Comments on: Annoyed by the appropriation of words that are inherently good http://www.mindonfire.com/2008/03/19/annoyed-by-the-appropriation-of-words-that-are-inherently-good/ Religion, SF, and Other Speculative Fictions. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:55:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Jonathan Blake http://www.mindonfire.com/2008/03/19/annoyed-by-the-appropriation-of-words-that-are-inherently-good/comment-page-1/#comment-14383 Jonathan Blake Fri, 21 Mar 2008 15:03:55 +0000 http://www.mindonfire.com/2008/03/19/annoyed-by-the-appropriation-of-words-that-are-inherently-good/#comment-14383 I agree that it's annoying. We just need to be better at appropriating language than our opponents. I agree that it’s annoying. We just need to be better at appropriating language than our opponents.

]]> By: xJane http://www.mindonfire.com/2008/03/19/annoyed-by-the-appropriation-of-words-that-are-inherently-good/comment-page-1/#comment-14382 xJane Fri, 21 Mar 2008 14:48:55 +0000 http://www.mindonfire.com/2008/03/19/annoyed-by-the-appropriation-of-words-that-are-inherently-good/#comment-14382 You're absolutely correct, Jonathan, but it still annoys me in this instance. You’re absolutely correct, Jonathan, but it still annoys me in this instance.

]]> By: Jonathan Blake http://www.mindonfire.com/2008/03/19/annoyed-by-the-appropriation-of-words-that-are-inherently-good/comment-page-1/#comment-14189 Jonathan Blake Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:33:58 +0000 http://www.mindonfire.com/2008/03/19/annoyed-by-the-appropriation-of-words-that-are-inherently-good/#comment-14189 People have been appropriating words and symbols forever. Think about the connection between homosexuality and the word "gay" and the rainbow symbol. People have been appropriating words and symbols forever. Think about the connection between homosexuality and the word “gay” and the rainbow symbol.

]]> By: Ice Cream http://www.mindonfire.com/2008/03/19/annoyed-by-the-appropriation-of-words-that-are-inherently-good/comment-page-1/#comment-14188 Ice Cream Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:20:50 +0000 http://www.mindonfire.com/2008/03/19/annoyed-by-the-appropriation-of-words-that-are-inherently-good/#comment-14188 I was talking with a good friend once and she was telling me about some friends from her past that she couldn't forgive. She said she had trusted them and they had let her down and never apologized. She was hurt because she had thought of them as family (she never had any family of her own). I couldn't help but laugh and tell her that they hadn't done anything unfamily like, but that she had. I told her that in my large family people are constantly being "let down" and hurt but that we have to forgive each other because we are family. In the end her lack of forgiveness and understanding was the most un-family act of the two. She took the words to heart and apologized and they are all friends again. Family means having to get over it and get along because you know you will all have to sit with each other next Thanksgiving =) (This is my silly and very over simplified definition anyway and has nothing to do with abuse situations) I was talking with a good friend once and she was telling me about some friends from her past that she couldn’t forgive. She said she had trusted them and they had let her down and never apologized. She was hurt because she had thought of them as family (she never had any family of her own).

I couldn’t help but laugh and tell her that they hadn’t done anything unfamily like, but that she had. I told her that in my large family people are constantly being “let down” and hurt but that we have to forgive each other because we are family. In the end her lack of forgiveness and understanding was the most un-family act of the two. She took the words to heart and apologized and they are all friends again.

Family means having to get over it and get along because you know you will all have to sit with each other next Thanksgiving =)

(This is my silly and very over simplified definition anyway and has nothing to do with abuse situations)

]]> By: xJane http://www.mindonfire.com/2008/03/19/annoyed-by-the-appropriation-of-words-that-are-inherently-good/comment-page-1/#comment-14187 xJane Wed, 19 Mar 2008 22:37:17 +0000 http://www.mindonfire.com/2008/03/19/annoyed-by-the-appropriation-of-words-that-are-inherently-good/#comment-14187 Totally with you, Raquel: "family event" is not for the whole family, but for the younger part of it. And I've nothing against those who have children, but I probably would not attend (just by myself or even just with my husband) such an event without a "family" coming along: my sisters & their kids, or a friend-with-kids. I remember distinctly when "family event" stopped including me. It was just after high school...although, and this is <font size="-1"><u>TANGENT WARNING</u></font>, my high school was K-12, so our events really were "family friendly" in a way that (to my mind) included the whole range of families. There were things to do for just about every age level (up to HS). I don't know if that's how it is here, but I get the feeling that it's not. [/tangent] I wanted to include a link to this story in my post, but couldn't quite fit it in: <a href="http://www.alternet.org/reproductivejustice/79668/?page=entire" rel="nofollow">Horton Hears a Wingnut</a> over at AlterNet about the attempt by the pro-life lobby to appropriate <i>Horton Hears a Who</i>, the book and the movie, since "a person's a person no matter how small" even when you'd be thought of as crazy for naming that person. And against the wishes/objections of both Dr. Seuss & his estate. Totally with you, Raquel: “family event” is not for the whole family, but for the younger part of it. And I’ve nothing against those who have children, but I probably would not attend (just by myself or even just with my husband) such an event without a “family” coming along: my sisters & their kids, or a friend-with-kids. I remember distinctly when “family event” stopped including me. It was just after high school…although, and this is TANGENT WARNING, my high school was K-12, so our events really were “family friendly” in a way that (to my mind) included the whole range of families. There were things to do for just about every age level (up to HS). I don’t know if that’s how it is here, but I get the feeling that it’s not. [/tangent]

I wanted to include a link to this story in my post, but couldn’t quite fit it in: Horton Hears a Wingnut over at AlterNet about the attempt by the pro-life lobby to appropriate Horton Hears a Who, the book and the movie, since “a person’s a person no matter how small” even when you’d be thought of as crazy for naming that person. And against the wishes/objections of both Dr. Seuss & his estate.

]]> By: Mark http://www.mindonfire.com/2008/03/19/annoyed-by-the-appropriation-of-words-that-are-inherently-good/comment-page-1/#comment-14186 Mark Wed, 19 Mar 2008 21:47:08 +0000 http://www.mindonfire.com/2008/03/19/annoyed-by-the-appropriation-of-words-that-are-inherently-good/#comment-14186 Interesting and true take on the use of the word family. Family should be the same as unconditional love. Interesting and true take on the use of the word family. Family should be the same as unconditional love.

]]> By: Raquel http://www.mindonfire.com/2008/03/19/annoyed-by-the-appropriation-of-words-that-are-inherently-good/comment-page-1/#comment-14165 Raquel Wed, 19 Mar 2008 20:10:44 +0000 http://www.mindonfire.com/2008/03/19/annoyed-by-the-appropriation-of-words-that-are-inherently-good/#comment-14165 Hi XJane, A bit of a leap... "Family" now refers to "children". As in this is a "family event". But what is really meant is that "this is kid-centric" and not for adults at all. Thought i'd mention another way that the definition of family is excluding those families who have no children. Hi XJane,
A bit of a leap…
“Family” now refers to “children”. As in this is a “family event”. But what is really meant is that “this is kid-centric” and not for adults at all.
Thought i’d mention another way that the definition of family is excluding those families who have no children.

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