world, earth, planet

[franksolich]

I'm curious about a certain linguistic fad that's taken hold in our culture.

Generally, from reading old newsmagazines circa 1850-1970, the word "world" to describe this globe was in most-common, almost unanimous, use.

Starting about 1970, with the advent of the celebration of Vladimir Lenin's birthday ("Earth Day"), the word "world" was displaced by the word "earth."

It made sense for a while; the "world" of course referring to mankind and man-made things on this globe, and the "earth" referring to this globe in the scientific sense; i.e., the land, rivers, oceans, plains, mountains, whatnot, all the natural stuff.

But then about four years ago, it seems "world" and "earth" were shoved out by "planet."

The word "planet" to describe this globe is of course an ancient word, but up until about four years ago, its use was generally limited to the astronomical professions.

Now "planet" seems to be in vogue, even when the reference to this globe has nothing to do with outer space.

If someone were to do a "search" on Skins's island, for example, covering pre-2004 and post-2004, he would find the primitives before 2004 used the word "planet" very rarely, if at all.....but then beginning in 2004, the primitives started jibber-jabbering "planet" in almost every bonfire on Skins's island.

I dunno.  Whenever I see the word "planet," especially if used by a primitive, I get an image of that old cartoon series, the Jepsens or whatever, with that goofy-looking paterfamilias wearing a leisure suit and looking very much like the sparkling husband primitive.

Sigmund Freud wrote much about the significance of language--almost as much as he wrote about how most psychological and psychiatric problems are caused by poor bowel management--but this "world"-"earth"-"planet" evolution came after his time.

One can only guess, but why does one suppose this "planet" nonsense has replaced the perfectly good "world" and "earth"?

There appears something significantly Freudian and Margaret Meadean in it, but man, it's going to take a long time to think it out.  Any ideas anyone, why this trend, this fad, especially among those lesser than decent and civilized people?

[Chris_]

Planet is a scientific term and is the preferred term of AGW proponents.  It makes it seem very common and also very small.  There are lots of planets.  The Earth is just one of them.  Of course, alsnore made the word "planet" with his stupid meme "the planet has a fever."  Think about it.  The poo-flinging primatives' god said a word -- they repeat it solemnly.  Climatology is a planetary issue.

Earth is used in the Life Sciences and is preferred in that context.  You will hear it in terms of geology, geography and the like.  It was the preferred term because ecology was linked to the ground and sky themselves.  Ecology is an Earth issue.

The World is used in terms of the people who inhabit the Earth. It deals with politics and the like.  Hunger is a worldwide issue.

I hope that is a good start in your analysis.

[franksolich]

I sort of wondered about that, freedumb2003.

"World"--the peoples of the globe, and all the man-made things in it--implies importance, significance, which can be attributed to man.

"Earth"--used in the sense of natural characteristics--implies science.

Those are good words.

Then we have this trendy "planet," which implies a very tiny speck in a very large unlimited universe, which of course is true; the universe is enormous.

We see the globe as we see ourselves, and while decent and civilized people see the globe as the world or the earth, primitives tend to view the globe as they view themselves, something very tiny and utterly meaningless, not even a speck in Eternal and Limitless Reality.

[DumbAss Tanker]

As always, an interesting observation, Frank.  I prefer World or Earth (both capitalized) myself; I simply refer to it as Sol III or Terra when I'm off-planet, of course.

   

[EastFacingNorth]

I avoid using the word "world" in this sense since it can lead to confusion by someone who interprets the word being used in another sense.  For instance, when you talk about possible worlds in philosophy, you aren't refering to singular planets but entire universes.

I don't have a problem with using earth as a term for dirt, but I don't use it as a term for the sphere on which we live because it's always seemed to me that using that proper name in any context wherein the use of a proper name isn't strictly necessary, concedes ground both to those pagans who consciously worship this planet, and to the environmentalists who do not overtly worship the planet yet treat it with the reverence due to an object of worship.

I generally use planet, although I prefer to just call it "this rock" when I can get away with it.  I don't want mankind to be stuck on this planet for the rest of our existance as a species, so I figure if through my speech I can change someone's perception of this planet from positive to more neutral, then I'm doing at least a little bit to bring that about.  So I try to use terms with neutral, or even negative, emotional connotations as opposed to the generally-positive connotation attached to Earth.

Oh, and I think this is my first post here, so Hi Everyone!

[DumbAss Tanker]

Hi back at ya, glad to see you here!

 

[DixieBelle]

Howdy! Welcome!!

Go make yourself comfy!

I just call it "home".

[Lord Undies]

Rush Limbaugh discussed this many years ago.  Rush said the use of the term "global" was an attempt to minimize the size of our world.  

People can relate to the size of a globe.  A globe can be held in ones hands.  Minimizing the scope of our world, making it seem as if Africa is four inches from South America for instance, makes it easier to fool as many people as possible about the relationship of one area and the rest of the world.  It is how it is possible to make people believe the Amazon Jungle (The Rainforest) is the "lung of the earth".

This is the reason I use "worldwide warming" to replace "global warming" whenever I can.    

[Rebel]

I've used Earth, World, and Planet many times in my life. I didn't think anything of it. Is this a point of contention or something? Are we really that damn bored as a society?

[Lord Undies]

I've used Earth, World, and Planet many times in my life. I didn't think anything of it. Is this a point of contention or something? Are we really that damn bored as a society?

As we all have.  The current discusion has not come about due to boredom.  It is helpful to understand and recognize when language is being manipulated and controlled to achieve a political goal.  The practice is practically an artform in the liberal camp. 

What is being talked about here is not the figments of bored imaginations nor nitpicking.  It is a valid subject.

[The Night Owl]

Usage of the word "planet" is a conspiracy conceived to make the Greeks feel silly.

[franksolich]

As we all have.  The current discusion has not come about due to boredom.  It is helpful to understand and recognize when language is being manipulated and controlled to achieve a political goal.  The practice is practically an artform in the liberal camp.

What is being talked about here is not the figments of bored imaginations nor nitpicking.  It is a valid subject.

That's it; that's why I asked this question.

Thank you, sir.