Time and tide waits for no man

One of my pasttimes is looking at the English Language and its usage. There is a rising trend of silly euphemisms and creative labelling which has been getting my attention lately. Why can't a person just be short or tall, dumb or a genius ? Why can't people call a spade a spade anymore ? No, they have to be either vertically-challenged or liberated, cerebrally unwilling or maxed !

Well, I wondered somehow if someone was just trying to sound smart or simply not willing to use the traditional adjective. People's aversion to labels must be one good reason. Depending on one's attitude or motivation, I gather, there is a certain psychology to it that urges one to refrain from saying something. We do not want to "sound" accusative, nor appear rude, pessimistic, or condescending. At times, it is simply to mask our true feelings.

So, I sat down for ten whole minutes to think of "the reasons" and here are 10 that came out of this brain-storming.

What drives a person to not call a spade a spade ?

1.      Downplay.
        To ease a pain, hurt or embarassment. eg : "short guy" would be too hurtful for some.
 
2.     Cover-up.
       To answer without answering. This is analogous to the media-related "non-denial denial".
 
3.     Creative exercise.
        For the artistically-inclined, cerebrally-enriched or literary enthusiast, it is merely a mind exercise.
 
4.     Uppity stakes.
       To create an impression. The "sikit atas" types.
 
5.     Boredom.
       To give a tired adjective a miss, by dropping it and substituting a "better" alternative.
 
6.     Originality.
        Sometimes, a candid expression sounds good and it sticks.
 
7.     Gaining points.
        This one is self-explanatory.
 
8.     Fashionable.
       To be among the "with-it" crowd.
 
9.     Avoiding a stigma.
       eg : I'm working in the "wood industry" (meaning coffin-maker).
 
10.   Diplomatic or politically correct term.
       Countless examples are now in vogue, eg :
            alternatively occupied     (delinquent)
            consciousness averse     (lazy)
            deferred success           (failure)
            distracted                    (day-dreaming)
            obedience-challenged     (trouble-maker)