(Text is snipped below from two Emails) Well, the reason I ask the question again is that #1: I don't think anyone can honestly say that they like every single new word that's ever been added to the English language, or that they like every single new way of using an old word, and #2: to point out the inconsistency that should be blatantly apparent. Steve's and David's responses beg the questions: Who gets to decide what is a good change and what is a bad change?? Where is this "line" to be drawn, or will it be completely arbitrary and there will be no guidelines?? Are we supposed to have a new department in the US government that decides how people get to use words to communicate? Or perhaps the Department of Education can handle it? But this only covers the US - I supposed we should approach ALL countries that speak English and get them involved, too. I think you see where I'm headed here. As I stated previously, I don't think anyone would say they like every single language change or addition. I know I certainly don't, and I myself often cringe at certain words or turns of phrase. Voicing a small complaint is one thing, but this discussion has gone past that to the point where it seems more like....well, like whining. "Why, oh why can't everyone use just the words *I* like in the ways *I* like to use them? People who "abuse" the language [according to the speaker's definition of abuse] should stop!" Well, please. That's not going to happen. I could understand your stridency a little better if you (plural here, not singular) were at least CONSISTENT about it. If you at least could say "I hate every single time the English language evolves and I wish it would stop" then I might not find this discussion increasingly silly because then your arguments would be logical. But that's not what you're saying. Essentially, you seem to be saying that you know better, and so anyone who dares step off the same use of language path that you're on is nasty, ignorant, or somehow defective. In which case, you're never going to be happy because there never will be an office whose job it is to tell people what words they can and can not use (at least let us sincerely hope not). Or I guess you could simply publish your addresses, phone numbers, and Emails and tell people that you know better, and if they use a word they should give you a call and ask if they are using it properly. This post is pretty blunt, but I'm really not trying to be offensive. Maybe my question should be: So what do you want to do about it? Is it just that you need to vent and complain for a bit? If so, OK then, vent away. Do you honestly think you can fix it or control it? If so, then please explain how. In other words, what is the point of the arguing and complaining? Just to argue for argument's sake, or is something actually supposed to be accomplished? Stacy In a message dated Fri, 16 Aug 2002 8:33:46 AM Eastern Standard Time, dd-b at dd-b.net writes: > Then you're not paying attention. He's explicitly talked about > supporting certain kinds of changes, *and* he's explicitly > acknowledged that changes happen without his consent from time to > time. What more do you want? Any arbitrary change to be > automatically supported? That you won't be getting, from > Steven *or* > me. In a message dated Fri, 16 Aug 2002 8:37:30 AM Eastern Standard Time, skzb at dreamcafe.com writes: > I'm not sure how many times I am supposed to answer this one. > > No. > > I am well aware that language changes. I reserve the right to consider > some of the changes good, and use them; and to consider other changes bad, > and not use them, and even object to them under certain > circumstances.