this post was submitted on 13 Sep 2024
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Science Memes

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[–] SomeGuy69@lemmy.world -2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (3 children)

Aside of the obvious meme joke. Well, language eveolves, maybe the distinction isn't that important any more. Other languages don't have it and usually you add more context to something. Also when was the last time you tried to eat an unknown animal? Or where in a situation, where you had to decide if the dangerous looking animal is only supposed to be uneatable instead of venomous?

[–] shneancy@lemmy.world 12 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

as much as i believe languages are living tools, cannot be constrained by rules, and will evolve no matter how much old timers complain

if you tell me about a "venomous mushroom" I'll freak out at the possibility of such a being existing faster than you can explain how you don't really see a reason for the distinction between venomous and poisonous and that other languages don't even have it

[–] SomeGuy69@lemmy.world -1 points 2 months ago

In German venomous and poisonous is the same word. It absolutely does work.

[–] thedeadwalking4242@lemmy.world 10 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Tbh I feel like it’s a very important distinction . There are poisonous things that aren't harmful unless ingested. However something that is venomous is probably ready to attack if approached

[–] SomeGuy69@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago

It's kind of funny, because in other languages it doesn't use this distinction and people don't eat poisonous mushrooms because someone called them venomous by accident, or the other way around with a venomous animal.

[–] Default_Defect@midwest.social 2 points 2 months ago

I'm fine with language naturally changing over time as it does, but I'm not a big fan of people gleefully cheering on as words lose meaning because people can't handle being corrected about the current meaning/intent of words.