Trivia: When did the media start calling all train passengers "commuters"?

[MarkyT]

To me its all Newspeak...

Other terms the media/press seem to overuse is the terms "impacted", "iconic", "feared" and "spokesperson". Impacted only applies of its a tooth or two vehicles which have collided and have left an impact in a wall. The other term is spokesperson, which I deem extremly rude and patronising as a spokesman is shorthand for spokeshuman.

If I see the word 'iconic' in a description of a proposed new building, an email of objection to the planning department is obligatory on my part after I've reached for the barf bag. Things BECOME iconic in the public consciousness, they are not created as such, although of course good design and quality construction should help with that. 'Iconic' in such descriptions is often just shorthand for 'ruddy huge', 'striking', or 'completely out of character with surrounding buildings and landscape'.

 

[PG]

Other terms the media/press seem to overuse is the terms "impacted", "iconic", "feared" and "spokesperson". Impacted only applies of its a tooth or two vehicles which have collided and have left an impact in a wall.

I'll see your impacted tooth and raise my impacted colon

 

[Fazaar1889]

I feel it's a very American term. You often see in American anti-car/pro-train forums for a shift towards commuting to work rather than driving to work. I mean, commuting is a big part of train travel sure, but they often fail to realise that regional trains and intertown(?) trains are very popular and an integral part of shifting the public away from car use.

In mockups for trains to and from American suburbs and 'downtown', there's rarely ever any connections between the suburbs like in the UK. They soley tend to be "out to in"

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Feb 2023 ==

They all have a wierd obsession with high speed rail when it's the smaller regional trains that are more important imo

 

[Busaholic]

Won't be too long before any rail staff we may come across in the course of our journeys become 'colleagues', especially if a supermarket chain decides to diversify into train operation. 'Please have your tickets ready for inspection by our colleagues; and don't forget, every little helps.'

 

[JaJaWa]

Worse is the Singapore MRT which constantly announce(d) "Commuters must wear a mask when using public transport" – I wonder what they would think if you said you're not commuting!

 

[MattRat]

Won't be too long before any rail staff we may come across in the course of our journeys become 'colleagues', especially if a supermarket chain decides to diversify into train operation. 'Please have your tickets ready for inspection by our colleagues; and don't forget, every little helps.'

We do already have Sainsbury trains

 

[TUC]

It's an insular London journalists' issue, the same as the notion that we're dependent upon trains to get to work.

 

[AM9]

If I see the word 'iconic' in a description of a proposed new building, an email of objection to the planning department is obligatory on my part after I've reached for the barf bag. Things BECOME iconic in the public consciousness, they are not created as such, although of course good design and quality construction should help with that. 'Iconic' in such descriptions is often just shorthand for 'ruddy huge', 'striking', or 'completely out of character with surrounding buildings and landscape'.

I find the inappropriate use of the word 'carnage' pathetic. 'Carnage on the railway' means death, usually of an abnormally large number, and there are plenty of events to refer to on the railway, though thankfully quite rare in the UK in recent years. It certain doesn't apply to a crowded train due to cancellations or short forming causing somebody to miss a social event or being late for work.

 

[43066]

It's an insular London journalists' issue, the same as the notion that we're dependent upon trains to get to work.

Who is “we”?

 

[Krokodil]

I find the inappropriate use of the word 'carnage' pathetic. 'Carnage on the railway' means death, usually of an abnormally large number, and there are plenty of events to refer to on the railway, though thankfully quite rare in the UK in recent years. It certain doesn't apply to a crowded train due to cancellations or short forming causing somebody to miss a social event or being late for work.

I think that Chester on a race day can be legitimately referred to as "carnage".

 

[TUC]

Who is “we”?

In the sense that outside London just driving to work is an option for many people.

 

[AM9]

I think that Chester on a race day can be legitimately referred to as "carnage".

So when is there a 'killing of a large number of people', and where is 'the flesh of slain animals or humans' at Chester Racecourse?

 

[Jim the Jim]

Surely the point of shorthand is to take up less space? Whereas "commuters" is only one fewer letter than "passengers" and often takes up more space (depending on typeface) due to the width of the two Ms.

 

[Ediswan]

So when is there a 'killing of a large number of people', and where is 'the flesh of slain animals or humans' at Chester Racecourse?

The term 'carnage' has an established slang meaning of 'any chaotic situation'.

 

[Krokodil]

So when is there a 'killing of a large number of people', and where is 'the flesh of slain animals or humans' at Chester Racecourse?

You clearly haven't seen what it's like on Ladies' Day.

 

[AM9]

The term 'carnage' has an established slang meaning of 'any chaotic situation'.

Serious news media doesn't use slang unless it is indicated by ' ' and it also devalues the word anyway. It's pointless slang shorthand anyway as chaos is a shorter word and has the correct meaning.

 

[PG]

Who is “we”?

We... the great unwashed a.k.a the Great British public?

 

[AM9]

You clearly haven't seen what it's like on Ladies' Day.

It would help if you indicated when your post is not meant to be factual.

 

[westv]

It's also a complete misconception imported from American corporate management types.

Not quite right. It has both UK and US retail roots from over 100 years ago.

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I’d think it’s been commented on in various Rail forums for at least 20 years or more.

From memory it goes back to the 80s if not earlier.

 

[James H]

I recommend Rob Hutton's excellent book Romps, Tots and Boffins: The Strange Language of News - an amusing dictionary of all the words you see in newspaper articles and seldom in other contexts.

 

[Krokodil]

It would help if you indicated when your post is not meant to be factual.

"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less". You are the only poster who insists on taking the dictionary quite so literally.

"Carnage" is a very good word to describe a race day. There's certainly plenty of human flesh on show, bodily fluids redecorating the place, and a few brawls for good measure.

 

[AM9]

"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less". You are the only poster who insists on taking the dictionary quite so literally.

"Carnage" is a very good word to describe a race day. There's certainly plenty of human flesh on show, bodily fluids redecorating the place, and a few brawls for good measure.

It's noticeable that only the trashiest tabloids use the word so that says it all. However, on a respectable forum like RUK, most posters indicate humour/satire/irony is being expressed as a courtesy to avoit mistakes. In addition, this thread is about misuse of words with established meanings in the British english language (e.g. commuter, iconic, impacted etc.) rather than slang which is both random and can be very local.

 

[Krokodil]

"Carnage" is a perfectly appropriate metaphor for a race day. No satire or irony here, that's what those days are like. Anyone who has worked a late turn on one will agree. Language is not static, it evolves over time.

I bet that you're fun at parties.

 

[AM9]

"Carnage" is a perfectly appropriate metaphor for a race day. No satire or irony here, that's what those days are like. Anyone who has worked a late turn on one will agree. Language is not static, it evolves over time.

I bet that you're fun at parties.

I don't waste my money or time on bets of any kind. They're for losers.

 

[TUC]

It would help if you indicated when your post is not meant to be factual.

Language is used to create pictures. Explaining when it is not being used 'factually' takes the beauty out of it.

 

[43066]

It's noticeable that only the trashiest tabloids use the word so that says it all. However, on a respectable forum like RUK, most posters indicate humour/satire/irony is being expressed as a courtesy to avoit mistakes. In addition, this thread is about misuse of words with established meanings in the British english language (e.g. commuter, iconic, impacted etc.) rather than slang which is both random and can be very local.

Carnage has a well known informal meaning, does it not? Posters are not required to use dictionary perfect language, last I checked. Perhaps that’s just as well as I notice you’re not immune from the odd typo yourself!

Language is used to create pictures. Explaining when it is not being used 'factually' takes the beauty out of it.

We have actually agreed on something! I must go and buy a lottery ticket.

 

[AM9]

Carnage has a well known informal meaning, does it not? Posters are not required to use dictionary perfect language, last I checked. Perhaps that’s just as well as I notice you’re not immune from the odd typo yourself!



We have actually agreed on something! I must go and buy a lottery ticket.

Typos are mistakes, not intentional.