A “factoid” is not a fact; it’s an invented bit of trivia believed to be true because it appears in print.
It’s like “planetoid” — it’s NOT a planet.
I was thinking about that, and was reminded of Tim Minchin who asked:
“Do you know what alternative medicine that works is called? …. Medicine.”
That got me thinking about the use of adjectives and qualifiers.
A “People’s Republic” is one where they shoot the people.
A “Democratic Republic” is one in which there are no honest elections.
So what are the adjectives and modifiers used in the world of dogs, and what do they really mean?
“Ethical breeder”
“Holistic”
“Human grade”
“Force-free”
“Science-based”
“Homeopathic”
“Preservation breeder”
“Chemical-free”
“Species appropriate”
“Natural”
“Super-premium”
“Lifestyle”’
Right. It’s all marketing.
In the wonderful libretto of Gilbert and Sullivan's H.M.S. Pinafore, there is a pretty good line:
🎼🎶“Things are seldom what they seem,skim milk masquerades as cream,Highlows pass as patent leathers;Jackdaws strut in peacock's feathers.”🎼🎶
Right. Factoids trying to pass themselves off as facts, same as “Working Families for Walmart” was about working families, or the “Save Our Species Alliance” was about saving species.
What hollow terms am I missing?
A few, I am sure. Have at if in the comments.
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