| Note: This comment isn’t directed at the parent poster. I’m just expressing my thoughts on the phrasing used in the article that the parent mentioned in their comment. “Reform” doesn’t automatically mean good, it just means reformed. Reformation attempts that turn out badly aren’t fake - they are very real, and so are the consequences. I understand that the intent is to point out dishonesty, but when words are used in a manner that their definitions do not support, it detracts from the clarity of what might otherwise be a fine point. If something truly is fake, by all means, point that out. If a news article is entirely fabricated with blatant falsehoods then I would agree if someone referred to it as fake news. When used inappropriately though, the phrase becomes hyperbole. I mentioned how such rhetoric detracts from the clarity of an argument, but that wasn’t to say that its use is ineffective. On the contrary, it’s a hallmark of political discourse for good reason. My point was that sometimes the best way to be heard in a room full of shouting people is to whisper. In a world absolutely polluted with hyperbole, stating a point clearly and fairly is, I’m sad to say, extraordinary. |