LOL. I hate it.
Terms you're tired of hearing...
- Thread starter shadow2k
- Start date
North King
blech
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2004
- Messages
- 18,165
Liberal Media, Unamerican, Terrorist, Liberal Snobs, Traitors, and so on. So overused that I just don't even notice anymore, but that the world would be a lot better without.
Ansar
Détente avec l'été
Mexican, and I mean describing all hispanics as mexicans. For god sakes people, we look totally different! 
Also, "Immigrant" for some reason...
Also, "Immigrant" for some reason... Really annoys me too.Turner said:
CaptainF
The Professional Poster
Name one. I probably hate it already.
I for one think that the phrase "African-American" has a valid meaning. It is not a synonym for "black". It refers not to a race but to an ethnic group, specifically the descendants of West African slaves living in the US.
But as for what I hate . . .
Pretty much anything, once I hear it enough I never want to hear it again. Like when I graduated from college and moved to DC, every 10 minutes my dad would say "the adventure begins!" in this weird voice he does. I finally told him to stop - he said he had to or he would be overwhelmed by anxiety. So far, however, there has been no adventure.
But as for what I hate . . .
Pretty much anything, once I hear it enough I never want to hear it again. Like when I graduated from college and moved to DC, every 10 minutes my dad would say "the adventure begins!" in this weird voice he does. I finally told him to stop - he said he had to or he would be overwhelmed by anxiety. So far, however, there has been no adventure.
CaptainF
The Professional Poster
Azadre said:
Yep, those can all go down the crapper for all I care.
Some of those especially so.
Pontiuth Pilate
Republican Jesus!
Tax "relief."
Oops, I drank too much, I'd better go to the bathroom to pay my taxes!
Oops, I drank too much, I'd better go to the bathroom to pay my taxes!
hum, i'm speak french and english is a second language to me, I don't understand the "straw man", what does it refer to? why saying that a man is "straw" to point that he has no logic?
and I must say I hate "terrorist" because any politician outside of USA use this term when having a conflict with a 3rd party... and then Mme Rice come to the rescue...
Hezbolla = Militia
Isreal = profesionnal army
but either of them call the other "terrorists"
and I must say I hate "terrorist" because any politician outside of USA use this term when having a conflict with a 3rd party... and then Mme Rice come to the rescue...
Hezbolla = Militia
Isreal = profesionnal army
but either of them call the other "terrorists"
Narz
keeping it real
I hate the phrase "that's human nature" to basically justify negative human behavior and basically shurg one's shoulders in the face of injustice.Perfection said:
Narz
keeping it real
By the way, I wasn't typing it in response to anyone's post, it's the phrase itself that I dislike.Perfection said:
Rambuchan
The Funky President
Excellent thread!!! 
This kind of discussion is very much needed in this day and age. Language, and the contest for definitions, is key in political discourse. Today, we assume the meanings of FAR too many words and phrases. Some people have simply given up the contest.
---------------
"Human Nature"
My favourite one selected so far. What does that mean now? Can we ever define it universally? Are examples of "Human Nature" brought forward with logic and good intention? Or are they brought forward dishonestly, illogically and in a partisan fashion? Maybe "human nature" is an obstacle to change. Or maybe we are being flat lied to here.
Narz is quite right when he says it is only used negatively in political discourse. Notice that you will only ever hear this phrase used by those who wish to maintain the status quo. That's usually because that status quo well suits them and not others. So, such fans of the elitist status quo, will remind us:
1 > "Oh, Humans are greedy by nature" (so any kind of more equitable social organisation is doomed to fail)
2 > "We don't really care for one another, especially those far away. We're selfish /shrug" (same conclusion)
3 > "It's not in Human Nature to accept change" (let's not bother thinking about it then)
Social, political and economic systems encourage and limit aspects of human activity in differing measures. The extent of our current greediness and selfishness is very much attributable to our current 'system'. Our aversion to change is a downright falsehood.
1 ~ Our professed greed: Is it us that lauds the hoarding of personal wealth as a goal in life? Or is it the system that organises and regulates our behaviour, using a mix of reward incentives and punishments? Isn't it the system we live under that denies us the expression of greater charity and generosity, through such incentives and threats?
2 ~ Our Selfishness: Again, is it really us? Or is it a political, social and economic system which values our own personal property above any others'? Are we really uncaring of all other humans besides those that live in our own countries? Or is that Nationalism in action?
3 ~ Our reluctance to change: Aren't we just being lied to with this one? Humans in Europe, for example, have shown themselves capable of large scale change many times, despite massively oppressive 'systems'. We can look to the birth of Lutheranism, Protestantism and Humanism under the Inquisitorial fist of the Vatican for slow change. We can see quick change in the wave of revolutions that swept Europe in the 19th century and overthrew monarchies who claimed to be the state. There's the Russian Revolution that did the same in the 20th century. Independence movements are rife throughout modern history too. Americans threw off Britain's economic and political shackles in the 18th century, we saw a global tidal wave of independence movements that threw off colonial rule in the 20th century. The Anti-Apartheid and Civil Rights movements brought social change fairly recently. And today we see communications techonologies bringing change to our lives very rapidly. Who says humans are averse to change?!
More importantly, why do people say that these negatives are in "human nature"?
This kind of discussion is very much needed in this day and age. Language, and the contest for definitions, is key in political discourse. Today, we assume the meanings of FAR too many words and phrases. Some people have simply given up the contest.
---------------
"Human Nature"
My favourite one selected so far. What does that mean now? Can we ever define it universally? Are examples of "Human Nature" brought forward with logic and good intention? Or are they brought forward dishonestly, illogically and in a partisan fashion? Maybe "human nature" is an obstacle to change. Or maybe we are being flat lied to here.
Narz is quite right when he says it is only used negatively in political discourse. Notice that you will only ever hear this phrase used by those who wish to maintain the status quo. That's usually because that status quo well suits them and not others. So, such fans of the elitist status quo, will remind us:
1 > "Oh, Humans are greedy by nature" (so any kind of more equitable social organisation is doomed to fail)
2 > "We don't really care for one another, especially those far away. We're selfish /shrug" (same conclusion)
3 > "It's not in Human Nature to accept change" (let's not bother thinking about it then)
Social, political and economic systems encourage and limit aspects of human activity in differing measures. The extent of our current greediness and selfishness is very much attributable to our current 'system'. Our aversion to change is a downright falsehood.
1 ~ Our professed greed: Is it us that lauds the hoarding of personal wealth as a goal in life? Or is it the system that organises and regulates our behaviour, using a mix of reward incentives and punishments? Isn't it the system we live under that denies us the expression of greater charity and generosity, through such incentives and threats?
2 ~ Our Selfishness: Again, is it really us? Or is it a political, social and economic system which values our own personal property above any others'? Are we really uncaring of all other humans besides those that live in our own countries? Or is that Nationalism in action?
3 ~ Our reluctance to change: Aren't we just being lied to with this one? Humans in Europe, for example, have shown themselves capable of large scale change many times, despite massively oppressive 'systems'. We can look to the birth of Lutheranism, Protestantism and Humanism under the Inquisitorial fist of the Vatican for slow change. We can see quick change in the wave of revolutions that swept Europe in the 19th century and overthrew monarchies who claimed to be the state. There's the Russian Revolution that did the same in the 20th century. Independence movements are rife throughout modern history too. Americans threw off Britain's economic and political shackles in the 18th century, we saw a global tidal wave of independence movements that threw off colonial rule in the 20th century. The Anti-Apartheid and Civil Rights movements brought social change fairly recently. And today we see communications techonologies bringing change to our lives very rapidly. Who says humans are averse to change?!
More importantly, why do people say that these negatives are in "human nature"?
Fifty
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think that the "human nature" argument can work in certain scenarios, if it were accompanied by a sufficient explanation.
The problem is that it is usually just thrown out as a one-liner with little or no substance to it.
The problem is that it is usually just thrown out as a one-liner with little or no substance to it.
Rambuchan
The Funky President
I agree Fifty, but explanation is usually omitted. And enquiry is always worthwhile.
Same can be said for "Politically Correct".
Same can be said for "Politically Correct".
Gr3yL3gion
Voice of Madness
For me, "It's An Accident!!!"
Fifty
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'd like to add the distinction between "in theory" and "in practice" to the list of terms that suck.
BasketCase
Username sez it all
The one I'm tired of hearing: "nucular".
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