[monochromatic]

The fact that people still argue argue about the only-several-centuries-old newfangled meaning of this word signifies to me that I probably shouldn't use it in my writing. If I use it to mean "reduce by one tenth" most of my readers will be confused; if I use it to mean "destroy," a vocal minority will be annoyed.

[arrrg]

Uhm, no you do not get to move the goal posts.

Argue against using the word. Don’t dare argue that it has a different meaning than it actually has.

Also, I think I will increase my use of decimate. If it pisses off those annoying pedants (who are perfectly aware of what is being communicated and won’t be the slightest bit confused) I will be happy. I successfully communicated and pissed off people I don’t like. Yay!

[monochromatic]

> people I don’t like

But I like you...

[chimeracoder]

> I successfully communicated and pissed off people I don’t like. Yay!

You'll make a lot of friends with that attitude.

[arrrg]

Oh, I don’t want to be friends with people who are pedants about stuff like this.