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- Go to Softening The Blow Or Avoiding The Issue? OR More Fun With Euphemisms
Perhaps I didn't make myself clear
Perhaps I didn't make myself clear = you didn't understand what I said
He died = He returned to the Lord
Just war = despatch of troops in another country for one's sinister designs
posted by
Straightforward
on
October 1, 2006
at
1:58 AM
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You are so right! Often euphorisms are outright gutless avoidance of
what is real! One word which has changed several times over the past 65 years is the word retarded. It changed to slow learner, then mentally handicapped and now it is mentally challenged, but for my brother it really means he has suffered from mental deficiencies, for 65 years and now is living with physical illnesses which add to his burden. The one that really gets me is "she expired" instead of she died. Keep writing and giving us something challenging to think about! Thanks for writing, 
faholo
posted by
faholo
on
September 30, 2006
at
2:15 PM
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A-G--- Ouch, that is a tough way to learn about word choice.
posted by
Jazwolf
on
September 30, 2006
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5:48 AM
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Passionflower
Yes, it is. How would you like to be thrown into the fray without any warning of what to expect? We see people at their absolute worst. How do you handle it? Many medics get complaints from their lack of consideration. I try to be as calm and considerate as I can be. Sometimes, mistakes are made.
posted by
avant-garde
on
September 30, 2006
at
4:19 AM
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Well, now my mid is a blank.
What eles is new?
posted by
Whacky
on
September 29, 2006
at
7:51 PM
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Avant....Hey, I didn't know that!! Dang! That's harsh!
posted by
Passionflower
on
September 29, 2006
at
6:48 PM
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Jaz
I learned of euphemisms the hard way. I once asked an elderly lady what time she saw her husband 'die'. We were working a code on him. Her eyes got as big as saucers. HE'S DEAD??? She bellowed. I shrank in horror, assuming that she knew CPR was only given to dead people.
I now choose my words very carefully on these matters.
posted by
avant-garde
on
September 29, 2006
at
4:50 PM
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Marie-Claire--- "Softing" was a mistake on my part. Thanks for pointing it
out.
posted by
Jazwolf
on
September 29, 2006
at
1:17 PM
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Jaz, thanks for dropping by and saying I had a '"warped sense of humour".
I take it as a compliment. It is kind of fun testing people's reactions and it is completely unpredictable too.
posted by
marieclaire66
on
September 29, 2006
at
1:02 PM
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did you mention " collateral damage" or "friendly fire"?
posted by
marieclaire66
on
September 29, 2006
at
12:08 PM
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on a positive note, this is an interesting piece of writing...
euphemisms are used to sanitize unsavoury parts of life, to condone, to excuse the unacceptable, to rationalize, to take the unpleasantness of life in general and put a nice veneer on it. It is a kind of verbal table manner...something like that. It also takes away the colourful side of life as well as the darker side. After all shadows add more depth to a picture. We all use them though and they have their place on occasion, but politicians overuse them and the public is/are? no fool.
posted by
marieclaire66
on
September 29, 2006
at
12:07 PM
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May I ask why you wrote softing, is that a word I don't know, or do you
meaning
softening, way up there in your headline? Forgive me if I am wrong, but I just wanted to check.
posted by
marieclaire66
on
September 29, 2006
at
12:00 PM
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