Apparently though, the company
line is the launch was a success and they used optimistic terminology to
describe the explosion, calling it a "Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly".
That made me laugh, chuckle, chortle and I am still smiling whenever I think of
that term.
Which brings up the language used by organizations, governmental, religious, charitable and private. No matter how awful or wrong the situation might be, these groups always try to put a positive spin on that negative situation by the way they manipulate our mother tongue.
Bureaucracies, no matter whether they are public or private, never want to use plain English when disorienting and confusing "Doublespeak" can take its place. "Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly" ranks right up there with some of the newer terms like "Alternative Facts", "Negative Patient Outcome", "Enhanced Interrogation"; the list is endless.
The word "Doublespeak" is a combining of ideas taken from the famous novel by George Orwell, "1984". They are "Doublethink" and "Newspeak":
- Doublethink describes the ability to hold two contradictory ideas in your mind at the same time and accept the result.
- Newspeak is language designed to limit a range of thought.
- Doublespeak is a hybrid of the two that seems to describe the overall goals of Doublethink and Newspeak.
The main thrust of all of them is never speak the truth, always speak around it. Truth and facts are the enemy. Dimming the inner light folks are blessed with is the goal and makes them easier to control.
Changing the descriptors from
plain English to the hybrid English does nothing to change the situation or
event, and almost never changes the perception by anyone with half a brain. Yet
the bureaucrats, cubicle clowns of industry, and the purveyors of the Politically Correct all seem to think it is okay to take out or ignore the words they feel are
too harsh for our sensibilities or too factual for their own comfort. It is as if they feel creating new verbiage can
somehow slip their sleazier efforts right by us. Sadly, oftentimes they are correct.
Most of the time their makeovers of the Lexicon to satisfy their specific group needs is nothing but comedy. Lately though,
this messing with our language is getting out of hand. I can't seem to keep up,
what with the need now to learn how to use pronouns in a specific way so as to
not hurt someone’s feelings. Or maybe now I am expected to accept
"Alternative Facts" as a viable option to "Real
Facts".
We are not just fucking our country up worse than ever with culture wars, religious wars and who can be the dumbest wars, we are also dragging the language we cherish down with it. (537)
Life does not need to be this complicated ........................................
______________________
Again Rage Against the Machine comes up with the tune that satisfies. It is called "Testify" . It is a tad dated, but very relevant and on point sorta. These lyrics point to what The Machine, The Deep Pockets, the Thought Police and The Over Faithful want.
They tug us this way, that way in an effort for us to live life their way.
Who controls the past now controls the futureWho controls the present now controls the pastWho controls the past now controls the futureWho controls the present now?
3 comments:
I got a kick out of how they put it, besides they wasn't really expecting it get to space.
That expression just cracked me up. Whoever made it up should get a raise. And likely will. Glad no one was on board.
Good friend of mine who is an economist and policy wonk in a government department is trying to get himself fired so he can collect a good severance package. His bosses and other people they hire, supposedly economists, are clueless even about basics. So he writes his papers in very strict economic terms to confuse them.
That sounds like an apt description of my third marriage.
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