Blog Comments

The New York Times Green, Inc.

Banned by LSSU

Lake Superior State University says environmental buzzwords were the scourge of the English language over the past year.

Excerpt from James Kanter's post
Do blogs like Green Inc. (and its predecessor, The Business of Green) have something to answer for?

People and companies employing the word "green" in environmental contexts are guilty of "misuse, overuse, general uselessness," according to Lake Superior State University in Michigan, which last week unveiled its results from an annual survey — its 34th — of words that should be banished.

"Environmental buzzwords are getting the axe this year," the university said in a statement. "'Green' and 'going green' received the most nominations," the university announced on New Year's Eve.

Nancy's Comment
There's nothing wrong with color-coded language, as long as we can define what we mean and communicate precisely enough so we can be understood. Then, if someone disputes the facts or disagree with our conclusions, fine. But, if we don't say what we mean or know what we mean when we say it, the babble-police should nab us. Until then, in a world of 140 character Twitter limits, I'll stick with "green". There's nothing to be gained from "eco-ing" everything.