4 ms·

I miss the term neurosis. It seems like we're taking another step on Pinker's Euphemism Treadmill.

• mtgp1000 6y ago
  Came here to make a similar comment. Scientists are not supposed to be activists - focusing on eliminating words that carry stigma from popular (or scientific) use makes me question not just objectivity but qualifications as a scientist. Is there any space that ideologues haven't infested yet?
  • RaptorJ 6y ago
    No, I'm very sorry report that there are exactly zero areas of human action, practice, or thought that aren't infested with ideology.
    • mtgp1000 6y ago
      There's a difference between ideology and an ideologue. One may believe in something while at least attempting to compartmentalize it's influence over ones work. I feel like that sort of self-restriction is increasingly absent in much of the professional and academic world. Yeah, sure, everything is political, but that doesn't mean you are obligated to inject your politics into everything.
• thomasahle 6y ago
  Can that be avoided? Eventually any term loses its connection with the best available knowledge, and becomes a way to avoid thinking - an euphemism. We then need a new updated term. Eventually that term too will be outdated, but at least it was useful for a while.