memes

If it's only morons that use it "wrong", then it does indeed become right, but still gains the added subtext of "by the way I'm also a moron"

My pet peeve is 'loose' being used when 'lose' is intended. It's so common now it might as well be the new spelling but I will die on this hill. I've had people comment in response to me correcting someone like I'm being ridiculous. Feels like I'm taking crazy pills!

So I should accept people saying "could care less" when they mean the exact opposite? Not sure I can do that.

I think we should bring back philosohoraptor - Morpheus seems wrong for this meme

And I'm still gonna bitch about it if they've reduced the usefulness of a word due to habitual misuse!

Well. Sort of.

Some terminology is better defined by how the relevant experts use it. It's singular and precise definition is required for any useful dialogue. If 99% of people call a kidney a liver but doctors call it a kidney its a kidney.

Some terminology evolves and is used differently by different groups. Sometimes the more illiterate group flattens the language by removing nuance or even entirely removing a concept from a language with no replacement. Arguably both definitions may be common usage but one is worse and using it means you are.

classic case of the four-leaved-clover story

edit:

What if they all use it 'wrong' but all use it differently?

For all intensive purposes, the meaning of words matters less than how we use it. Irregardless of how we decimate it's meaning, so long as we get the point across there is no need to nip it in the butt. Most people could care less.

But do you mean literally everyone or literally everyone?

Ok ok... I'll be the one...

"Wrongly"

I'm gonna get the shit downvoted out of me for this, but the problem with this idea is that insular communities tend to redefine words and then expect everyone outside their bubble to know their new definition. Doing so also robs the language of a word that served a specific purpose, such as in the case of the word "literally."

Prescriptivists should be shoved into all the lockers in the world.

I've allready to rite we'll, but than my conscious sad, “For get the rules,” so I let my lose ideals led me. I’m two stubborn to accept that I should of staid in school.

Descriptive ~~language~~ grammar >> prescriptive ~~language~~ grammar

Literally.

What if I told you that if everyone uses a word the “wrong” way, in slightly different ways, it’s wrong?

"Everyone" meaning the social media someone and their social set get their info and cues from, not the rest of the people around them.

Languages are living things. And living things always change. Note the Great English Vowel Change. Even the Norwegian my Grandfather spoke and that I learned from him was virtually a dead language that modern Norwegians stopped using in the 1850s. And the English spoken in the UK is different than the American English I speak. Spanish spoken in Spain isn't the same as someone from Mexico speaks.

And when conversing with someone, (in the language of your choice), the words you choose to use are defined by the context you use them in. Words can have multiple meanings, but it's the context and tone clarifies those meanings. Consider all the meanings of the single word 'fuck'.

But problems start with written words. And many people have poor written communication skills. It can be hard to parse meaning from poorly written words because there is little context and tone that comes through with a typed sentence.

We are all just baying at the moon like any pack. And hoping some understands us.

This is real and actually quite interesting to look at the history of. For example, the word "Decimate" IIRC was originally defined as killing one for every ten people of a group of people. Now, its used as a term for high impact destruction.

LITERALLY everyone!

What if I told you memes were supposed to be funny rather than excusing ignorance?

My two are Literally, and Crescendo. I really hate it when they are used wrong, and now the wrong answers are considered acceptable. That means Literally actually holds no meaning at all, and by changing the definition of Crescendo, the last 500 years of Western Music Theory have been changed by people who have no understanding of music at all.

Honestly, I could care less about this shit.