kizolk
Indecisive 
Posts: 5,666
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Post by kizolk on Oct 12, 2024 11:19:38 GMT
I can see what annoys you, but I'm too used to that meaning to find it annoying myself. On a related note though, I'm more annoyed at how people use the word "proud" to talk about things they didn't do themselves or had no say in it. "Proud to be French", "you did well, I'm so proud of you!", etc.
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Post by Etaoin Shrdlu on Oct 12, 2024 15:38:59 GMT
People are often proud of things they had nothing to do with. They're proud of what their ancestors did, and they weren't even around then.
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kizolk
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Post by kizolk on Oct 12, 2024 19:22:15 GMT
In many cases where "proud" is inadequate, "honored" would work a little better. It still wouldn't be great, but "I feel honored to be part of this great lineage" is at least understandable.
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Post by Etaoin Shrdlu on Oct 12, 2024 19:53:37 GMT
Or you can add 'humbled' . When I applied for my current position, I looked at the Twitter feed for the person I thought was going to interview me. She said that she was proud and humbled to do the job she did.
Fortunately, I was wrong, and she wasn't the one to interview me. I'd have spent the entire time trying not to shout out, 'Just make up your fucking mind!'
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Post by Pacifica on Oct 12, 2024 21:07:20 GMT
Or you can add 'humbled' . That one annoys me as well. I mean when it's used to denote pretty much the opposite of its normal meaning. |
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kizolk
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Post by kizolk on Oct 12, 2024 22:03:25 GMT
Ha, I actually almost added something about this use of "humbled" in my previous post.
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Post by Pacifica on Oct 12, 2024 22:46:08 GMT
I wonder, did that usage develop from an actual feeling of humility? Did the first person who said "I'm humbled to receive this prize (or the like)" actually feel humbled because they thought they didn't deserve it?
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Post by Pacifica on Oct 12, 2024 22:51:20 GMT
Because it can indeed be humbling, even humiliating, to receive undeserved praise or rewards.
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kizolk
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Post by kizolk on Oct 12, 2024 22:54:37 GMT
Maybe. The way I saw it was more something like "I realize the difficulty of the task at hand and the greatness of my predecessors" (if applicable, but you get my point) but I'm not sure.
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Post by Pacifica on Oct 12, 2024 22:56:28 GMT
The way I saw it was more something like "I realize the difficulty of the task at hand and the greatness of my predecessors" (if applicable, but you get my point) That's quite possible (if the usage started in a situation where that was applicable). |
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kizolk
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Post by kizolk on Oct 12, 2024 23:10:52 GMT
Either way, "proud and humbled" would still qualify as an unfortunate wording in my book. The problem is that I can't think of a better wording. "Honored" instead of "proud" would kinda work, but you'd lose the self-congratulatory aspect of pride so "proud" probably has to stay, but I can't think of a good substitute for "humbled" in the sense I've mentioned. I feel like there's a word for when you receive an honor with due respect, but it's not coming to mind.
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Post by Pacifica on Oct 12, 2024 23:34:32 GMT
I feel like there's a word for when you receive an honor with due respect, but it's not coming to mind. Grateful? |
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kizolk
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Post by kizolk on Oct 12, 2024 23:42:08 GMT
That can be and usually is part of it, but I'm looking for something that has to do with not wanting to bring shame to an office or institution, a solemn sense of duty, an understanding of one's place in a line of succession, etc. It may be that there's no word for it, but I feel like there is.
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Post by Pacifica on Oct 12, 2024 23:47:02 GMT
Hmm...
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kizolk
Indecisive
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Post by kizolk on Oct 12, 2024 23:57:21 GMT
I'm looking for something that has to do with not wanting to bring shame to an office or institution, a solemn sense of duty, an understanding of one's place in a line of succession, etc. These may be too specific. More broadly, maybe something to do with not wanting to disappoint/wanting to do well, but with a sense of awe. If it doesn't exist, at least it's an interesting kind of rabbit hole: "does a word for [stuff] exist?" |
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