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Noah -> RE: It's true NOT "twue"!!!! (10/21/2006 9:17:29 PM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: mistoferin
True is a four letter word....but that doesn't make it a BAD word. Actually I think it's a rather good word. I am really annoyed how so many make a mockery of it here. I think all this "twue" crap is pretty immature....and all of the other "w" speak too.. Personally, after looking at the definition of true, I know that I would not be involved with anyone on a serious level if I felt they did not have the characteristics associated with the word. Steadfast, loyal, honest, just, truthful, ideal, essential, consistent. I don't understand how those are bad things to be. Granted, what rings true for me may not ring true for you.....but the word actually has some merit....at least for me.
I think "true" is a good word too. I also regret the frequency with people make a mockery of it. The cases I have in mind are the cases where people describe their personal preferences as "the true" or "the real" (real is another perfectly serviceable word which unfortunately is commonly used in inappropriate and often denigrating ways around here.)
Sometimes I comment on these uses of the word true which only serve to gut its meaning. Sometimes I comment on those usages by satirically using the term "twue". When I say twue I am not mocking the word true. I am defending, in a very small way, the gutting of this wonderful word by those who use it in a way that is radically relativistic. I am mocking the activity of the person using the word true in this particular manner.
There has been some talk of childishness in this thread. What is more childish than to say: "Words mean what I say they mean"? I suppose some adults would kowtow to a child who proceeded in that fashion but I think most of us in dealing with a child beyond a certain very young age would do them the kindness of pointing out that the world doesn't work that way.
When someone says "true means whatever I say it means to me" I think they are being ridiculous. Sworn in to the witness stand this person can say he saw his neighbor at the bank when he was actually saw her at the gas station, or didn't see her at all. The witness has sworn to tell the truth, and his definition of truth is "Whatever I say it is." Maybe to them "justice" also means nothing but what they say it means so it is neither here nor there that they have made a strategic decision to abandon the idea of truth as it has been understood for millenia, only to use that word where other people mean would say "my personal preference or opinion."
Yeah, mistoferin, as long as you consistently explain that by "true submissive" you mean, say, "courteous and loyal submissive" (or whatever) you can reappropriate the word true without doing violence to it. But you must know as well as I do that the many people who habitually use the words true and real in the sense at issue don't consistently qualify their usage. And what's the point anyway?
If you mean "courteous and loyal" (please substitute whatever you actually prefer there) why not just say "courteous and loyal"?
In the first place it would make your point ever so much more clearly and in the second place it would avoid kindling discussion like this one? Why not just be clear?
We can call courteous, loyal subs "true" or we can call them "green" or we can call them "phyllis". But for heaven's sake, why? Why not just call them courteous and loyal?
Here are four possible thread topics:
"Are there any green subs left out there?"
"Are there any phyllis subs left out there?"
"Are there any true subs left out there?"
"Are there any courteous and loyal subs out there?"
If the kind of subs the poster wants to discuss are courteous and loyal, the choice of how to word the topic seems simple and clear to me. Say what you mean rather than taking a word with a well-established meaning and expecting others of every age, gender and background to first of all understand your personal, idiosyncratic meaning and secondly not to be miffed that you are needlessly muddying the waters and devaluing a very valuable word like "true."
I'm trying to explain--with the goal of increased mutual understanding--why it is that the kind of use of "true" that is at issue here irks other people even as the use of "twue" irks you.
I hope you can take it (or leave it) for what it is, a discussion about people's reactions to certain word usages and not as some sort of attack on you.
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