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George Carlin's "Soft Language" (2019)

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Re: George Carlin's "Soft Language" (2019)

#31

Post by Tao3300 »

dralley wrote: post #14
constantly wrote: post #9

What’s the effect here? I don’t think I like soft language, but can’t really pinpoint why I don’t like it. Is it bad that some company came up with toilet paper and now it’s bathroom tissue? Shell shock is now PTSD? Who cares?

A common theme with a lot of Carlin rants - they resonate well, but they're completely wrong. I don't think we want to describe sexual assault victims as having "shell shock". Even a soldier could get "shell shock" without encountering any shells. The language got softer not because we're all a bunch of softies but because we noticed a general pattern and generalized the name to match.

Partly cloudy and partly sunny are different too. Are we sure he didn't revert back into the Hippy Dippy Weatherman when he said that?

Re: George Carlin's "Soft Language" (2019)

#32

Post by drivingmenuts »

ad404b8a372f2b9 wrote: post #18
harryvederci wrote: post #3

My favourite one in Dutch: People with a disability used to be called "handicapped". At some point, that was no longer acceptable. The correct term to use became "invalid". So it was better to say "that person is invalid" than "that person is handicapped".

That's funny we went the opposite way in France, "invalid" in the past, now "handicapped".

I have heard the term "differently abled" kicked around, which completely buries the actual issue. As a "differently abled" person, I will say I don't need to go hiding my handicap, I'd much rather someone figure out to help me adapt better or just fix it, rather than hiding it. I know I have a problem, I have it all day every day. Why are people who don't have my problems so concerned about just saying it out loud?

Re: George Carlin's "Soft Language" (2019)

#33

Post by Tao3300 »

baggy_trough wrote: post #29
dralley wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A common theme with a lot of Carlin rants - they resonate well, but they're completely wrong. I don't think we want to describe sexual assault victims as having "shell shock". Even a soldier could get "shell shock" without encountering any shells. The language got softer not because we're all a bunch of softies but because we noticed a general pattern and generalized the name to match.

Completely wrong?

Don't lose sight of the fact that a comedian is telling jokes and speaking in character.

Re: George Carlin's "Soft Language" (2019)

#34

Post by constantly »

hfuyf65 wrote: post #28
dralley wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A common theme with a lot of Carlin rants - they resonate well, but they're completely wrong. I don't think we want to describe sexual assault victims as having "shell shock". Even a soldier could get "shell shock" without encountering any shells. The language got softer not because we're all a bunch of softies but because we noticed a general pattern and generalized the name to match.

If they resonate well, it either means the population as whole thinks it is accurate or that the population as a wholr is wrong. Either is possible, but I think you are wrong about Carlin being wrong. Language defines the quality of our conversations. If we can't be honest with it, some nuance will be lost.

There are many things in the middle of the false dichotomy you’ve presented. Such as “people don’t really think about it deeply and it sounds superficially good so they like it” or “people laugh because he’s a comedian but don’t take it seriously because of same.”

Re: George Carlin's "Soft Language" (2019)

#35

Post by Eumenes »

jacquesm wrote: post #4
squarefoot wrote: post #2

George Carlin should be studied, translated and dubbed in every possible language.

The better stand-up comedians are hard to distinguish from philosophers. Carlin is right up there. It's a pity he's gone, we kind of need him right now.

Carlin has only ever been a "philosopher" to juveniles. He was right on corporate America and the American war machine, but he was a self-loathing misanthrope and nihilist

Re: George Carlin's "Soft Language" (2019)

#36

Post by [deleted] »

dralley wrote: post #14
constantly wrote: post #9

What’s the effect here? I don’t think I like soft language, but can’t really pinpoint why I don’t like it. Is it bad that some company came up with toilet paper and now it’s bathroom tissue? Shell shock is now PTSD? Who cares?

A common theme with a lot of Carlin rants - they resonate well, but they're completely wrong. I don't think we want to describe sexual assault victims as having "shell shock". Even a soldier could get "shell shock" without encountering any shells. The language got softer not because we're all a bunch of softies but because we noticed a general pattern and generalized the name to match.

[deleted]

Re: George Carlin's "Soft Language" (2019)

#37

Post by nickdothutton »

I developed a love of history in later life, not at school, and quite independently a detestation of these watered-down modern phrases. Consequently I occasionally drag up a Monty Burnseque term. If you are not aware of it already, I highly recommend “Politics and the English Language” by Orwell. It’s an easy read.

Re: George Carlin's "Soft Language" (2019)

#39

Post by selfhoster11 »

mrtksn wrote: post #17

>"Americans have trouble facing the truth," Carlin said. "So they invent a kind of a soft language to protect themselves from it" It is useful and not limited to Americans, that's why people do it. Much more people would have been vegans or they would be much more indifferent to violence if every pack of meat had a QR code to a video showing the life and processing of that particular animal. It's also not just soften…

> Much more people would have been vegans or they would be much more indifferent to violence if every pack of meat had a QR code to a video showing the life and processing of that particular animal.

I think more people would be pushing for animal welfare and proper slaughtering/raising conditions if this was done, even if they still ate meat.

Re: George Carlin's "Soft Language" (2019)

#40

Post by Kye »

hfuyf65 wrote: post #10
jacquesm wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The better stand-up comedians are hard to distinguish from philosophers. Carlin is right up there. It's a pity he's gone, we kind of need him right now.

He would have had a field day if he was alive. It is a loss for all of us that he is gone. Still, we now have Chapelle, who is building similiar legacy and potentially Bill Burr one day. Absolute agreement on the philosopher/jester vibes.

Dave Chappelle walked away from money out of principle when it came to making jokes about people like him for white audiences, but happily cracks jokes about trans people. He's a has-been and a hypocrite and Carlin would end his career.
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