People today have forgotten the meanings of so many words. The butchering of our language doesn’t stop with the appalling slang and cringe-worthy contractions (did you know “ain’t” has now been added to the dictionary?). More important than that, although less obvious, is that the meanings of so many words have been lost. I’m not referring to people's tendencies to refer to any good thing as awesome, although that is a good example. I’m talking about much more common words that are now loosed from people’s mouths without the thought such a weighty word should be given.

Consider one of the more common ones. Friend for example. In today’s world, a friend is just a click away (thank you, facebook). Many people point to their page in excitement, directing your attention to their hundreds or even thousands of “friends.” Ask them what they know about these people, and they can only stammer and change the subject. Ask them how many of these people they know, and have met, and they turn red. Ask them how many of these people would come help them out when they need it, and may people are down to zero.

Internet aside, people in everyday life suffer from much the same problem. There is a pressure in school, in the community, and especially in the workplace to be everyone’s “friend”, if for no other reason than to avoid offending someone. Everybody’s had that conversation. A guy/girl you really don’t know, they’re always talking to you, which you don’t particularly mind, even though you (intentionally or not) tune them out about half the time. Then one day, they casually drop the word friend, and it’s like someone slapped you. This person is ok, a nice guy/girl and all, but you don’t know them. They certainly don’t know you. How do you correct them? Coming out and saying you’re not friends, no matter how well explained or respectfully spoken, will, at best, sadden or depress them, and at worst, will anger them: “What do you mean we’re not friends? I thought we were cool with each other?” The exact wording is different, but the feeling conveyed is the same. This one in particular grinds my nerves. I have become quite frank with people about it. I am currently attending a live-in trade school, and so am constantly living with roommates. This point came to a head when one of the new guys, an “ex” gangbanger, tried to get me to help him steal from one of the senior roomies. When I refused, his reply was, “I thought you were my friend, brah. You really gunna leave me hangin’?” Once I was done with my aneurysm, and after I told him off about the whole DISHONESTY part of that (different rant), I proceeded to tell him in no uncertain terms that him living in my room for two weeks doesn’t make me his friend, let alone his partner in crime. He hasn’t spoken to me since, thankfully, but I remain mystified has to how he could have possibly come to that conclusion. After two weeks, I’m going to risk my future for him? I know nothing about him, he knew less about me, and yet we were friends?

That is one very specified example. Let’s look at two more general words, both in very common use today—Love and Hate. Leaving people out of it (for that is a different topic), let’s look other ways they are used. Got a chore or job you don’t like? “Man, I HATE having to take the trash out.” Found a new toy/knickknack? “I LOVE my new iPod!” Does anyone stop to think about this?

Hate. A feeling of intense and/or passionate dislike. Do you really hate your job? Many people do, of that I am aware. I am talking about people who after three days into a job are already claiming they’re intense, passionate dislike for it, usually based on some trivial detail. Do you really hate it? Would you be willing to stop working? Give up the money? Be homeless? Do anything to avoid it if you can? No. They never are. When did hate start meaning dislike, or even just mildly irritating?

Love. An intense feeling of deep affection. So you just love your new phone. Really? Would you run into a burning building to retrieve it? Would you jump into the ocean after it? Would you give it your oxygen mask in an airline emergency? Would you take a bullet for your precious phone? No? Then perhaps you should stop using the same word to describe how you feel about your new toy that you also use to describe how you feel about your spouse or child.

Remember when people said what they meant, without exaggeration or embellishment? When it was ok to know somebody without being obligated to become their friend? When we still used words like “like, dislike, acquaintance”? I wish I had a solution, but the truth is this isn’t going to stop. I also realize that if you’re reading this, you probably don’t have this problem. I just wish that people would take a half of a second to think, and say what they really mean. Or has the world degenerated into a place where all of these terms are accurate?

*evaporates, grumbling*

Gee I don't know. *looks at iPhone 4* I just might rush into a burning building to save this. It's my life in digital format.

Chessic, the only word I can find to use adequately in this situation...

... "yes". Just yes.

as i re-read this that i dont actually remember a time like that....

but i've read about it.....

I normally hate to read rants, even if they are the rants of my friends, but I must say that I love the topic of this particular rant and feel that this topic ain't one that is talked about much.

OK, sorry. Wanted to see how many of those particular words you ranted about could be put into a single sentence. I'm sure someone could do better than my pitiful attempt but what ho!

Now, to confront the issue you have presented before us.

I am in favour of the colloquial use of any words in the English Language. Let us not forget that gay now means homosexual and that both America and the United Kingdom are two countries divided by a common language, gas is petrol, sidewalk is pavement, hood is bonnet, etc.

English is as it is today because it is a living and mongrel language. What we recognise as English today Shakespeare would be appalled at, what future generations will call English I am sure we will be appealed at. No one can change this or stop this, to attempt would be as foolhardy as trying to hold back the tides by standing on a beach. English needs to change, to evolve, because it is only through that change that it will survive.

EDIT: Anyone should feel free to speak the English language how they wish, so long as someone else knows what they are talking about.

I firmly believe words are powerful and should not be used carelessly. Hate is one of those words, so when I hear it used casually, I usually question the person if it is someone I know. It's ok to dislike, or really dislike someone or something, but to hate? That should be a strong feeling, and these days, it is thrown around as easily as "lol".

On the other hand, a language must evolve to remain vibrant, as Loki pointed out. For some examples of this, read The Mother Tongue by Bill Bryson. It's fascinating to see how English has borrowed from so many other languages, and influenced others. And Shakespeare? He was the most prolific word creator we have, contributing new words with nearly every one of his works.

Can I dislike the declining vocabulary in common usage? Absolutely! Do I sometimes intimidate others with my ability to articulate my views and expound my theories? Apparently! Would I ever use "bra" in a sentence without meaning a piece of lingerie? Never!

Loki and Vanadia hit some of my main thoughts.
But allow me to expand a bit further.

The sudden surge of technology and social networking has been able to link people around the globe. While this sounds great, there are significant drawbacks.
For example, Twitter has a character limit within their 'tweets' *shudders* similar to the limitations of text messaging that cause for a lot of fractured, broken, and modified text. Such as 'u' for 'you'.
With such regular practice at diminishing words to try to express meaning to many, often unknown, people the language as a whole begins to fall apart.

As a university student I'm often reduced to short-hand. Short-hand is great for notations and programming, but
notations in themselves are just a reference to the real words. When I go back to my notes I often re-write them to essentially unlock the meaning. The methods used to quickly jot down information are by no means a stable basis for a language.

It is one thing to need to evolve/develop as times change, but to become a shadow of itself is just sad.

...I think I'll leave it there.

Tuned_Out, you mention text length. I pay for included-texts, so end up typing them out in full

I hate texting language, and even shortened versions of words when copying lessons. I use my other languages to shorten, IE "Demain" to replace "Tomorrow".