Monday, February 02, 2009
The rise of the words "not appropriate"
When did the expression "not appropriate" become the all-purpose signifier of disapproval? I just heard it again on the news. It's increasingly applied to everything from intemperate outbursts by radio presenters to child abuse. It's a favourite of apologising officials. There's something very mealy-mouthed and prim about it, isn't there? Presumably it was adopted to avoid an overly-judgmental adjective like "wrong".
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Like the use of the word 'issues' instead of 'problems'.
ReplyDeleteIt isn't an issue; nor is it a problem.
ReplyDeleteIt's a challenge!
The world of education may be the root of this - good and bad behaviour replaced by appropriate and inappropriate behaviour - or positive and negative behaviour. Or "challenging" behaviour.
ReplyDeleteAnything but "bad".
Indeed, reading this morning about Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps being caught on camera smoking a bong (http://edition.cnn.com/2009/US/02/01/michael.phelps.marijuana/index.html). Perhaps what he meant was that, given the fact that it was crack cocaine in the bowl and not marijuana, as everyone assumes, he should have been using a more appropriate tool.
ReplyDeleteClinton re. Lewinki, about 49 seconds into the clip
ReplyDeletehttp://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=7r4e5Wg4PDI