Thursday, April 09, 2009

curious terminology...

Headline:
Suicide Victim Jumps, Lands on NYC Shopper

Victim? Why not Suicide Perpetrator?

I mean, it's not like the jumper was just some random wrong place/wrong time garden-variety victim. She sort of, uh, made it happen.

I remember seeing an article on a local newscast where a guy had been apprehended by police in the midst of beating the crap out of someone. A few sentences later the newsreader referred to the brute as a "gentleman."

Uh, excuse me? It's not a gentleman until proven guilty. Also, caught in the act is pretty unambiguous, imho.

Why are so-called professionals so clunky with the language? This ain't rocket surgery.

13 comments:

Liz said...

Hee... might be borrowing "rocket surgery"!

Joe Allen said...

"Rocket surgery is when doctor's operate in space. I think."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OR8npn4RK6I

none said...

I'm surprised the teenager didn't die from impact.

NotClauswitz said...

Victim??? The so-called professionals check their rocket-brains at the door.

FarmGirl said...

Ah, but the jumper was obviously sad, or upset or something. Automatically makes a victim.

Really though, I'm often appalled at the abuses of language. I may play fast and loose with grammar sometimes but at least I'm aware that I'm doing it.

Vinogirl said...

Ahh... the poor English language.

closed said...

How about "suicidal idiot"?

Miz Minka said...

Phlegmmy, they're not "professionals"!!! Ha ha.

SRSLY, though: The media won't describe anything "like it is." All this political correctness BS is irritating to no end. I'm currently taking a communications class at our local JC (Liberals and Obama followers galore), and we did an entire week's segment on euphemisms. We also got lots of practice saying things in a "less offensive" manner. UGH. False Speak (a.k.a. LIES) is what it is.

So I'm not in the least surprised that someone attempting suicide would be considered a "victim" by these mindless media weenies (oh, she probably had a baaad childhood!). And don't even get me started on "undocumented immigrants/workers." >:(

On a Wing and a Whim said...

Fatale, remember everybody's a victim unless they're a right-wing redneck gun nut natzi baby-killer whatever euphemism of the moment!

Being non-clunky takes logic. Logic is apparently as uncommon as sense in some parts, sadly.

Attila the Mom said...

It's amazing what caliber of noodleheads are being churned out of journalism schools nowadays. gah!

Dr. StrangeGun said...

*sigh*

Suicidal Jumper Lands on NYC Shopper

Better, and I even saved characters.

Roberta X said...

...The media, they're clueless; this morning, a local newscaster spent about a minute explaining the obscure religious festival, "Easter" to us the home viewers. WTF?

Thomas J Wolfenden said...

Dontcha just love PC?

It's like when someone gets run over... It's always the SUV's fault.

"SUV Runs Down Pedestrians on busy City Street!"

like some poor guy was driving an EVIL SUV.

"I dunno man! I was just tooling along and my Escilade decided to speed off by itself, running over that group of nuns! I couldn't stop it!"