Words Mean Things - But Those Meanings Change

[MineralMan]

This post was prompted by another thread: https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029034043

Actually, they change all the time. And quickly, too. Words that once meant one thing now mean something completely different, and may even have become dangerous words to use. When I was a kid in the early 1950s, I spent a lot of time in my small town's library. One of the books that was featured there was this one, published in 1950.



I actually remember it because my sister had checked it out and used it to plan a birthday party sometime in the 50s. It was full of games and other activities that were supposed to guarantee a good time being had by all at your next party. It was a staple book in libraries and very popular, particularly with kids who were planning parties.

Many years later, as an adult, I volunteered in another small town library, and did things like re-shelving books and helping patrons find things. One afternoon, I heard giggling coming from one aisle in our Dewey Decimal System library. I wandered over to see what was causing it. The reason for the giggling was that very book, which was still on the shelves after all those years.

I pulled the book and looked at the date stamps on the library card pocket. It hadn't been checked out since the early 1960s. It was no longer useful as a party planning book, and had become only a source of giggles from the same age group that used to use it for its intended purpose. I transferred the book to a box used for weeding out-of-date books from the shelves after consulting with the librarian.

Words change in their meanings. We always have to keep that in mind as we use them. Lots of words mean different things today than they did half a century or more ago. English is funny that way. We need to stay abreast of those changes.

[MindPilot]

1. The Flintstones' theme song invited us to have a "gay ole time"

I remember when "swipe" meant "steal".

But I think the real question here is, what word is acceptable to describe someone who just ain't real bright?

[TexasProgresive]

2. republican?

but then that word has lost the meaning it had when Honest Abe was the icon of the party.

[MineralMan]

5. Oh, there are plenty of them.

Some, however, might not be acceptable to everyone, it seems. I like "dumbass" a lot this week.

[murielm99]

3. I am not convinced that we have to accept

all of those changes.

Many of them are politically motivated by people who are not our friends.

I refuse to call bigots, misogynists and racists the alt-right. They do not need a softer term to describe their hatred.

I refuse to call programs like Social Security and Medicare entitlements. We paid for those programs. Implying that they are handouts is unacceptable.

I am not a progressive. I am a liberal. I refuse to let right-wing haters turn something I am proud of into a dirty word.

I do not belong to the Democrat Party. I belong to the Democratic Party. I do not like the implied insult and they need to use better grammar.

Words matter. I will not surrender the English language to haters or to journalists who could not pass a basic vocabulary or grammar test if their lives depended on it. I will examine every change and resist if it is being used as propaganda, or to alter our perceptions of reality, or to hide ulterior agendas.

[JI7]

4. i think some stopped using gay as happy because they did not want

Something good and positive to be associated with homosexuals in any way. Even if they meant different things.

I think both uses are fine .

[MineralMan]

6. I like both uses of the word, too.

But the use in that book title seems to have gone away forever.