This phenomenon extends beyond software. Consider terms as contentious as "god," a word whose meaning has become so dilute through overuse as to mean almost not

This phenomenon extends beyond software. Consider terms as contentious as "god," a word whose meaning has become so dilute through overuse as to mean almost nothing at all, and likely very different things in the minds of different people. Of course none of this lack of meaning actually prevents others from using the word, and what you end up with are people using the same word to refer to very different things while still thinking they are indeed talking about the same subject. No discourse can actually occur profitably without first defining one's terms, and defending against the diffusion, misuse, or even appropriation of the meaning of those terms.