Compliment + Time = Condescension

[TGTheodore]

I thought about posting this in the Promenade Miscellaneous Forum, but since it's word play, I thought my fellow scribes here in TrekLit might want to take a shot at it.

In the WALL-E thread, I made a comment about the movie being "sweet, in the GOOD sense of the word". Then I felt stupid that I had to add the explanation.

I suddenly realized a lot of complimentary words from years gone by have actually been bent to become condescending.

Another word is "clever". It once was a universally accepted compliment, but now "My, how clever" or "Aren't you clever?" are definite chides, or words used to evade having to say something bad about something else.

What other words were once universal compliments which, through sarcasm, misuse or other means, have become the opposite?

--Ted

 

[JoeZhang]

That's fascinating, no really it is....

 

[Geoff Thorne]

I thought about posting this in the Promenade Miscellaneous Forum, but since it's word play, I thought my fellow scribes here in TrekLit might want to take a shot at it.

In the WALL-E thread, I made a comment about the movie being "sweet, in the GOOD sense of the word". Then I felt stupid that I had to add the explanation.

I suddenly realized a lot of complimentary words from years gone by have actually been bent to become condescending.

Another word is "clever". It once was a universally accepted compliment, but now "My, how clever" or "Aren't you clever?" are definite chides, or words used to evade having to say something bad about something else.

What other words were once universal compliments which, through sarcasm, misuse or other means, have become the opposite?

--Ted

Sir. Take your hands off the keyboard and step away from the computer.

NOW, sir. We are not kidding.

 

[TGTheodore]

That's fascinating, no really it is....

Beats my "-ic" vs. "-ical" thread (which actually went a very long time).

--Ted

 

[Trent Roman]

Maybe not necessarily compliments, but I've often wondered if the paternalistic dimunitives used by certain older men (son, boy, sport, etc.) ever had the kind of affectionate, familial nature the words themselves imply, or if they always were the condescending, 'know-your-place' kind of terminology they're used for now.

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

 

[Dancing Doctor]

Well now, isn't this special?

I'm sure your parents are very proud of you.

You must have put a lot of thought into this.

Do you have much time on your hands?

Really, this is...definitely interesting.

Oh, you're being serious?

Well then...

 

[JD]

Well, now that's just great.

 

[Lindley]

Oh, terrific.

 

[Dancing Doctor]

Super.

 

[JoeZhang]

That's fascinating, no really it is....

Beats my "-ic" vs. "-ical" thread (which actually went a very long time).

--Ted

opps! that was meant in response to your question - it only occurred to me later that it could seem I was actually bagging on you.

 

[Mistral]

Gay. The word was a sign of happiness in the Mauve Decade and is now used, as often as not, as a pejorative in reference to homosexuals.

And a little more happiness disappears into the cesspool our society has become....

 

[Trent Roman]

^ "Become"? Not really. Society has always been a cesspool. We're just more honest about it than previous generations.

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I've definitely noticed this, Ted, but my pounding headache is preventing me from recalling the usual words I've noticed occurring with.

 

[Christopher]

Gay. The word was a sign of happiness in the Mauve Decade and is now used, as often as not, as a pejorative in reference to homosexuals.

Actually it's not nearly as pejorative anymore, at least not in the minds of most in the self-styled gay community.

 

[Rush Limborg]

Actually it's not nearly as pejorative anymore

Yeah, it's like "Right-Wing Nutcase". It USED to be a derogatory term, but nowadays, Right-ys like Glen Beck, Sean Hannity, and the all-powerfull Rush Limbaugh wear it like a bage of honor!

I myself am proud to wear the title. Hence my screen name. And my motto.

 

[TGTheodore]

That's fascinating, no really it is....

Beats my "-ic" vs. "-ical" thread (which actually went a very long time).

--Ted

opps! that was meant in response to your question - it only occurred to me later that it could seem I was actually bagging on you.

I took it as a humorous jab AND an answer to the question. No problem.

--Ted

 

[William Leisner]

Actually it's not nearly as pejorative anymore

Yeah, it's like "Right-Wing Nutcase". It USED to be a derogatory term, but nowadays, Right-ys like Glen Beck, Sean Hannity, and the all-powerfull Rush Limbaugh wear it like a bage of honor!

Oh, it's still a derogatory term. That those three boneheads are too dense to realize it is unsurprising.

 

[Trent Roman]

George Lucas' attempt to introduce 'wizard' as a complimentary expression in Phantom Menace probably holds the record for the fastest a word went from being a compliment to being the subject of derision. (I still have an old 1999 Lego catalogue exclaiming, across a two-page spread, "IT'S SO WIZARD!" Makes me laugh to this day.)

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

 

[Deano2099]

Gay. The word was a sign of happiness in the Mauve Decade and is now used, as often as not, as a pejorative in reference to homosexuals.

Actually it's not nearly as pejorative anymore, at least not in the minds of most in the self-styled gay community.

Weirdly it's not so much used as a pejorative in reference to homosexuals anymore as it is just used as a general expression of disdain by 'the kids'. "What Mum? I can't have a PS3 and XBox 360 for Christmas? That's gay."

 

[Steve Roby]

George Lucas' attempt to introduce 'wizard' as a complimentary expression in Phantom Menace probably holds the record for the fastest a word went from being a compliment to being the subject of derision. (I still have an old 1999 Lego catalogue exclaiming, across a two-page spread, "IT'S SO WIZARD!" Makes me laugh to this day.)

Lucas may responsible for completely blowing the emotional power of a key Star Wars scene by using the goofy word "younglings" but he's not entirely responsible this time. "Wizard" actually was once a term used in some circles (mainly British, I believe) meaning great, wonderful, cool, etc. But not in a long time.