Photo of Terence Eden. He has a beard and is smiling.

Trespass?

· 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:

Family trespassed from Domino’s pizza chain after claim of metal screw in pizza slice turns nasty.

The caller said he was yelling at everyone and was threatening to shoot the staff. He said was going to come back with a gun, but it was unknown if the man was armed or had access to a weapon. The staff wanted the man trespassed from the property. The caller said the man’s mother lives in the camp, and that’s why he keeps returning. A deputy checked the area but could not find the man. A few hours later, the sheriff’s office was contacted again because the man had returned.

Video posted to social media shows about eight people involved in the fight, with two small children watching nearby. The victim was treated at the scene and did not wish to prosecute, according to deputies. Two members of the family that started the fight were trespassed from the property, sheriff’s officials said.

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.

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8 thoughts on “Trespass?”

  2. said on front-end.social:

    @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" ?

    Reply | Reply to original comment on front-end.social

    1. 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.

      Reply

  4. 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….

    Reply

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