From newshub.ccs.yorku.ca!torn!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!olivea!uunet!caen!kuhub.cc.ukans.edu!spssig.spss.com!markrose Wed Sep 16 21:22:37 EDT 1992
Article 6851 of comp.ai.philosophy:
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>From: markrose@spss.com (Mark Rosenfelder)
Newsgroups: comp.ai.philosophy
Subject: action verbs
Message-ID: <1992Sep9.212032.28943@spss.com>
Date: 9 Sep 92 21:20:32 GMT
References: <wentzell.78.715973345@ace.acadiau.ca> <MELBY.92Sep9005959@dove.yk.Fujitsu.CO.JP> <1992Sep9.034138.15488@news.media.mit.edu>
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In article <1992Sep9.034138.15488@news.media.mit.edu> minsky@media.mit.edu (Marvin Minsky) writes:
>More generally, I have found only a very few verbs that reflect any
>appreciable discredit upon the subject-agent.  It is almost impossible
>to admit to a fault without using the passive, or other form of
>periphrase to be evasive.  Could this be a subtle way of imparting a
>society's values to its members?  Weird.

How about invade, hurt, abuse, slander, torture, flame, rape, neglect,
kill, murder, violate, misuse, screw, flee, mock, maim, mislead, backstab,
corrupt, brainwash, pillage, despoil, enslave, mistreat, fail, cheat,
devastate, disappoint, abandon, ruin, annoy, bore, dominate, overwork,
trap, damage, deceive, con, mug, poison, infect, spoil, defraud, lurk,
trick, misjudge, scam, bankrupt, impoverish, terrorize, exasperate, stiff,
stonewall, break, dupe, betray, bilk, hate, oppress, upset, and repel?


