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Words of power that obfuscate or deceive
Thread poster: Tom in London
Tom in London
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Mar 20, 2021

Begun by John Pilger, this Twitter thread has developed into a seemingly endless lexicon of the trigger words and phrases that are destroying the English language and making it into a propaganda tool.


https://twitter.com/johnpilger/status/1373120625401753600


P.L.F. Persio
Mervyn Henderson (X)
 
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Interesting Mar 20, 2021

There's also the contribution from a Phil White: Starting a sentence with "So..." but – so far – no "Have a nice day!"

Some of my personal peeves, off the top of my head: "blue-sky thinking", "I'll give you 110%", "bags of character", "ticks all the boxes", "smart bombs", "check your privilege", "undeserving poor".

And: "taking our country back", "sovereignty", "Blitz spirit", "just a small flu"
... See more
There's also the contribution from a Phil White: Starting a sentence with "So..." but – so far – no "Have a nice day!"

Some of my personal peeves, off the top of my head: "blue-sky thinking", "I'll give you 110%", "bags of character", "ticks all the boxes", "smart bombs", "check your privilege", "undeserving poor".

And: "taking our country back", "sovereignty", "Blitz spirit", "just a small flu".

[Edited at 2021-03-20 09:10 GMT]
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Mervyn Henderson (X)
Christopher Schröder
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Destroy? Mar 20, 2021

I see your point, Tom, but I get a little tired of the same old phrases time and time again - the usual old phrases, I mean - and so a little evolution and enhancement and innovation might not be such a bad thing. At least the likes of "why don't we run this up the flagpole?" has a lot of snigger potential.

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Alex Ossa
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This just in: Mar 20, 2021

...

(oh, sorry - force of habit)


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P.L.F. Persio
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Tom in London
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Not my point Mar 20, 2021

Mervyn Henderson wrote:

I see your point, Tom, but I get a little tired of the same old phrases time and time again - the usual old phrases, I mean - and so a little evolution and enhancement and innovation might not be such a bad thing. At least the likes of "why don't we run this up the flagpole?" has a lot of snigger potential.


It isn't my point. It's John Pilger's point. Quote: "Words of power that obfuscate or deceive". So it isn't about the same old phrases time and time again. It's about language as a tool for manipulation, which is something very different from sniggering.

[Edited at 2021-03-20 10:20 GMT]


Mervyn Henderson (X)
P.L.F. Persio
 
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Obfuscation Mar 20, 2021

As I said, what I mean by "same old phrases" are the same old old phrases, not the same old new phrases.

And I know it's his point, not actually your point, but surely the point of posting his point is because you want to make a point of pointedly pointing out that his point is your point too, because otherwise what's the point of pointing out his point in the first place? I hope I've made my point.

[Edited at 2021-03-20 10:28 GMT]


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Nothing new under (or in) the Sun Mar 20, 2021

I’m not a Twit, so I can’t read the thread, but I hope there’s no suggestion that this is anything new.

Different words, same manipulation, same oppression.

Vive la revolution. Person the barricades!


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Tom in London
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No Mar 20, 2021

Mervyn Henderson wrote:

As I said, what I mean by "same old phrases" are the same old old phrases, not the same old new phrases.

And I know it's his point, not actually your point, but surely the point of posting his point is because you want to make a point of pointedly pointing out that his point is your point too, because otherwise what's the point of pointing out his point in the first place? I hope I've made my point.

[Edited at 2021-03-20 10:28 GMT]


Indeed you have. As is evident from all your posts, you're a child in a sandpit who never grew up nor ever had a serious thought.


 
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Language as a tool for manipulation. Mar 20, 2021

Tom in London wrote: It's about language as a tool for manipulation, which is something very different from sniggering.


So, what exactly is new about that? It's as old as humankind. Even cavemen used coded signs to mislead their enemies.


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Tom & Mervyn: Mar 20, 2021

I suggest you learn the methods worked out by Schopenhauer in the below link that will enable both of you to give each other right without giving in a single argument in your hunt of disputes you entertain your audience here in the threads. But when you finally master it, I'm afraid that you would be bored by us, your audience, and leave to some (more) academic forum and we will be left alone with all the same discussions about SDL Multiterm not working anymore or the newest scam attempts from G... See more
I suggest you learn the methods worked out by Schopenhauer in the below link that will enable both of you to give each other right without giving in a single argument in your hunt of disputes you entertain your audience here in the threads. But when you finally master it, I'm afraid that you would be bored by us, your audience, and leave to some (more) academic forum and we will be left alone with all the same discussions about SDL Multiterm not working anymore or the newest scam attempts from Gaza. Therefore, please better don't read that link and stay with Twitter.


https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Art_of_Being_Right
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P.L.F. Persio
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I know I'm going to regret this – Part II Mar 20, 2021

Tom in London wrote:

Mervyn Henderson wrote:

As I said, what I mean by "same old phrases" are the same old old phrases, not the same old new phrases.

And I know it's his point, not actually your point, but surely the point of posting his point is because you want to make a point of pointedly pointing out that his point is your point too, because otherwise what's the point of pointing out his point in the first place? I hope I've made my point.

[Edited at 2021-03-20 10:28 GMT]


Indeed you have. As is evident from all your posts, you're a child in a sandpit who never grew up nor ever had a serious thought.


Tom, you're being too harsh to Mervyn. Yes, sometimes he can be childish. Yes, more often than not, he squeezes every little drop of sense out of every funny word/situation, if you know what I mean, because, frankly, I've lost myself here and I don't know what I meant either anymore. Yes, he can be annoying – I should know by now–, he farebbe scappare la pazienza a un santo.

But he's got a good heart, and he admires you, though he would never admit it. This "feud" between the two of you just breaks my heart. Please, stop it, for the love of what is most precious on this Earth, or – at the very least – of the English language, that unites all of us on here.


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Let me be clear Mar 20, 2021

This is code used by politicians, journalists, media interviewees, etc. to infer that all contrary views are not worthy of debate and therefore not worth responding to.

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Hmm Mar 20, 2021

"Lessons will be learned" - yeah, right, as if. Mealy-mouthedness.

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All words can be misused Mar 20, 2021

Tom in London wrote:

Begun by John Pilger, this Twitter thread has developed into a seemingly endless lexicon of the trigger words and phrases that are destroying the English language and making it into a propaganda tool.


https://twitter.com/johnpilger/status/1373120625401753600


There is no lexicon that is destroying the English language. It is a language like any other, subject to be used and misused as it and every other language has been since languages were created. All languages are used as propaganda tool by those who want to use it so, and this does not destroy the English language any more than it does any other language. Euphemisms and propaganda, eternal lovers. Nothing new, nothing shocking, and little to no value in the linked tweet.


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You deserve Mar 20, 2021

So many ads have this phrase. It doesn't help calm a culture where people are bombarded 24/7 with the idea that what they want is what they should have, or else. Of course, that appeal has always been the essence of marketing, but a declaration of "deserving" was unspoken, held just below the surface. That was the trick of sight, smell, and sounds: make something enticing. But, now there is no subtlety. It is what it i--what I'm told I deserve.

 
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Words of power that obfuscate or deceive






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