4 ms·
We use words to communicate effectively with other people. If different groups use words differently, that creates confusion and works against effective commun
by Winsaucerer 4y ago
We use words to communicate effectively with other people. If different groups use words differently, that creates confusion and works against effective communication. We need to come to a general agreement about what words mean so that we can effectively communicate. If you decide to deliberately use a word differently from how it's been commonly used, rather than accepting the fact that you've been using it differently from everyone else and changing your behaviour, that makes effective communication harder.
- _benedict 4y agoI think your assumption that everyone agreed on your definition in the first place is incorrect. Words are fuzzy, most people don’t look at dictionaries, let alone OSI or FSF definitions. A word changing usage often just indicates the meaning was never as precise as you thought, the distinction just hadn’t yet mattered.