> Now that I've read your response, I would just like to let you
> know mine. As a female, I find this sort of bastardization of the
> language exceedingly reactionary. English is a fairly young
> language. As such, it is already evolving at a higher than
> average rate. Verbal communication is fraught with sufficient
> pitfalls. I personally would prefer it if we could all attempt to
> communicate in the commonly acceptted (e.g., dictionary)
> terminology. Of course, I fully understand that this is merely my
> opinion and you have an equal right to your own.
...communicating in the "commonly accepted (e.g. dictionary)
terminology" would be fine if everyone were using the same dictionary
and/or were conscious of the concepts they propagate through their
choice of words.
...As I pointed out in another post (which included etymological
references from Websters, which btw. I'm willing to accept as a
common standard, at least for this discussion) there are distinct
assumptions made in the construction out the terms we assign to
persons of different gender. These assumptions are valuations and not
merely tags for category distinctions.
...further along the etymology trail:
Main Entry: bas·tard·ize
Pronunciation: 'bas-t&r-"dIz
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): -ized; -iz·ing
Date: 1587
1 : to reduce from a higher to a lower state or condition : DEBASE
...your choice of the word "bastardize" to describe my modification was significant. In the main content of your argument you try to portray a viewpoint whereby your concern is with the accelerated transformation of the language in a time of high mutation, your choice of words illustrates that you concern is in fact with a quality judgement you're making on the modification.
...if we can't (don't?) examine the words we use to communicate then how are we tu use them effectively?
> What is your basis for this concept? More to the point, what is
> this concept?
...I'll attempt to deconstruct myself by way of answer
humyns have means of ordering information other than the mind.
...the mind is a tool, as an arm or a hand is a tool - an organismlevel modification attained through evolutionary action to provide interface between an active system node and the environment. ...An arm is a tool for manipulating external (note: I'm using the word external advisedly, strictly speaking I don't acknowledge anything external, but it'll have to do) materials. A mind is a tool for extracting patterns.
...keeping with my current etymological bent
Main Entry: 1mind
Pronunciation: 'mInd
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English gemynd; akin to Old High
German gimunt memory, Latin ment-, mens mind, monEre to remind, warn,
Greek menos spirit, mnasthai, mimnEskesthai to remember
>>(emergent properties of the spiritual/biological complex)
...the mind is a product of biology (I'm fairly sure that's a safe
thing to make axiomatic in this forum. objections?) but in any
sufficiently complex system configurations of variables arise
(emergent properties) which act as metasystems (worlds within
worlds). Within my experience I have an awareness of HAVING AN
EXPERIENCE, this is other than a conscious ordering of input.
...within the humyn organism there is a mechanism for the assignation
of meaning - not definitional meaning, but significance. To use
accepted terminology, there are filters on the personal ideosphere.
This mechanism operates outside the purview of the mind-[as memory],
mind-[as pattern-recognition unit] or
mind- [as symbolic interpreter]. Traditional terminology for this
system in the organism is "soul". Again from Websters: (paying
particular attention to section 5, subsection b.
Main Entry: 1soul
Pronunciation: 'sOl
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English soule, from Old English sAwol; akin to Old
High German sEula soul
Date: before 12th century
1 : the immaterial essence, animating principle, or actuating cause
of an individual life
2 a : the spiritual principle embodied in human beings, all rational
and spiritual beings, or the universe b capitalized, Christian
Science : GOD 1b
3 : a person's total self
4 a : an active or essential part b : a moving spirit : LEADER
5 a : the moral and emotional nature of human beings b : the quality
that arouses emotion and sentiment c : spiritual or moral force :
FERVOR
...emotion and sentiment are significant factors in the humyn experience. They are also qualities of memetic structure.
... I call this concept "freedom". Different cultures, societues and groups have had different names for it.
-psypher