Darren New <dne### [at] sanrrcom> wrote:
> On 10/26/2011 13:56, Warp wrote:
> >    Sometimes you just have to accept colloquialisms even when they are
> > *technically* inaccurate.

> I know that. Unfortunately, I believe the people promoting the idea of alien 
> space craft are intentionally calling them "UFOs" instead of "flying 
> saucers" because it eliminates the only non-biased term to refer to the 
> topic at hand.

> I.e., I dislike people calling space ships "UFOs" for the same reason I 
> dislike people saying "Evolution is only a theory": because they're doing it 
> on purpose to simply muddle the conversation to the point where you can no 
> longer debate clearly.

  Maybe *some* people do that. However, the vast majority of people simply
use "ufo" as a short-hand for "a spaceship from another planet", and it's
a very widespread meaning. So widespread, that its original meaning is
basically completely lost. Thus it's not a good idea to use the term "ufo"
when you don't mean "a spaceship from another planet". It will only cause
confusion.

-- 
                                                          - Warp

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