That's pretty bad, but as somene who's subscribed to the BBC Today podcast, I've heard so many that it's hard to decide which is the most cloying expression: the Muslim (or Jewish or Sikh or evangelical etc.) community, the gay community, the international community, the unionist community (or loyalist, or, better yet, the Northern Ireland community), the farming community, the Pakistani community, the hacking community, the smuggling community, the diplomatic community, the Gaelic community, the naturist community, the Oldham community, the haemophilia community and the scientfic community. Best of all must be the global community.
Communityitis is a disease that's widespread at the BBC. I've no problem with using the word when it's appropriate, but surely just saying "Catholics thought x" rather than the waffly version is far easier to read.
2006-07-05EDT16:05:53+00:00
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Communityitis is a disease that's widespread at the BBC. I've no problem with using the word when it's appropriate, but surely just saying "Catholics thought x" rather than the waffly version is far easier to read.
Easier to read and also less irritating.
Wait - the smuggling community? Really? Shriek!
2006-07-07EDT01:48:33+00:00
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Wait - the smuggling community? Really? Shriek!
Yup, some others: the migrant community, the expatriate community, the size-acceptance community (picked out by Simon Hoggart in the Grauniad), the journalistic community, the geoprogramming community, the Shetland community, the modding (as in games) community, the yachting community, the biker community, the "Euratlantic community" (another favourite of mine), the Islington community, the moviemaking community, the footballing community, the Scrabble community, the travelling community (sometimes known as gypises or (new-age) travellers but absolutely not commuters), the veteran's community (albeit mentioned in an article dismissing the conception), the NGO community, the motorhome community, the horticultural community, the stockbroking community, the activist community (yeah, because Naomi Klein and Jerry Falwell - both activists - have got so much in common) and, worst of all, the polluting community. All of these are from the Grauniad.
2006-07-07EDT02:10:04+00:00
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Why not "Islington community"? Is the term suspect because of the wide gap between the rich and poor there?
I would think that when referring to a relatively small geographical area, the term would be valid.
2006-07-07EDT17:18:31+00:00
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I would think that when referring to a relatively small geographical area, the term would be valid.
No, the point is that when journalists use the phrase "the x community" they aren't actually talking about the community, they are talking about an individual or a handful or individuals who are unelected representatives of the people there. It's an artificial construction.
In the place where I live, if you pulled me over and wanted a chat, you are talking to me, not my community. I'm just a resident of the place - not a "member of the community". It's meaningless and rather lazy journalism.
2006-07-08EDT12:38:58+00:00
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In the place where I live, if you pulled me over and wanted a chat, you are talking to me, not my community. I'm just a resident of the place - not a "member of the community". It's meaningless and rather lazy journalism.
