Word choice

[wstein]

I have noticed in the last year or so many people introducing a concept new to themselves. Rather than ask what it is or give it a new name, they ‘borrow’ another known word (with a different and well known definition) and use it for their concept. Most of the time, what they describe is clearly not in alignment with the word they choose as a label for it. Additionally, about half the time there is a existing known term that clearly fits what is being described.

Not surprisingly this causes confusion and also often leads to definition wars.

I am very curious why people do this.

Originally Posted by wstein

I am very curious why people do this.

Me, too!

[Belle]

What examples do you have?

[Squatchit]

Maybe people are too lazy to look up the definition first. It also depends on the 'existing known term' and who has the authority on the absolute meaning of said word. For instance, are we to use the dictionary - and if so, which one?

An example would be the word 'meditation' which seems to have a plethora of meanings depending where you look.

Also, people can be rather dumb, emmmm no let's not use that word, start again.

Also, people can be rather impatient at times and want to label their experience without really understanding it. So they'll latch onto a label they quite like the sound of and make their experience fit it, sometimes distorting the label to do so.

Am I in the right ballpark wstein, or are you talking about something different?

[wstein]

Not intended to pick on anyone: someone asked or an actual example. There is a current thread about "Intuition; the natural telepathy of empathy". I can not be sure that 'Intuition' is not a 'right' term for what is being described but it fits the pattern I am talking about.

Originally Posted by Squatchit

Am I in the right ballpark wstein, or are you talking about something different?

Seems likely, I truly don't know the answer to this.