I have finally found the latest shitburger that upsets me so much I cannot help but post an angry rant. For some reason, there are some words that have come through the long and hard process of developing some color, and our immediate response is to drop them from our language. Here are a few examples of words that are no longer usable, or whose meanings have been altered to make them difficult to use:
Factory-replaced by Plant.
Handicapped-replaced by Physically Challenged
Swamp-replaced by Wetland
What the fuck? Supposedly a “factory” suggests a building with looming smokestacks billowing forth vile and odius pollution. I don’t know if you’ve looked lately, but that’s what it is!!! A plant is a beautiful green organism that I have growing in my yard, how dare you defile such a pristine word with an image such as that!!! Changing what you call something ain’t gonna change the thing itself, and if people know better, it shouldn’t change how people think of it, either.
I looked up the definition of “Handicapped.” Know what it is? “Having a condition that restricts one’s ability to function physically” That sounds pretty close to “physically challenged” to me. If “handicapped” is offensive, how could “physically challenged” not be? How can it even be consitered changing the word if you’re simply changing the word to its definition?
The swamp thing arises from these environmentalists who are wishing to save these areas of wetness, and them not wanting to carry around signs saying “Save the Swamp!” Swamp apparently carries an image of a stinky, bug-ridden bog more than the desired marshland of abundant wildlife. …Fuck, i actually agree with this change. Probably should have thought ahead a little better.
Anyway, it still leads me to my point which is that just because a word becomes politically incorrect is no reason to drop it from our language. These words tie into us reading the book “1984″ for English class, in which the negative Utopian society tries to create perfection by writing a new language that inhibits independant thought in every way. Newspeak, the language is called, contains only words that are absolutely necessary to function, any words that express thought or feeling have been dropped. Personally, I’m all for getting my feelings across, and words that have a little emotion behind them assist me greatly with this. Down with Big Brother!
There've been 8 whole comments
9:37 pm on 12/5/2005 1. Agrrogator
Another one is the idea of reverse racism, it’s just the same, but apparently white peope are so bloated on their egos, to discriminate against them is “Reverse Racism”. Hmmm, thisis starting to follow a pattern
12:31 am on 12/8/2005 2. Kevin
Yeah that is a valid complaint. Being Politically Correct blows. You can’t really say what you want or meant what you say. Its just a covert way of depleting our first amendment; oh you can’t say that its not politically correct. What is that supposed to mean any way? A polititian can say it?
8:06 pm on 12/8/2005 3. Josh Hemsath
Of course, all these words are being supplanted due to the definition they received contextually. An eventual end to all things semantic.
I’m curious, though, as to whom directed the change in word usage? Where can we find this directive? And, if there is none, why don’t we continue to use them in the same way?
6:50 am on 12/12/2005 4. Timmargh
Forget “handicapped” AND “physically challenged” - “crip” is easier to say and spell.
8:59 am on 12/15/2005 5. James
WOW, I didn’t know George Carlin had a Blog!
3:11 pm on 12/18/2005 6. nik
1984 is a depressing book, honestly. It has more and more parallels to today with each passing hour. Bush is talking about “The Enemy”. WTF? “The Enemy”? Let use decide who is and who isnt the real enemy!
Anyway, its not so much PC as twisting words to better your purpose. If “plant” has a better connotation then “factory”, then industriolists and capitalists will use it.
7:04 pm on 1/25/2006 7. Libertus
1984 isn’t all depressing. Winston is very happy at the end. He loves Big Brother and Big Brother loves him.
Also, I’ve yet to see evidence of dictionaries getting smaller.
Like the comment editing. Nice idea. Think I’ll borrow it.
4:49 am on 3/23/2007 8. defproc
Winston loves Big Brother but Big Brother certainly doesn’t love him. The Inner Party recognises itself and a source of hatred, a “big boot stamping on a human face forever”.