3 ms·

Language is even flexible enough to be binary where that is appropriate. As indeed it is here. > What's more, wives-tales isn't purely pejorative, it's /descri

by harry8 5y ago

Language is even flexible enough to be binary where that is appropriate. As indeed it is here. > What's more, wives-tales isn't purely pejorative, it's /descriptive/ of something that is happening as we speak among married women. Gentlemen who do body building, ladies who are married are not being described here. Choosing something better from the multitude of possibilities is hardly a blow for freedom, liberty and justice. The sun is gonna rise tomorrow. I can't see any reason not to do it and think it worthwhile if only to exercise our minds as to following principle. YMMV.

ethanwillis 5y ago
I don't think you understand language as much as you think you do. There are nuances terms acquire through usage that make them make more salient points than general terms such as "pseudoscience." For example the term "wives-tales" isn't just about gender. It brings forth to mind ideas that are incorrect and passed down through generations as correct knowledge. The full phrase is generally used as "old wives tale" The reason I used "bro-science" instead of a term like "pseudoscience" (or the other alternatives you mentioned) is because it came to mind first as it fits the nuance I'm going for. Which that nuance is not "Gentlemen who do body building." (As if only "gentlemen" do body building, ironically half of the body-builders I know are women). The nuance, if you're familiar with the term, is that it brings to mind something like "regular people who share opinions as if they're facts when they're actually opinions" (and they might be facts, but it's unknown). Or additionally it also brings in another nuanced meaning which is "an opinion that is shared by someone who expresses it strongly and reacts negatively if you question it" Your alternatives may share some of this, but not in the same way. If you want to invent a new-term and get it into the lexicon I'd be happy to use it.
- harry8 5y ago
  > The nuance, if you're familiar with the term, is that it brings to mind something like "regular people who share opinions as if they're facts when they're actually opinions" I can't help you, sorry. I wonder what we did for all those centuries before "bro-science" was coined and heard by some of us here for the first time. I expect wives-tales was popular for some of it.
  - ethanwillis 5y ago
    I guess some of us are unfortunately born as лох
lkey 5y ago
You don't understand language as well as you think. The 'wife' in 'old wive's tales' doesn't refer to 'ladies who are married' at all. Your view that /either/ of the terms is purely pejorative exists only in your head.

by harry8 5y ago

ethanwillis 5y ago

I don't think you understand language as much as you think you do. There are nuances terms acquire through usage that make them make more salient points than general terms such as "pseudoscience." For example the term "wives-tales" isn't just about gender. It brings forth to mind ideas that are incorrect and passed down through generations as correct knowledge. The full phrase is generally used as "old wives tale" The reason I used "bro-science" instead of a term like "pseudoscience" (or the other alternatives you mentioned) is because it came to mind first as it fits the nuance I'm going for. Which that nuance is not "Gentlemen who do body building." (As if only "gentlemen" do body building, ironically half of the body-builders I know are women). The nuance, if you're familiar with the term, is that it brings to mind something like "regular people who share opinions as if they're facts when they're actually opinions" (and they might be facts, but it's unknown). Or additionally it also brings in another nuanced meaning which is "an opinion that is shared by someone who expresses it strongly and reacts negatively if you question it" Your alternatives may share some of this, but not in the same way. If you want to invent a new-term and get it into the lexicon I'd be happy to use it.

harry8 5y ago
> The nuance, if you're familiar with the term, is that it brings to mind something like "regular people who share opinions as if they're facts when they're actually opinions" I can't help you, sorry. I wonder what we did for all those centuries before "bro-science" was coined and heard by some of us here for the first time. I expect wives-tales was popular for some of it.
- ethanwillis 5y ago
  I guess some of us are unfortunately born as лох

lkey 5y ago

You don't understand language as well as you think. The 'wife' in 'old wive's tales' doesn't refer to 'ladies who are married' at all. Your view that /either/ of the terms is purely pejorative exists only in your head.