Justin’s note: Stop saying offensive words.
That’s what the Associated Press (AP) is telling writers.
You see, the AP puts out a stylebook every year that includes universal guidelines for stylistic matters like punctuation, capitalization, and even word choice.
In a recent version, the AP encouraged writers to not use words such as “pro-life,” “migrant,” “refugee,” “Islamist,” and “terrorist.”
It’s completely ludicrous. Yet, sadly, it’s a sign of the times.
In the interview below, Doug Casey tears down the AP’s blacklist and discusses why this is happening…
Justin: Doug, what do you think of the AP censoring writers? Are you surprised at all?
Doug: There was once a time when journalists often had intelligence, integrity, and competence. Many did their jobs—reporting the news accurately, openly disclosing their bias (if any). H.L. Mencken was a model of what a journalist should be. He wasn’t just a reporter. He was a literary maven who had immense stores of knowledge and well-thought-out, fact-based opinions on nearly everything. In addition to a myriad of newspaper and magazine articles, he even wrote a definitive book on the English language and the correct way to use it.
Today, reporters have none of these qualifications. Their only qualification appears to be a BA degree in English, or Journalism.
1984
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Maybe it’s just that giants walked the earth in the days before Political Correctness. If Mencken was alive today, he would be shocked and appalled at the midgets who pass for reporters and editors today. He’d be rolling in laughter and disgust at how much the profession has been degraded.
It’s like Orwell’s worst…