Well, as noted, it definitely bugs ME. And while “previously owned” would work, there is a much simpler expression that is also very precise as to meaning: “USED!” It’s a used car. For the better part of a century they have been called used cars because the cars had been–dare I say it?–used. This “adspeak” stuff (which also includes things like “gaming” in lieu of the more–and apparently too–precise “gambling” and, in my favorite peanut butter, “evaporated cane juice” a.k.a. SUGAR) makes me nuts. Years ago non-live TV shows were announced as “pre-recorded.” I remember reading a production engineer complaining that simply saying “recorded” would be sufficient and more accurate. Alas, simplicity and accuracy are apparently long out of vogue.
For the record, I prefer “used” as well, although I do recognize that sometimes context begins to color the definition of a word or phrase and adjustments are justifiable to avoid association. Even long history of use doesn’t negate the fact that phrases like “Used Car Salesman” now carry a decidedly negative connotation. By association, “Used Car” (what you would get from a sleazy Used Car Salesman) brings to mind other negative words, such as, “lemon” (also repurposed just for this negative context). Likewise, no one has a problem with gaming, but people struggle all the time with gambling addictions and gambling debt. Marketing drivel, to my ears, is only true drivel when it’s effort to mask truth either introduces confusion—e.g. pre-owned—or deliberately obfuscates—e.g. evaporated cane juice. I don’t ever LIKE it, but at least when they aren’t being dumb or deceitful I can understand it.
Don-aka-Dad:
September 18th, 2011 at 7:40 pm
Well, as noted, it definitely bugs ME. And while “previously owned” would work, there is a much simpler expression that is also very precise as to meaning: “USED!” It’s a used car. For the better part of a century they have been called used cars because the cars had been–dare I say it?–used. This “adspeak” stuff (which also includes things like “gaming” in lieu of the more–and apparently too–precise “gambling” and, in my favorite peanut butter, “evaporated cane juice” a.k.a. SUGAR) makes me nuts. Years ago non-live TV shows were announced as “pre-recorded.” I remember reading a production engineer complaining that simply saying “recorded” would be sufficient and more accurate. Alas, simplicity and accuracy are apparently long out of vogue.
ironsoap:
September 19th, 2011 at 12:52 pm
For the record, I prefer “used” as well, although I do recognize that sometimes context begins to color the definition of a word or phrase and adjustments are justifiable to avoid association. Even long history of use doesn’t negate the fact that phrases like “Used Car Salesman” now carry a decidedly negative connotation. By association, “Used Car” (what you would get from a sleazy Used Car Salesman) brings to mind other negative words, such as, “lemon” (also repurposed just for this negative context). Likewise, no one has a problem with gaming, but people struggle all the time with gambling addictions and gambling debt. Marketing drivel, to my ears, is only true drivel when it’s effort to mask truth either introduces confusion—e.g. pre-owned—or deliberately obfuscates—e.g. evaporated cane juice. I don’t ever LIKE it, but at least when they aren’t being dumb or deceitful I can understand it.