Spam (madbodger) wrote,
Spam
madbodger

euphemisms

I've noticed an increasing trend toward using euphemisms in advertising. Sometimes, I can kind of see their point, such as referring to used cars as "pre-owned". A fairly awkward construction, actually, but "used cars" has such pejorative associations that they're pretty motivated to avoid using that phrase. I still think they could have done better than "pre-pwned". Yep, every time I see the term, I read it as "pre-pwned". It's fairly accurate, makes me smile instead of grimace, and robs their silly euphemism of its advantages. I think everybody should do this.

Worse is the nearly universal trend among realtors of referring to houses as "homes". Sorry, you chiselers, you can't sell "homes". A home is made by the people living there, and cannot be sold without invoking images of slavery I'm sure you would prefer to avoid. A house is a building, an object you can buy and sell. So when someone tells me they're selling "homes", I feel like I'm being lied to, just so they can use a cozier (but inaccurate) term. I'm unwilling to buy the most expensive thing I'm likely ever to buy from someone that I feel is lying to me.

Tags: ad, language
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