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Cerebralbore101 on 17 August 2017
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twintail said:
Cerebralbore101 said:

  That's a definition of the word that came about via ignorance. The mathematical average usually lines up with what is typical of a group. So people began using the word average as a synonym for typical. Most dictionaries have followed suit, and added that as a possible meaning of the word. But that's silly. If people start refering to an apple as an orange for long enough, does that make an apple an orange? 

Is a kleenex any tissue, or is it a specific brand of tissue? Is a crayola the same thing as a crayon, or does it refer to a brand of crayons? 

im sorry dude, but its like you have zero understanding of how languages actually work, and change over time. 

average can mean typical, or even not that good. These are a couple of the meanings attributed to the word. Saying this isnt true, or even that its silly for the word to mean that ,is just ignorant. 

Thats just a random example, but its possible I suppose. But language evolving is not that cut and dry.

As for the kleenex and crayola thing, yeah this is an actual phenomena. Do you walk around calling jet skis 'small water vehicles`, is ping pong now an incorrect name for the sport, should we stop saying jacuzzi and instead say whirlpool bath?

How is it ignorant? 

There is no word to refer to Jet Ski, other than Jet Ski. Table Tennis, and Hot Tub are perfectly acceptable words.