Lost Art of Thinking #20: Use Words Wisely

Dumbth: The Lost Art of Thinking by Steve Allen, Rule #20: Use Words Wisely

We do most of our thinking with words, and most of our communicating with other people is done with words, too. So we should always try to use the right words to express our thoughts.

Be aware that the meaning of a word may actually change depending on who says it, when it is said, and where and how it is said.

(Today's slang perverts words, for example. Take the word "pimp." That used to be a derogatory word for a man who forced a woman to act as a prostitute. Now they've got a TV show called Pimp My Ride, in which "pimp" is supposed to be a positive term for rigging out one's car in a cool fashion. [Does my use of the word cool date me? :) ]

Kids who like something now say that it is "da bomb" or "sick." (Even if something is sick, they'll still say it's sick, meaning it in a positive way.)