I understand that languages evolve, and that new words get invented to deal with new stuff, and I have no problem with that. What I do have a problem with is imprecise or innaccurate language.
As a psychologist, I truly despise when new 'disorders' are invented that are not disorders at all, but just being an asshole. So, this post is inspired by those two things.
I guess the two current buzzwords that I hate the most are homophobia and islamaphobia. Now, I know what both of these mean, as do you. What pisses me off is the use of the term 'phobia'. Homophobia is hatred of LGBT people, and Islamaphobia is hatred of Muslims. THESE ARE NOT PHOBIAS. A phobia is an irrational fear, a real psychological problem, and they can be debilitating.
Islamaphobia and homophobia are simply bigotry. They are simply hatred. These are not disorders, they are being a bigoted asshole. That is not a disorder. Why in the hell can't we just use the word 'bigot'? Perhaps we could come up with a better term, anti-Semtisim is not called 'Jewphobia' or something.
Now, I don't think (or I certainly don't hope) that most people thinnk of these two things as disorders, but the words themselves imply that they are disorders. I also am not naive enough to believe those words will change. Anyway, as usual, I am starting to ramble.....