auriaephiala found a wonderful quote: "Wolfe was frowning at him. "If you please, Mr. Jarrett, no labels. Labels are for the things men make, not for men. The most primitive man is too complex to be labeled." -- Rex Stout, The Father Hunt.
When politicians or other nasty types do this, BTW, it's called "demonization". For example, how the Republicans have changed the meaning of "liberal" in the U.S.
It's moving definitions and moving the accepted understanding of "normal".
I dislike it intensely. I think that people should be able to adopt their own labels, but not attach them to others.
Picking our own self-descriptors is important. Changing the meaning of words by implication (especially terms like 'liberal') is both insulting and confusing.
P.S. I read all the Nero Wolfe books long ago, and no longer remember lines. I do remember how much I enjoyed reading them. I hope they are still in print.
no subject
Date: 2008-10-07 06:23 pm (UTC)See http://marthawells.livejournal.com/197030.html
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Date: 2008-10-07 06:26 pm (UTC)It's moving definitions and moving the accepted understanding of "normal".
I dislike it intensely. I think that people should be able to adopt their own labels, but not attach them to others.
no subject
Date: 2008-10-07 06:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-10-07 06:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-10-07 06:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-10-08 06:22 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-10-08 12:49 pm (UTC)