"Connotation... an idea or feeling invoked by a word in addition to its primary or literal meaning."* "Queer >adjective... strange; odd"*
*According to my Correl Word Perfect 12 dictionary.
There are those that say our language is evolving. I say our language is devolving! Our once proud language has languished into a malaise of linguistic simplicity.
We have besmirched some great words to the point that they are no longer usable. I went to high school with a young lady named Gay Lou B..., when she introduced herself people said "nice to meet you" today they say "that's more than we needed to know!" My friends in high school were indeed "queer" except for me they were the best of the best, the top of the class in grades and leadership, yes we were strange, odd, and different! I stood out for my spelling problems. Today it takes a paragraph to explain who we were, without being derogatory.
I read a post by a respected friend and the comments with it regarding "sales, selling, salesmanship!" Personally, I'd be proud to have a real estate or mortgage office with any or all of these great salesmen, but I'm disturbed by how they reacted.
"Don't sell me anything."
"As to the salesmanship, I can't stand it in any form."
(A direct response to the remark above.)
"I share your sentiments on this exactly." "I hate thinking of myself as being in sales"
"Most of the time, I'm like you....rather listen than talk."
"Sales=Service. It's not only the people trying to make money..."
"Anyone trying to influence or persuade others is in sales.
Parents, politicians, priests, doctors, social workers...."
"My last job was in sales support for the most fabulous salesperson in the world (not real estate). He always told me sales wasn't selling, sales was building relationships."
I'm proud to be a salesman and I'm proud to know these people, but still if you contemplate it this is an eclectic and queer reaction to the profession they all share and excel at!
Bill
William J Archambault Jr
The Real Estate Investment Institute
Bill,
I really don't think it's that people are ashamed of being Salesmen but they are embarrased by the "image" many people have of salesmen.
Many Realtors think of themselves as more of a Matchmaker....bringing people of like interests, needs and wants together in an agreement. It sounds a lot more romantic don't you think?
Just a little re-defining!
(very thought provoking)