provocative phrases

lemongrove

That’s because the ‘lefty’ thing comes from the US , as many things and words do, like ‘pinko’ as well.
It was adopted into use here at some point.

I always understood that it came from the French Revolution?

That’s because the ‘lefty’ thing comes from the US , as many things and words do, like ‘pinko’ as well.
It was adopted into use here at some point.

When an acquaintance told me that someone else was a "lefty" it wasn't hard to guess that his position would be right of centre.

Interestingly I've never heard anyone described as "righty" perhaps because that might imply correctness.

PECS I think it is virtue signalling not “virtual signalling” which would be something else altogether.
But I too despair of the poverty of our language - the memes, the linguistic shortcuts which are often appalling generalisations and the laziness of those in public life who may think they are saying what they mean, but often don’t even mean what they say.
It is a case of “A word means what I want it to mean” ?
Certain phrases and words automatically identify political attitudes and consequently because battle lines are drawn up, rational discussion flies out of the window.

varian indeed that is the issue.. we read headlines, take in the SPADs soundbites but we rarely read up on the evidence /sources of the 'claims'.
The skill of a good debater is to have evidence, not opinion, to hand so when challenged can defend a position with hard facts.
Some conversations can be based on opinion.. e.g. do you like Chinese food or did you enjoy your holiday? but others need proper knowledge and facts ..otherwise it is just a "yeah but..." argument.

There are also perfectly acceptable phrases which are misused by populists to the extent that they become dog whistles.

"Common sense" means "our opinion" because "people like us" all agree.

Another one is "People are saying" or "People are thinking" or "People want.." Which people say or think or want the policy you are promoting? What is the evidence?

Sometimes it is just a case of repeating unsubstantiated claims or even outright lies enough times in the hope that eventually people believe it to be true.

Sadly this tactic can be successful, as we saw when Cummings instructed his army of brexit phone canvassers to keep repeating "£350 million and Turkey"

To the right wing populists in the USA, there is no difference between the terms "liberal", "socialist" and "communist". They are all terms of abuse.

Whereas we talk about our National Health Service, which is not just accepted, but highly regarded, even loved, right across the political spectrum, in the USA they use the term "socialised medicine" to decry the very concept of access to healthcare for all, free at the point of use.

Eloethan I agree with you on ‘bleeding hearts’ it’s just a put down.
I think it used to be called ‘bleeding heart liberals’ it’s a phrase that’s been around a long time ( from the US I think.)

PECS

Suziewoozie I think I feel that type of poster is the kid who is sweetness and delight in the classroom gaining the approval of the teacher but is sly and spiteful in the corridor and toilets!

Unlike the sort of kid who is sly and spiteful in every area of the school perhaps?

When politicians use the words "our friends" when their other words and actions have never indicated friendliness.

Similarly, "with the greatest respect".

"bleeding hearts" when discussing subjects such as penal reform.

Suziewoozie I think I feel that type of poster is the kid who is sweetness and delight in the classroom gaining the approval of the teacher but is sly and spiteful in the corridor and toilets!

Who swears at anyone on GN? A response to a post eg FFS or WTF is not the same as saying posterA just FO you f***er.. That would clearly be not on.

PECS

I am sure we all have failing and ways of annoying others. None of us is perfect!

We are still like the kids I watched so often in the playground: some cry wolf, some provoke then play innocent when someone kicks back, some wisely stay on the periphery and others blunder in and are surprised when everyone gets upset!

The difference is some of us are open in our behaviour and it’s clear to others - whereas others are absolutely first class at playing ? Pearl clutching is one manifestation of the latter type of poster.

I am sure we all have failing and ways of annoying others. None of us is perfect!

We are still like the kids I watched so often in the playground: some cry wolf, some provoke then play innocent when someone kicks back, some wisely stay on the periphery and others blunder in and are surprised when everyone gets upset!

Ah but some use swearing and backstabbing insults as weapons in their armoury....a double whammy.

well, we are all different, and that is good. But I'd rather someone swore at me than use some of the awful backstabbing insults people us on the internet to avoid being deleted or banned. So two faced and hypocritical.

I don’t swear at people, either in full or acronyms......but if I did I expect I would be superb at it.?

PECS

Ah well I use FFS in frustration ..a habit I know but I do not mind an occasional expletive. Either in my direction, if I have been a dumb-cluck about something, or at others who have messed up! I don't like to hear it as a regular part of someone's speech 'effing& blinding' but I do not consider an occasional swear word a sign of ill education or inability to use the English language with skill.

Ah, but PECS, there is a huge difference between swearing in frustration and swearing at someone.

@suziewoozie at17.11 you asked me to articulate more clearly a post I'd made. I did so at 17.18. You have posted 5 times since my reply but have not responded. If you didn't intend to respond I can only assume your 17.11 post was indeed intended as a snarky put down. Tells me all I need to know.

suziewoozie

This is really interesting about the origin of Karen
www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-53588201

Interesting. I didn't realise it had developed. I've only ever come across it in the context of white women being abusive towards people of colour. I guess they must have been some of the original videos.

Thank you growstuff

Here's the definition of a "gammon" from EngLangBlog, a blog for A Level English Language students and teachers:

"So what does this new type of 'gammon' mean? It first appeared on Twitter in 2016 in association with David Cameron, whose face was on occasion described as resembling a boiled ham (and after that story about Cameron and a pig's head had been circulated, it took on a slightly more disturbing tinge). But it was in 2017 that it really took off when it was used to describe a post-Brexit vote phenomenon that many had observed but few had been able to nail so accurately: namely, a certain type of man whose anger about the modern world had made them turn the colour of ham or what Urban Dictionary's (now mysteriously removed) top definition describes as "a particular type of Brexit-voting, middle-aged white male, whose meat-faced complexion suggests they are perilously close to a stroke".

Agree varian; and it's particularly unpleasant when it's women who are using that term as an insult to other women, not because they presumably fit the trope, but just as an easy form of abuse.

Thank you lemon that must be a first!

This is really interesting about the origin of Karen
www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-53588201