Gay used to mean happy. Fruit or nut was limited to food. Who pollutes a language? Why do so many follow the lead of the polluter? What is the purpose of the pollution? Is it ever to elevate or is it always to desecrate?
Language - the means by which we communicate with other people. There are over 7000 different spoken languages in the world today. Like people, languages are born and they also die. The best known dead language is Latin. Although it's still used today (sciences, medical and such), there are no native speakers of Latin so it's considered to be dead. Did you know that the english language we speak today is a new language? Yup, it came from bastardizing other languages (starting around the 11th century). Look in an English dictionary. Notice how many words were derived from other languages? Also notice that there are some words which are listed as "American English "in origin. These are 'coined' or "made up" words (neologisms). Do you use any coined words when you talk or write? How about - Google, aspirin, Kleenex, nerd, zipper, Band-Aid, unreal?
Semantic change - words that once meant one thing that now mean something completely different. Once, when one was referred to as being "gay", it meant that they were lighthearted and carefree. Today it has an entirely different meaning. How dare people pollute words like that! It's just not a nice thing to do, is it! Why, it’s downright egregious! Would it be silly of me to ask if you use any words today that once had entirely different meanings? Did you know that the word "nice" once meant to be foolish or simple? Still think it's a “nice” day outside? Did you know that the word "silly" once referred to things that were worthy or blessed? Do you still think I'm being silly? The word “awful” used to mean full of awe, or wonderment. Do you still think Trump is an awful president? How about - clue, naughty, flirt, divest, egregious, nervous, senile, awful, fizzle, girl or hussy? All these words didn’t used to mean the things they do today. Not too long ago a ‘fizzling senile hussy’ was an old housewife who farted quietly. Am I making you nervous? ‘Nervous’ used to mean strong (sinewy).
Words change. That’s just how language works. Who knows, perhaps a decade from now some of our everyday words will have completely different meanings. Won’t that make us look stupid? (stupid used to mean ‘amazed’ or ‘stunned’).
Shuhak 