Stephen Pinker on "The Euphemism Treadmill"
Connotations are Stereotypical. You can Bait & Switch escape them temporarily, but like a bad penny, they ALWAYS return. Euphemism is this futile, often neoracist linguistic tactic to flatter and virtue signal (aka- a relatively cheap transactional attempt to gain "Social Capital") friendship rather then do the hard work needed to actually establish a lasting friendship. One in which the usefulness of the other person to you in the social relationship obtained temporarily through flattery appears more important than establishing a long lasting friendship through straight talk, mutual honesty, and respect.
You'll know when certain minorities have achieved social equality the day people stop inventing euphemisms out of guilt-pride to describe them, and stop seeking to gain surplus self-pride through using euphemisms to describe them.
Today that Flattery Must be Individualized through Use the Preferred Pronouns. One wouldn't want to appear Racist/ Sexist using the older well-connotated term on the euphemism escalator (no longer a level treadmill)
Attempts to create a problem where one doesn't exist. MAGA.
ReplyDelete^^Attempt to create enemies where none exist^^
DeleteYawn. Every time. Every politician.
Delete...an excuse for not delivering on promises. "The racists opposed me!"
Deleteps - I missed your insights, Q.
Delete