Trespass?
By @edent
· English language · 8 comments · 150 words
Perhaps you are aware of the Mandela Effect - a psychological phenomenon where you are convinced you remember something which never actually happened. This, combined with the Baader–Meinhof phenomenon - where you suddenly start noticing something unusual - can cause extreme cognitive dissonance.
What does the verb "to trespass" mean to you? I always thought it was the act of going somewhere prohibited or, in archaic terms, to do wrong against someone.
But over the last few days, I've started seeing it used in a wholly unexpected way:
I know, I know. Language evolves. So far this neologism seems confined to NZ and USA. No doubt we'll all be using it by the end of the year.
@Edent i must admit i clicked the image first and i couldn't really understand what that title was about 😅
@Edent Oh. Yes I find that confusing!
So... it means that they have decided that said person should not be on the property, and that suddenly they are trespassing, and can legally be removed - and they've decided to name that removal "being trespassed" while it actually means "being made to have trespassed" ?
@Edent Weird, it doesn't even make sense from an efficiency point of view
Both "Banned from" and "Removed from" are fewer chars.
Birb says:
I think something "you are trespassed" communicates over "you are banned" is an implication of legal consequences, rather than just maybe getting kicked out again if one was simply banned.
Chris says:
Really enjoy your posts. I’m equally confused with use and syntax for Trespass. Surely barred or blacklisted are what their AI article writing tool meant to say….
@Edent oh no! Is this the tipping point where I become a prescriptivist?
@Edent makes absolutely no sense to me either. Not sure I’ll get used to it. See also “Please revert to me asap.”
@Edent That's a bit like the way people we talk about someone being "sectioned" for mental health reasons when was we mean is "detained under section 5(?) of the Mental Health Act".
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