Trying To Reclaim The Word “Crypto”
For decades, the word “crypto” has been synonymous with “cryptography”. But increasingly now, some are using it to mean “cryptocurrency” instead. Naturally this is annoying some who have been working in the crypto field for years, and they are demanding that this new (mis)usage be stopped. What do you think? <https://www.theregister.com/2021/11/23/crypto_graphy_or_currency/>
On 24/11/21 10:16, Lawrence D'Oliveiro wrote:
For decades, the word “crypto” has been synonymous with “cryptography”. But increasingly now, some are using it to mean “cryptocurrency” instead. Naturally this is annoying some who have been working in the crypto field for years, and they are demanding that this new (mis)usage be stopped.
What do you think?
Like using Google as a verb[1], I think the horse has already bolted. Much like the misuse of the word 'hacker' in mainstream media. -- Simon [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_(verb)
On Wed, 24 Nov 2021 10:23:35 +1100, Simon Green wrote:
Like using Google as a verb[1] ...
That’s OK, that was a made-up word with no previous meaning, so all that’s happening is that as it acquires a generic meaning, so it will eventually join terms like “Xerox” and “Thermos” in losing its trademark status.
Much like the misuse of the word 'hacker' in mainstream media.
Some of us still have standards, though, and refuse to use “infer” as a synonym for “imply”, or “semantics” as meaning an absence of meaning ... “Burgle” instead of “burglarize” (as in suffering the visitations of a burglar) is pretty much established nowadays. Still not sure what to do about “head over heels”, though ...
participants (2)
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Lawrence D'Oliveiro -
Simon Green