Corporatists vs. Capitalists (Now with Fun AOL Poll) | 36 comments (36 topical, 0 hidden)
FYI (none / 0)

Language is constantly evolving. 'Gay' and 'fag' are two striking examples of two words that are generally used in completely different ways.

There are countless other examples, but you knew that. You can argue that there is some downside to this, but that's about as far as you can take it.

by Tom Hanc on 09/17/2009 12:48:11 AM EST

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Fair point (none / 0)
But the fluidity of language is determined by among others, the literacy of the populace. In most cases, language change because the people speaking it simply could not keep it the way it is. Our bars should be higher, our level of discourse needs to be higher.

by vonOhzu on 09/17/2009 01:06:42 AM EST

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I agree about the literacy of the populace (none / 0)

At the same time I don't see any downside with the use of 'corporatist', and it has an intuitive feel to it with the use you're objecting to. If you really wanted to nitpick Cenk's choice of words, go after his relaxed use of the word 'theory'.

He makes the (incredibly) common mistake of saying theory when he should be saying hypothesis, or something along those lines. The only reason I care is because it helps feed the idiotic idea that 'evolution is just a theory'. Yes, it IS a theory, but the "just" qualifier is due to confusing theory with hypothesis.

by Tom Hanc on 09/17/2009 01:20:57 AM EST

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No mistake. (none / 0)
The word theory can be used in a scientific context or in a layman/non-scientific way. For the latter theory is defined like hypothesis is in science. It would be great if the general population would acknoledge the different concepts behind those terms, but it is no mistake to say theory when speculating about a single issue.

by eborujion on 09/17/2009 06:52:17 AM EST

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It's a bad idea (none / 0)

See my example of how it influences the evolution/creationism nonsense. People say "evolution is just a theory" when what they're really saying is that it's "just a hypothesis" which is incorrect.

So even though I understand your point, when you say "hey, let me run this theory by you" you're (unintentionally) undermining the credibility and meaning of "theory" which comes back to bite us. 

by Tom Hanc on 09/17/2009 12:34:54 PM EST

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Ultimately of course youre right.. (none / 0)
I sometimes forget that most people still don't know or acknoledge the difference.

by eborujion on 09/17/2009 08:31:57 PM EST

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I don't see it. (none / 0)
The meaning Cenk ascribed to the word corporatism is already included in the old definition. Maybe the negative connotation is something that liberals/progressives recently emphasized but IMO also that can be argued.

by eborujion on 09/17/2009 06:44:44 AM EST

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Corporatists vs. Capitalists (Now with Fun AOL Poll) | 36 comments (36 topical, 0 hidden)