I fondly recall the construction company that sold "ecological asphalt"; they happily sold fully normal asphalt to academic and big biz idiots from Stockholm, who tittered and quipped about how good it was this ecological (+15% price tag) alternative existed. Being "alternative" was the shizzle fo rizzle, apparently, and a value in its own right.
The guys who ran the company, with their nine years of compulsory school education, smiled and were polite, and pocketed the extra 15% paid.
Were they dodgy? I think not. They didn't lie - asphalt is very ecological, due to what it's made from.
There's a really effective linguistic trick being used by all sorts of dodgy dealers these days, and that is to add the word "justice" to your description of your cause. I saw a charity person outside the local shops accost my wife this afternoon, and according to his sign he was working for "Vision Justice". In other words, he was seeking donations to help improve the vision of poor people in places like Africa. The implication of course being that their vision is impaired due to injustices inflicted by white people.
"Climate justice" is similar bullshido, as is Palestinian "justice", and every other damned form of "justice" being demanded by every cause under the sun.
When you see someone demanding "justice" for their cause, reach for your gun.
Given the original meaning of justice from the latin is (among a couple of other meanings) "equity" and that equity originally meant "reasonableness and moderation in the exercise of one's rights, making an effort to not insist on said rights overmuch or in an unfair way or too rigorous way", it is extra special dodgy with a helping of scam-scum on top.
I mention this because one method one might consider before reaching for your concluding sentence is, insisting on and using the correct meaning, and doing so in such a way it puts the offender on the back foot - being told before an audience that you're using a word wrong because you are ignorant or manipulative will cuase you to lose the favour of the audience rather rapidly.
Especially if it is done in a helpful, conciliatory manner.
My fine institution, UMass Boston, unknowingly made the point where they published the results of a "racial climate survey" that showed, lo and behold, that no boogeyman systemic racism exists.
What did our Leaders do? Completely ignored the results and plowed on, promising to fight it with all their might.
I fondly recall the construction company that sold "ecological asphalt"; they happily sold fully normal asphalt to academic and big biz idiots from Stockholm, who tittered and quipped about how good it was this ecological (+15% price tag) alternative existed. Being "alternative" was the shizzle fo rizzle, apparently, and a value in its own right.
The guys who ran the company, with their nine years of compulsory school education, smiled and were polite, and pocketed the extra 15% paid.
Were they dodgy? I think not. They didn't lie - asphalt is very ecological, due to what it's made from.
There's a really effective linguistic trick being used by all sorts of dodgy dealers these days, and that is to add the word "justice" to your description of your cause. I saw a charity person outside the local shops accost my wife this afternoon, and according to his sign he was working for "Vision Justice". In other words, he was seeking donations to help improve the vision of poor people in places like Africa. The implication of course being that their vision is impaired due to injustices inflicted by white people.
"Climate justice" is similar bullshido, as is Palestinian "justice", and every other damned form of "justice" being demanded by every cause under the sun.
When you see someone demanding "justice" for their cause, reach for your gun.
Given the original meaning of justice from the latin is (among a couple of other meanings) "equity" and that equity originally meant "reasonableness and moderation in the exercise of one's rights, making an effort to not insist on said rights overmuch or in an unfair way or too rigorous way", it is extra special dodgy with a helping of scam-scum on top.
I mention this because one method one might consider before reaching for your concluding sentence is, insisting on and using the correct meaning, and doing so in such a way it puts the offender on the back foot - being told before an audience that you're using a word wrong because you are ignorant or manipulative will cuase you to lose the favour of the audience rather rapidly.
Especially if it is done in a helpful, conciliatory manner.
The "Romans go house"-option, if you will.
You might like that: https://worldstar.com/videos/wshhW7BQo7mTwxh77274/ugandan-children-re-create-donald-trumps-assassination-attempt-on-tiktok
My fine institution, UMass Boston, unknowingly made the point where they published the results of a "racial climate survey" that showed, lo and behold, that no boogeyman systemic racism exists.
What did our Leaders do? Completely ignored the results and plowed on, promising to fight it with all their might.
It's in three parts:
https://theflickeringbeacon.substack.com/p/umass-boston-racial-climate-survey
https://theflickeringbeacon.substack.com/p/racial-climate-survey-shoots-the
https://theflickeringbeacon.substack.com/p/racial-climate-survey-gives-umass
> "... From the river to the sea; Trans rights are human rights; A threat to our democracy; Nobody is safe until everybody is safe . . . (and so on)".
Indeed. Kill a commie for Christ, close cover before striking, the Patriarchy.
And my personal favorite, "sex is immutable !!11!! 🙄". YMMV ... 😉🙂