A Linguistics Rant (TM)

randomcreativitybursts:

you know what really, really fucking bugs me sometimes?..  

in russian, we have this amazing word.  it denotes a state of relationship that’s closer than “acquaintance” and not as powerful as “friend.”  basically, most relationships you will ever form.  amazing.  

english has this word too.  Which is great.  In theory.  

HOWEVER, because this word was used as a form of address by communists, the english version of it lost its original connotation completely.  it’s never used anymore.  left to rust on the pages of history books.  

And the result???  

THE RESULT IS THAT EVERYONE I KNOW CALLS EVERYONE THEY KNOW A FRIEND.  every friendly acquaintance they make.  and before you know it, they’re doing crazy favours for those “friends,” they’re hanging out with those “friends” all the time, sacrificing things for them, not because they like them all that much but because they’re Friends and That’s What Friends Do.  

TL; DR – 

If you’ve got a ton of these shitty fake friends?..  Blame the Cold War.  I mean, sure, you know these people better than plain acquaintances, but like…  they’re not your friends.  And you won’t ever admit it to them OR to yourself.  

Because there’s no way you will ever call them “comrades.”