I think that many parents have a mental list of words that they do not want spoken in their home by their children. Most of those are cuss words and hate words. This is parental responsibility to help our child be polite and kind. Those words aside, would you ever add any of the following words to your banned list?
AMAZING
They say this word is over used and used incorrectly. While I can see that, it is an adjective to describe something and is an opinion. How can we judge how something makes someone else feel? What is amazing to them, might not it is amazing to us, but should we tell others how to use the word and what to feel?
This old word goes back to about 1593 and means :causing amazement, great wonder, or surprise.
It seems to me that what is a surprise to me might not be to you. In other other words, I am amazed this harmless word is on a banned list!
BABY BUMP
They say this word reduces pregnancy to a celebrity accessory and makes a deep important choice look trendy. Again, I can see why some do not like it. I do not use it personally but not for any of those reasons. I think it is a simple way of saying pregnancy, it brings a lightness to a natural event that I believe our society sees as so scary and burdensome. It does not in my opinion take away from a reverent pregnancy and I do not think it reduces motherhood for those who look at it differently. Baby bump is a simple visual and I would not be surprised if it was something picked up from young children. It seems innocent to me. Why bother banning a word that is not harmful?
SHARED SACRIFICE
Aside from how some politics use this term to get others to give up what they are not willing to, I think this is an important notion. Our country has fallen into this commercialism that is all about “me” and no long about “us” like it once was. We are mammals that are supposed to live in groups and would not be here if there had not been groups supporting one another. On our own or in just pairs I do not think we would have evolved the way we have. Add to this the fact that I am a military wife and my husband and I try to instill sacrifice for service in our family. We believe that it is important to serve society in ways that not simply about the self. If our neighbors are starving, it is on us to help if we are able. We believe the true evil would be looking the other way and giving excuses as to why the other family should not be lazy or yadda yadda and get their own. We can’t possibly know the whole situation, if we however help at all, it is our duty to do so as good human beings. We believe this as humanist, not because a higher power or book tells us we should. We believe it because it is logical and morally right. We must take care of one another so that our society can survive and thrive. Being selfish and only looking out for #1 plays to the human weakness that left unchecked will crumble society in our opinions. Ants know how to work together better than we do, they don’t all go out to live alone. They collect resources for them all. We have these wonderful minds and yet we are lagging behind ants in that we don’t support one another so we can all thrive.
OCCUPY
A year ago few people used this word and now it seems to be all over the place. I think that was the point of the occupy movement and while some jokingly use it to occupy their couch, it still has meaning and is still important I am not sure why anyone would want to ban it. The occupy movement in my opinion would be something our founding fathers would have supported, though I think they would have done so with guns in hands. We are a peaceful nation within our own walls and while other places have violent revolt against their 1% when it become oppressive, occupy has chosen a more civil path. I hope it makes the history books.
BLOWBACK
Not a word I hear often and not one that I see the point in banning either.
MAN CAVE
While my husband does not have one, my father does. I think it describes his personal space simply and clearly. His is a garage he says is his man cave. My father is one of the least trendy people I have ever met. He is however an old fashioned hunter, fisherman, and handyman. He is a blue collar machinist tool maker. His personal space is being used for rebuilding a classic car these days. It has a pellet stove in it to keep warm and many other things he enjoys. No TV, not comfy chair, and no cooler for beer even. It is his man cave though. I see it much the same way I do my crafting room. It is moms room because it is in no way child safe, because chances are no one knows where anything is in it but me even with everything having a place. No tv in it and just a workable chair. It is my space. Many women have them, no cute name for them that I am aware of. A man cave has often been a special space for Dad in a garage, office, or basement. While they do not all look the same, the concept is simple, a space for him and the things he tends to do alone. Sorry Dad, I have no interest in welding. LOL It’s ok Dad, its not your fault that you could not find my snap press when you went into my craft room. 🙂 I don’t see the harm.
THE NEW NORMAL
Our family has found a new normal with our son starting school this year like his older sister. We homeschool so it is a bigger change than if we would just drop him off at a school I am thinking. There is no choice, he must be educated and so we must adapt and hopefully do so well. I think “the new normal” is a fitting phrase and again, not sure why anyone would want to ban it.
I have just talked about the first few words in this list and I will spare you my opinions on the rest. I am a mother who believes in attachment and peaceful parenting, one that tries to not say no without a very good reason. Maybe that is why I want a very good reason to consider banning words that are not rude or hateful. Please feel free to share your opinions about them. In the end, I could always be wrong. For me though, there is no real reason to ban any of these words. To me it seems the “trendy” thing to ban words.
PET PARENT
WIN THE FUTURE
TRICKERATION
GINORMOUS
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE
Lake Superior State University 2012 List of Banished Words
