Conversation

The word "homeless" was itself a euphemism for more negative valenced terms -- bum, vagrant, etc. If "unhoused" is meant as a corrective to it, it means that the negative valence of its predecessor words has transferred to the euphemism -- and will do so to its successor.
21
281
Replying to and
To be fair, it works up to a point. Homeless is in fact more neutral. I use it almost exclusively in neutral ways, and one of the older ones when I’m being insulting. “There’s been a 10% increase in homelessness” vs “you look like a bum.”
Replying to and
A more basic question is whether the temporary sensitizing to valences permanently increases empathy and lowers temptation to be negative. In my case it has. I use homelessness-based insults much less than 10 years ago.
1
1
Replying to and
Part of it is that after moving to west coast I see them more. They’re more than punchlines on south park. I think euphemism treadmills are dumb, but the underlying intent is humane.
2
1
Show replies