The English language is a constantly evolving one, and that keeps things interesting.Words are fascinating in that they can elicit a strong response from some people. I know a few people who can't stand the word "moist," for instance. Some words have a lifespan of sorts, initially starting as a useful description of a specific thing, with the definition then changing over time. A few of these words and phrases feel like they should be retired at some point, having lost all real meaning, or because they should be replaced to allow for changes that have occurred. Here are a few that I think need to be kicked to the curb, or recreated in some other form.
6. Hipster
Hipster is a relatively old word, having been used for decades, defined by Webster as "a person who is unusually aware of and interested in new and unconventional patterns (as in jazz or fashion)," and that seems to be a perfectly good meaning for the word. My friends have used the term since at least the '80s, to describe folks we considered edgy or chasing various cutting edge musical or cultural trends.
Now it seems to have been chosen as the term for a specific, self consciously weird recent subculture with specific dress codes and interests. I even end up using the term, despite hating its modern use, so people will know what I'm talking about when I'm describing some young guy with a lumberjack beard, a funny old T-shirt, skinny jeans, drinking swill beer. I object to those people getting the claim to the word "hipster". Let's just call them something like "clownbeards" instead.
5. Troll
No, not the bigger scarier version of a goblin, some monster from fairy tales and fantasy novels, but the more vexing version. Creeps on the Internet who sow discord by posting inflammatory material in online groups intended to provoke others into pointless arguing, or by jumping into online conversations with abusive attacks. Most terms with Internet origins mutate over time, and troll seems to be a perfect example of that, but lately it seems to get used a lot by people in a way that doesn't work. Basically a lot of folks will call a person a troll simply because they don't agree with his or her opinion on something. Almost anyone who's spent a lot of time online in forums or on social networking sites will have encountered the classic Internet troll, but a person doesn't achieve troll status just by disagreeing with someone or posting material that someone out there might take issue with.
