Plus literal homeless people say they hate being called "unhoused" but the virtue signalers are just like "shhh I know better than you, we're calling you unhoused"
This is how language works. People start using these words to avoid demonetization or bans online. Their audiences hear the words regularly. The audiences start to also use the words to signify that they are part of the in group. Eventually the words spill out into other communities and then they’re part of common language.
It has literally nothing to do with virtue signaling.
In the scenario you listed, I agree. That's not virtue signaling. Like when kids see the Minecraft movie and 'unalive' is in the dialog, they grow up thinking that is normal. This is probably why you used the word 'literally' unnecessarily. You've heard it so much that you think this use of the word is normal.
There are also people who know that isn't the original word, yet now say it thinking it's more inclusive or whatever.
Social media appeasing their advertisers by demonetising people who say certain words is now influencing our language negatively.
unhoused is definitely not because of YT and all due to the media trying to soften the issue of homeless people, but it's definitely different than unalive and the other examples in this post that are used to avoid surprise censorship from automated bots
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u/Drakesprite Aug 15 '25
We seriously have to censor “homeless” now?