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I expect the term "phobic" to revert to its original meaning over the next 40 years, especially if we continue to call out the hypocrisy in its usage.
by toomim 4y ago
I expect the term "phobic" to revert to its original meaning over the next 40 years, especially if we continue to call out the hypocrisy in its usage.
- johnchristopher 4y agoIt's pet peeve of mine to regularly declare in conversations that words don't mean anything anymore. Sometimes I am charitable and concede that they mean to the person speaking them whatever they are feeling.
- MiguelX413 4y agoSemantic shift is natural and inevitable.
- toomim 4y agoThe term "phobos" is from Ancient Greek, and has been an integral part of our language for at least 3,000 years. That's a lot more staying power than the recent 5-year trend.
- MiguelX413 4y agoIt's dishonest to call it a recent 5-year trend.
- MiguelX413 4y agoφόβος (phóbos) also meant “awe” or “reverance”
- klyrs 4y agoThe term xenophobia has been in use since the 1800s, I'm curious why you'd pick 40 years for that deadline...
- deleted 4y ago[deleted]
- toomim 4y agoXenophobia uses the "phobia" suffix correctly.