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In reply to the discussion: It seems that for some posters on DU, they think it is their duty to call others lazy, or trumpers ,(OMG), [View all]snot
(11,279 posts)understandably so, since they are sometimes a means of covertly undermining or devaluing the person corrected/advised, even when the corrector's conscious intentions were to be helpful.
On the other hand, the purpose of language is communication, which is among the most important sources of human empowerment arguably perhaps even the most important source. Diction and grammar, evolved over eons of continual use, can when skillfully deployed be incredibly efficient and effective means not only for communicating and storing precise information (or alternatively, for deception), but even for thinking.
I often hear or see people confusing themselves or others through an imprecise use of language, sometimes unwittingly and sometimes willfully.
All of that said, I absolutely agree that it's a speaker's intent that matters.
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