The importance of words

[homolingual]

(Since I finished this post and it was mentioned in my last one, I figure I would crosspost it here. Also, if you couldn't tell, my tumblr is turning into the place where I dump a lot of my thinky thoughts now.)

This is kind of a complicated idea for me because on the one hand it is prescriptive, but it is also has a descriptive base. However,

Comments

[gero_jimbo]

Admittedly this is something I struggle with too. "Lame" and "retarded" are both still in my vocab, though I really really try to avoid "retarded," or am at least more conscious that it's something I should be dropping. "Lame" is harder for me because despite its original use to refer to the disabled, it was never really used in that context within my lifetime (at least around me), so I find it harder to make the mental association needed to get me to think about not using it.

Still, I fear this is what's happening to "gay" as a synonym for "stupid," and that one I do smack people upside the head for.

My friend also cured me of "gyp/gypped," that one I can actually say I never use anymore.

I also have mixed feelings about "(x) sucks," but I might be the only one, and unfortunately for me, I use that more than any of the above and will probably never stop; it is just too easy to say. XD;