NOM

Two weeks ago I heard a Unitarian Universalist minister give one of the most shocking speeches I have heard in years. It concerns me as a parent and grandparent. It's time to wake up. I'm serious, It's time to wake up. We cannot afford to continue being so divisive and nasty in our country.
Since around 1990 the use of many English words has gone down from between 57% all the way down by 87%. What are some of these words in our language, and are we sure we don't want to keep them and use them, and make sure they do have a good effect on every human life?
Thankfulness Down 83%
Uprightness Down 80%
Fortitude Down 74%
Kindness Down 70%
Gentleness Down 70%
Politeness Down 69%
Bravery Down 66%
Modesty Down 65%
Honor Down 65%
Sincerity Down 64%
Fidelity Down 61%
Marcy Down 60%
Charity Down 57%
Thoughtfulness Down 56%
Gratitude Down 56%
Grace Down 53%
Dignity Down 47%
Decency Down 42%
Truthfulness Down 40%
Love Down 35%
Humility Down 31%
Wisdom Down 25%
Courtesy Down 22%
Respect Down 17%
Appreciation Down 7%

There has been one word that has risen by an amazing 68% and that word is compassion. I will let you guess as to why.

Are we really wanting to leave our public discourse without these fabulous words so our children, our grandchildren will not have them to discuss, use, and appreciate? Are we sure we can't improve ourselves first and try to keep these words and what they stand for IN FRONT of our youth? I have grandchildren now who are so overwhelmingly incredible. I don't want a world without these words. So here is my challenge. Lets all try for the next year to increase our use of these words at least 10%. That's not an overwhelming goal at all. In fact it's almost a lazy goal, but we need to start somewhere.

Especially since we are always talking about Mormons and their apologists and their leaders who appear to us to be just so very far off track. Is there a way we can start squeezing this kind of good vocabulary back into all our lives? I for one will commit to do so. How about the rest of you? Are you game?

I have been thinking about this very thing as of late. The discourse in this country has gotten so very low. Our political leaders have failed us miserably. Not all but enough to cause problems. They fight and call each other names. They exaggerate the offenses of the other. They pander to the most vocal who themselves are not using kind words.

I for one will make an effort to use more kind words. I will ask my leaders to do the same. I do not want my grandchildren living in a country of so much hate.


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And source? Sorry l, I hear stuff like and it screams urban legend. Yes. The minster said it but what paper or study is he quoting this data from, or it is a "It feels real" type situation? A lot of these, particularly in political situations, feel like buzz words.

I can't remember ever using the word uprightness. Pretty sure it is now relegated to erotic literature. The rest of those words are in general use.

I agree about civility taking a hit in public discourse. Anyone who has listened to Trump in the last two weeks will notice a dramatic decline in civility and a skyrocketing of nastiness. Perhaps he is under pressure.

mooseman wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 26, 2019 5:20 am

And source? Sorry l, I hear stuff like and it screams urban legend. Yes. The minster said it but what paper or study is he quoting this data from, or it is a "It feels real" type situation? A lot of these, particularly in political situations, feel like buzz words.

looking for the little upvote arrow...

Just thinking that the internet may have been at least partially to blame for this little seed that is beginning to grow into a noxious, even poisonous weed.

Millions and millions of people, all revealing not WHO they are but WHAT they are deep down inside, when there are almost zero consequences for the things they say online. Most of it anonymously.

Eventually what used to be "controlled thought" in decent society is no longer verbally held back even in public. I feel pretty confident in saying that any newly elected public official who had publicly stated, "We're going to Washington and impeach the motherf****r." in the 1990's would have at the very least been censured and more likely run out of office.

Pessimistically, I don't see this trend changing.

I think Pandora's box has been opened and the Genie is also out of the lamp. It's easy to get the toothpaste out of the tube; not so easy to put it back in. So tighten your seatbelts kids, it's going to be a bumpy ride for quite awhile.

For whatever reason, I did not get the source from the minister, stupid me. However, on my other board I love to inhabit someone did find a study that perhaps was it, or if not, the basis of the info I shared with you. However, I might have it wrong, it was from 1901 to today.
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm ... id=2120724