no clearly defined group of bad people, how much the news would have you believe...

Just curious about what people think about the way language is used in the U.S.A.

I'm talking about the likes of "war on terror", "war on drugs", "war on cancer", "war on crime, and "war on poverty". The fact that Bush uses phrases like "smoke 'em outta their hole" and "terrorist killers" (that's pretty self-defeating there Georgey).

The use of "war on..." is kind of handy at this point, because it lets you know who is full of bullshit and who isn't. The War on Drugs is as distructive and embarassing a failure as the War on Terror or the War on Crime.


Terms like "senior citizen", and "little people", and "handi-capable"/"differently abled". Euphimistic language.

Hate to be plain, but I just think it's a pile of crap.

When it comes to minority groups, I believe in using whatever term they prefer. I see that as nothing but common courtesy. Little people prefer not to be called "dwarfs" or "midgets," so I don't use those terms...what's the big problem?

If you prefer to be called "Steve," I'm going to call you "Steve." I'm not going to start bitching about how I should be allowed to call you "Brad" and you should be forced to deal with it.

If you prefer to be called "Steve," I'm going to call you "Steve." I'm not going to start bitching about how I should be allowed to call you "Brad" and you should be forced to deal with it.

You could've called him Dennis...

"African-American" is one of my pet peeves. The typical American black has no connection to Africa, but I bet the PC crowd would scream if a white-skinned African imigrant called himself "African-American".

Well plainly a white guy from Africa who moved to America would be a "European-African-American".

We loves the hyphen!

:fluffle:







Gah I think I just threw up in my own mouth.

"African-American" is one of my pet peeves. The typical American black has no connection to Africa, but I bet the PC crowd would scream if a white-skinned African imigrant called himself "African-American".
I have to admit, that one annoys the hell out of me. Mostly because I have a friend who lived most of her life in Africa, has now become a US citizen, but is not allowed to identify as "African-American" because she has white skin. The vast majority of "African-Americans" have never so much as visited Africa, for crying out loud!

Happily, I've yet to encounter a black American who objected to being refered to as "black." If I ever did encounter one, I would still respect their wish to be called "African-American," even if it annoys me.

Just curious about what people think about the way language is used in the U.S.A.

I'm interested in knowing what Americans (and anyone who has a view on it) think about the kind of language that's used in their country.
I use to think those euphemisms were total bullshit too, then I turned about 55-60 and changed my mind a bit. :p

Just curious about what people think about the way language is used in the U.S.A.

I'm talking about the likes of "war on terror", "war on drugs", "war on cancer", "war on crime, and "war on poverty". The fact that Bush uses phrases like "smoke 'em outta their hole" and "terrorist killers" (that's pretty self-defeating there Georgey).

Terms like "senior citizen", and "little people", and "handi-capable"/"differently abled". Euphimistic language.

Hate to be plain, but I just think it's a pile of crap.

I'm interested in knowing what Americans (and anyone who has a view on it) think about the kind of language that's used in their country.

--Rav

You are talking about different kinds of things here.

The former being the corporate and political desire to reap the seeds of fear.
Your nightly news has fecking exciting theme song, with flashy graphics---think about how many times you have had to wait till 11 to find out what could be an immediate danger to you and your familiy?

As for PC terminology, bah. I think old people should be called Elders---since young twits think that somehow Old means weak and feeble, Senior Citizen is just an insult.

As for most of the other PC meandering ....i take it with a grain of salt.
It is indeed SHell Shock and not Post-Traumatic Stress Sydrome, it is partly fucking cloudy --NOT INtermitten Sunshine......
And the phrase is "Stick it up your Ass" NOT "Have a nice Day".

I find it ridiculous that people can get so worked up over the simple extension of one's vocal chords. They're just sounds coming out of people's mouths - words = over-rated!

Lemme guess, fat, four-eyes, smartass?

2 outa 3. Last one 's just plain "dumb". ;)

Just curious about what people think about the way language is used in the U.S.A.

I'm talking about the likes of "war on terror", "war on drugs", "war on cancer", "war on crime, and "war on poverty". The fact that Bush uses phrases like "smoke 'em outta their hole" and "terrorist killers" (that's pretty self-defeating there Georgey).

Terms like "senior citizen", and "little people", and "handi-capable"/"differently abled". Euphimistic language.

Hate to be plain, but I just think it's a pile of crap.

I'm interested in knowing what Americans (and anyone who has a view on it) think about the kind of language that's used in their country.

--Rav


I was speaking with a Canadian today, and he said the thing that astounded him most about Australia was the flagrant disregard for political correctness in the media. That and the use of slang. Aparrently, we don't subscribe to it here. I hadn't really thought about it before, but yeah, I suppose as a culture Aussies tend to view verbosity as 'crap'. As a result all of our successful media campaigns go for an easy, going down, 'real' to earth aproach. Anyone who opts for this holier than thou PC shit is swiftly cut down by the 'Tall poppy syndrome'.

Sounds like you Aussies have the right idea then. Wish the dumbasses in the American media would get a clue and take a page from you.

The last person that called me "differently abled" got a wheelchair to the shins. :D

Native American.

My son is American Indian and we are both Native Americans.
I like to fill out those forms requesting "heritage" identity with North Western European German American.