Photo credit: Yahoo Images
In the past year or so, I’ve been noticing that items I’ve been familiar with my entire life have been re-branded, as it were, and given new names.
I don’t know why this is. Maybe the old words and terms weren’t sexy or flashy enough? Or maybe the new ones are simply more descriptive? Or perhaps I’m just middle-aged and crotchety and want things to stay the way they were.
Whatever the reason, the fact remains that I’m having to learn new tricks.
For example, mouth wash is now mouth rinse. I’m not sure why this would be changed, but it is. Maybe the old term sounded too clinical, too halitosis-y? There definitely seems to be more emphasis in the marketing on getting rid of cavities, killing germs, and/or getting more fluoride on your teeth, rather than simply dealing with the garlic and onions you had with your lunch.
On a related note, my dental hygienist told me several months ago that plaque is no longer called that, but I can’t remember what she told me it is now. Something like bio-film, I think. Whatever it is, apparently plaque is simply too disgusting for American dental patients to handle. If said patients would simply brush and floss more often, they wouldn’t have to hear any unsavory words like plaque or bio-film or tarter or whatever.
In another example, plastic is now referred to in catalogs as resin. Seriously, go pick up a catalog and see if you can find the word plastic in there. It’s a lot harder, because now home catalogs talk about resin figurines and clothing catalogs talk about resin jewelry. Dudes, it’s all just plastic. I know why this is: With the backlash against plastic by eco-minded folks, such as the Eco Women and just people in general, manufacturers are trying to make us think that we’re not buying plastic, we’re buying something else entirely. Because we all really are that stupid! Um, no, we’re not. So I’d appreciate it they’d take their cheap resin tchotchkes and shoved ‘em where the sun don’t shine.
In another example, vintage is often used as a nicer way of saying something is used. (And, I might add, often misused to simply connote the idea that something is classic or a reproduction of something old.)
What used to be known as exfoliants or exfoliating cleansers are now simply known as scrubs. I actually am fine with that one because it’s easier to say.
Oh, and those shirts in the photos at the top? Back in the olden days, we called those Izods. These days, they are Lacoste shirts. Of course, that one could simply be what we in small town Virginia called them and was not actually a more national thing. (We also pronounced Etienne Aigner leather goods as Ag-nur and it wasn’t until I was in my mid-20s that I learned differently, so that should tell you how unworldly we were.)
So, is it just me or are any of you noticing that names are changing?
Wow. You’re right–I have noticed more “resin” lately and I thought that was just plain old plastic.
They’re referred to as Lacoste shirts here in Pennsylvania too. I remember before calling them Izods, we just called them alligator shirts. You know, back in the day.
It is a major pet peeve of mine that people use ‘vintage’ to describe any thrifted purchase. Thrift stores are full of clothes that were in stores last year – unless it’s 20+ years old, it’s not vintage.
High Fructose Corn Syrup is being relabeled as “corn sugar”. Aspartame is being relabeled as “amino sweet”. Let’s just call it what it is folks….poison.
You’re right about all this AND you’re getting old and crotchety. Embrace it! It’s your right. Eventually you can segue to curmudgeon, or you can mellow and be eccentric.
A few years ago, the California Ag council rebranded prunes. You’ll now see many packages labeled as dried plums. Personally, I think is was a smart move. Prunes had become synonymous with old people and digestive regularity. Now they’re a cool and trendy ingredient. It happens all the time in the fishing world. Yesterday’s trash fish is this year’s tilapia.
What once were blouses are now button ups or shirts. I love to say blouse for fun.
My sisters and I – all in our 40s – love to say “blouse” and “slacks” to crack each other up. I think our ribbing has almost driven those words out of our mom’s vocabulary!
I’m giggling right now!!
I am guilty that when I describe my jewellery on my website I avoid describing something as “acrylic” if I possibly can. To me it’s a word that means sweaty armpit clothes not lovely beads that happen to be made of plastic…Plastic also has a connotation of cheapness where it comes to jewellery I feel…So I try to avoid the word at all whilst being honest…It’s a connotation thing…
Lisa and Violet – try saying “shirtwaist” or “shirtwaist frock” – that’s even older than “blouse” or “shirtdress” !
I referred to my son’s iPod as a Walkman the other day.
We in the UK are now forced to call Marathons Snickers even though we called them Marathons for years. And we had it from Europe too, Oil of Ulay was rebranded Oil of Olay because it would match rest of Europe.