Quote: |
when I say corrupted, I am trying to get the point across that the orriginal meaning has been so displaced by it's association with the new idea or behavior that the old meaning at best fades from prominence in reference or at worse is completely lost to the average person when the word is used.
|
Let's take the word cracker. Does the "average person" think saltine or Ritz? Look the word up in an urban dictionary and you get a new meaning. I suppose it depends on whom you consider "average."
Is it only when the word has been given a "positive spin" that you feel it's been corrupted?
That you may retain your self-respect, it is better to displease the people by doing what you know is right, than to temporarily please them by doing what you know is wrong.
W. J. H. Boetcker |