this post was submitted on 15 Jun 2024
342 points (87.7% liked)

Showerthoughts

29860 readers
511 users here now

A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. A showerthought should offer a unique perspective on an ordinary part of life.

Rules

  1. All posts must be showerthoughts
  2. The entire showerthought must be in the title
  3. Avoid politics
    • 3.1) NEW RULE as of 5 Nov 2024, trying it out
    • 3.2) Political posts often end up being circle jerks (not offering unique perspective) or enflaming (too much work for mods).
    • 3.3) Try c/politicaldiscussion, volunteer as a mod here, or start your own community.
  4. Posts must be original/unique
  5. Adhere to Lemmy's Code of Conduct

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
342
Just realized that "upside down" means "the up side is down", making it upside down (lemmy.ml)
submitted 5 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
113 comments fedilink hide all child comments
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] [email protected] 18 points 5 months ago (3 children)

Go further. For example, people say 'gypped' without knowing it's a pejorative reference to the word 'Gypsy' which is itself a pejorative of the Romani.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 5 months ago (1 children)

My favorite recently is sophist from the pejorative Platonic definition. It really puts words like sophisticated in a different etymological light and subtle contextual meaning.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 months ago (1 children)

What's sophist mean?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 months ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophist_(dialogue)

Fake but convincing by argument, gaslighting, etc., generally by someone in a position like a professor, a judge, or a politician.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 5 months ago

And the Egyptians, too!

[–] [email protected] 0 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I remember learning this about 20ish years ago and telling my then-sister in law about it when I explained why I wasn't going to use it anymore. I got told I had a stick up my ass, and this was by a marginalized (gay, immigrant) woman. (Somewhat unrelated note - very grateful she's a former relation.)

So glad people have been learning and I've been hearing "gypped" less and less in recent years.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (2 children)

Some words have simply entered common use and become decoupled from their former meaning. Maybe your acquaintance was right.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago

Watching my own language means my "acquaintance" was right? I don't think I'm the one with a stick, if that's the case.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 5 months ago

Seems like Orwell was right