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The Softening of America
The Softening of America
Euphemism is a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be something unpleasant or embarrassing. I thought I would use the dictionary for the meaning before the AI responses. When did America get so soft on words? We have the first amendment, so what’s the issue? We can say anything short of “fire” in a crowded theater. We drink, we curse at sporting events—what happened?
It started slowly generations ago; that’s when our language became more passive and non-offending, which is a big deal today. You don’t say, “partly cloudy,” anymore; it’s partly “party sunny.” When did toilet paper become bathroom tissue, right before sneakers became running shoes?
We have created the language to be more pleasant to the ear by substituting a harsh word for a nice one. Some euphemisms actually try to explain the phrase while saying the same thing. The CIA, as we all know, kills people, neutralizes them, or depopulates them.
It’s time to pre-board the plane; if I’m pre-boarding, I am actually boarding the plane. Constapation is bowel irregularity, and the dump is a landfill.
World War I, shell shock, World II, battle fatigue, Korean War, Operation Exhaustion
Vietnam War, Post-Tramatic Stress Syndrome, or PTSD. Over the last one hundred and twenty years, euphemisms have been used to ease the pain of war. To explain to the public in nice, easy words. Shell Shock is so accurate and appropriately named. Americans were up in arms to help the returning soldiers after World War I when hearing what the boys went through.
If returning Vietnam veterans had had shell shock, they would have received better treatment for the disease and a lot more awareness.
Special thanks to George Carlin
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3 Replies
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I really never thought about your analysis but if I take a step back and think about what you said, your are spot on. This is so true and it all comes together. For, me, I rather hear and tell the raw stuff. None of making it sound softer or nicer. Shit is shit to me.
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No sugar coating for me, tell it like it is
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Kudos 🤠