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I definitely never unsubscribed from a YouTube channel just for that... (files.catbox.moe)

submitted 2 months ago by dogsoahC@lemm.ee to c/science_memes@mander.xyz

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[-] Ilovethebomb@lemm.ee 6 points 2 months ago

I think anyone who uses the word "literally" to mean anything other than "in a literal sense" is a moron who never actually thinks about what the words coming out of their mouth mean, and I always will.

[-] Jiggle_Physics@lemmy.world 8 points 2 months ago

People who do not seem to understand that language is different than they wish it to be, are the actual morons. Not only morons, but pampas morons. Language is messy, imprecise, and always in flux. Language is a construct of the collective of its speakers, not you alone, nor anyone else. This is why we have specific lexicons for various industries, and academic fields. Even those are constantly being updated, and revised.

[-] gandalf_der_12te@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Language is [...] always in flux

And, more importantly, I will use language as I please; I don't have to justify my use of words to anyone. That is why I don't see why people complain about using words "the wrong way". Even if it is, I will still insist on my right to produce whatever gibberish my mouth is willing to put forward.

Edit: In other words, right to be wrong.

[-] Jiggle_Physics@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago

Yeah, as long as everyone involved understands what is being said I am fine with it.

[-] gandalf_der_12te@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 2 months ago

In fact, not even everybody has to understand it. If I say something that I think is true, but in a language that only I can speak, then it would be okay for me to say it anyways, even if nobody understands it. That is because while it's important to always speak the truth, it's not always important to be understood by others.

[-] flora_explora@beehaw.org 2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

You hate on people that use literally this way, but you do the same thing yourself...

Moron is a term once used in psychology and psychiatry to denote mild intellectual disability. The term was closely tied with the American eugenics movement. Once the term became popularized, it fell out of use by the psychological community, as it was used more commonly as an insult than as a psychological term. It is similar to imbecile and idiot.

Wikipedia

But unless the people that use "literally" in the colloquial sense you are actually using a term that is tied to eugenics and the idea that disabled people are inferior. Maybe you should have thought about the words that come out of mouth?

[-] Dyskolos@lemmy.zip 1 points 2 months ago

He's right. You're righter

[-] kaffiene@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago

The use of literal to mean figurative has been common for hundreds of years (literally). If it's good enough for James Joyce, it's good enough for you