Euphemisms and dysphemisms are ‘Newspeak’
Posted by John T. Reed on
Apropos of tax law, the word “loophole” is a dysphemism. One observer captured it. “When Congress passes it, it’s an ‘incentive.’ When we use it, it’s a ‘loophole.’”
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I am going to put long lists of both euphemisms and dysphemisms in my book on dishonest arguments. They are forbidden words. If you use them, you are dishonest.
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Is that censorship? Nope. Just calling a spade a spade.
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Who put me in charge? You, if you claimed to be honest. If you claim to be honest but use euphemisms or dysphemisms you engaged in false advertising or something similar.
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The purpose of euphemisms and dysphemisms is to spin, to mislead by using words that have a partisan or magnifying or diminishing connotation rather than use the neutral word that simply communicates accurate information.
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Dysphemisms are a form of innuendo. Innuendo is negative. Euphemisms are positive innuendo. There is not such word. There needs to be one. Outuendendo? Outsinuation?
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Much of dishonest argument is innuendo. I have identified over 60 intellectually-dishonest debate tactics but they are not used equally. A few like innuendo are very heavily used.
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Innuendo and dysphemisms and euphemisms are the 21st Century version of George Orwell’s “Newspeak” in his 1984 book.
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Outing Newspeak is not censorship. Newspeak is censorship.
.
I am going to put long lists of both euphemisms and dysphemisms in my book on dishonest arguments. They are forbidden words. If you use them, you are dishonest.
.
Is that censorship? Nope. Just calling a spade a spade.
.
Who put me in charge? You, if you claimed to be honest. If you claim to be honest but use euphemisms or dysphemisms you engaged in false advertising or something similar.
.
The purpose of euphemisms and dysphemisms is to spin, to mislead by using words that have a partisan or magnifying or diminishing connotation rather than use the neutral word that simply communicates accurate information.
.
Dysphemisms are a form of innuendo. Innuendo is negative. Euphemisms are positive innuendo. There is not such word. There needs to be one. Outuendendo? Outsinuation?
.
Much of dishonest argument is innuendo. I have identified over 60 intellectually-dishonest debate tactics but they are not used equally. A few like innuendo are very heavily used.
.
Innuendo and dysphemisms and euphemisms are the 21st Century version of George Orwell’s “Newspeak” in his 1984 book.
.
Outing Newspeak is not censorship. Newspeak is censorship.
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