People do this because they seek to avoid judgment. Either being judged for their words and choices or being judgmental. That's the original sin, we've ruled that any kind of discernment is out of bounds.
I wrote your quote as a keeper: “And the point of being alive isn’t to speak like fog or fade into the mist, but to act like someone who’s actually breathing.” It is almost rare these days to arrive animated and conversational amidst those checking their screens and disappearing into the fog of angst and neuronothingness except for their experienced feed. Language is such a beautiful terrain and to reduce its diversity and complexity would limit our capacity immensely.
I love this. Thank you for saying this. It's a word that particularly irks me. I said to someone a few days ago that the words "good vibes only" in the context of posts in dating apps really pisses me off. What does that even mean? People who say that are to be avoided like radioactive waste because what it signals - ahead of time - is the pre-emptive shirking of any responsibility for any problems and also intentionality in said relationship. Oh and that they have the maturity of a five-year-old child.
Damn, this is so good, actually made me think. I can imagine language as a means of communication going obsolete, and this essay shows the starting trend of it. But I can imagine a world without language or vocabulary, or even grammar and figures of speech, when we use technology as a primary mode of communication, instead of language. Now that the device in my hand is getting better at understanding what and how I feel, there might be a day when we will actually start using it to share how we feel with another human(who is also equipped with the same piece of technology, tuned to communicate how they understand). This processed communication, while being abstract, will probably also is going to ensure perfect interpretation.
Tom , this was a great article and is a definite must share with others. We have truly lost our ways of using our vocabulary to express what we feel in matters instead of these ridiculous slangs and other terms like manifest , energy and frequency which have been high jacked for unrealistic expectations and creating illusions as well deception. I hope you will do article on those words as well. Keep up the great work Tom !
So appreciate your thoughts landing in my inbox regularly Tom. I quite like the emersion of new words to describe things, vibes to me does have a time and place, but using it as a broad coverall - totally with you. I think you're exhaustion thesis has merit, but could it also be to do with the English language being so functional vs other languages? I wonder if the same degradation is happening in other languages or less so because they have words already that describe an 'atmosphere' whereas in English perhaps we need a sentence - the Danish hygge for example? Yes we're being lazy not to utilise the full English words, but does English just not deliver 'the vibes' people need! :-)
I can't say how much I appreciate and agree with the spirit of what you wrote!
I haven't been able to put my finger on the nondescript make it whatever you want it to mean usage of 67 and it's nauseating effect on nearly every single youth around me that I know of.
I was kicking soccer with my son at the park this afternoon, enjoying the fresh, crisp air and the small chirps of a couple nearby chickadees, and the occasional crow passing overhead. Three children were running and playing on the playground equipment near us. One asked the other something about what power they liked. Seriously....6-7?! Ad nauseum.
I want to stay engaged with the youth in my life and bring truth to bear, just as you have written here. To be discerning, clear, and articulate. Thankyou for sharing your inspiration!
Excellent points, although the analogy to color photography is inaccurate. Color photography wasn’t available until 1907. The contrast and tonal range in photography has varied over its history depending on the technology used and the aesthetics of the era. The chart used is not a factual representation.
Might the of shrinkage of our language be a result of our growing visual language? We are inundated with imagery, memes and the like. As the cliche goes, a picture is worth 1,000 words. The average person consumes a vast amount of photographic imagery in everyday life. As we become more of a visual culture, we may be giving up on the complexities and challenges of language. As we now text each other rather than call for every communication, we lose our conversational skills and as AI suggests and spellchecks words, we give up individuality of thought.
I really enjoy your writing, Tom and yes, I am a photographer:)
People do this because they seek to avoid judgment. Either being judged for their words and choices or being judgmental. That's the original sin, we've ruled that any kind of discernment is out of bounds.
Nailed it. In a world where dialogue is damned and words are weapons, first conversation morphs into incoherence, then it fades into silence.
I wrote your quote as a keeper: “And the point of being alive isn’t to speak like fog or fade into the mist, but to act like someone who’s actually breathing.” It is almost rare these days to arrive animated and conversational amidst those checking their screens and disappearing into the fog of angst and neuronothingness except for their experienced feed. Language is such a beautiful terrain and to reduce its diversity and complexity would limit our capacity immensely.
"neuronothingness" — Stealing that!
Yes you may! Just popped into my head via neuroplane ;)
I love this. Thank you for saying this. It's a word that particularly irks me. I said to someone a few days ago that the words "good vibes only" in the context of posts in dating apps really pisses me off. What does that even mean? People who say that are to be avoided like radioactive waste because what it signals - ahead of time - is the pre-emptive shirking of any responsibility for any problems and also intentionality in said relationship. Oh and that they have the maturity of a five-year-old child.
People use it because it means nothing and they can't stand to be silent in a world that rewards meaningless noise.
Yes. And it absolves them of any responsibility for anything.
Damn, this is so good, actually made me think. I can imagine language as a means of communication going obsolete, and this essay shows the starting trend of it. But I can imagine a world without language or vocabulary, or even grammar and figures of speech, when we use technology as a primary mode of communication, instead of language. Now that the device in my hand is getting better at understanding what and how I feel, there might be a day when we will actually start using it to share how we feel with another human(who is also equipped with the same piece of technology, tuned to communicate how they understand). This processed communication, while being abstract, will probably also is going to ensure perfect interpretation.
Tom , this was a great article and is a definite must share with others. We have truly lost our ways of using our vocabulary to express what we feel in matters instead of these ridiculous slangs and other terms like manifest , energy and frequency which have been high jacked for unrealistic expectations and creating illusions as well deception. I hope you will do article on those words as well. Keep up the great work Tom !
Thank you so very much, Brian!
So appreciate your thoughts landing in my inbox regularly Tom. I quite like the emersion of new words to describe things, vibes to me does have a time and place, but using it as a broad coverall - totally with you. I think you're exhaustion thesis has merit, but could it also be to do with the English language being so functional vs other languages? I wonder if the same degradation is happening in other languages or less so because they have words already that describe an 'atmosphere' whereas in English perhaps we need a sentence - the Danish hygge for example? Yes we're being lazy not to utilise the full English words, but does English just not deliver 'the vibes' people need! :-)
I can't say how much I appreciate and agree with the spirit of what you wrote!
I haven't been able to put my finger on the nondescript make it whatever you want it to mean usage of 67 and it's nauseating effect on nearly every single youth around me that I know of.
I was kicking soccer with my son at the park this afternoon, enjoying the fresh, crisp air and the small chirps of a couple nearby chickadees, and the occasional crow passing overhead. Three children were running and playing on the playground equipment near us. One asked the other something about what power they liked. Seriously....6-7?! Ad nauseum.
I want to stay engaged with the youth in my life and bring truth to bear, just as you have written here. To be discerning, clear, and articulate. Thankyou for sharing your inspiration!
“To be discerning, clear, and articulate.” Amen! Thank you!
Excellent points, although the analogy to color photography is inaccurate. Color photography wasn’t available until 1907. The contrast and tonal range in photography has varied over its history depending on the technology used and the aesthetics of the era. The chart used is not a factual representation.
Might the of shrinkage of our language be a result of our growing visual language? We are inundated with imagery, memes and the like. As the cliche goes, a picture is worth 1,000 words. The average person consumes a vast amount of photographic imagery in everyday life. As we become more of a visual culture, we may be giving up on the complexities and challenges of language. As we now text each other rather than call for every communication, we lose our conversational skills and as AI suggests and spellchecks words, we give up individuality of thought.
I really enjoy your writing, Tom and yes, I am a photographer:)
Thank you so much, Sharon! You might enjoy the link to the original study here: http://lab.sciencemuseum.org.uk/colour-shape-using-computer-vision-to-explore-the-science-museum-c4b4f1cbd72c. Unfortunately, I may have been a bit too vague in my introduction of the chart!
Just @me next time