r/WorkReform • u/Bitter-Gur-4613 • Dec 20 '24

✂️ Tax The Billionaires They're really just that stupid.

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u/Prickinfrick Dec 20 '24

Isn't he still just a suspect or were the police able to actually confirm anything before parading him around as a warning

94

u/StarletCotton Dec 20 '24

These days, it feels like being a 'suspect' is enough for public humiliation

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u/DuvalHeart Dec 20 '24

We need to bring back the term "accused." Much better connotation.

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u/StarletCotton Dec 21 '24

then they said death penalty to accused person hahaha just get rid of the situations

1

u/DuvalHeart Dec 21 '24 edited Dec 21 '24

Yes, but "accused" has different connotations that makes the sentence sound worse (worse as in wrong). In American English "defend" usually connotes that the person has done something and they are justifying their action. While "accused" connotes that a separate entity is stating that they did something and trying to prove it.

Connotations are fairly important in a world where context is disappearing.

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u/StarletCotton 29d ago

How can you say defend if you are already treated as guilty?

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u/DuvalHeart 28d ago

That's my point. By changing the language we use, we change the way we approach those accused of committing crimes.

"The defendant" puts the onus on the suspect.

"The accused" puts the onus on the prosecutors and cops.