authentic = 'realistic in one's attitudes'

[Joel S. Berson]

I suppose the antonym is "be ersatz".  Or in words of one syllable,
"be real" or "be fake".  But I don't see "be authentic" as Orwellian
-- it seems quite ordinary and understandlable to me.  On the other
hand, "be ersatz" ... well.

Joel

At 1/23/2011 08:21 PM, ronbutters at AOL.COM wrote:
>Of course "it" is not in the OED! This is just a sort of Orwellian
>use an impressive-sounding buzz word as a way of allowing the
>supposed sage to babble. He could just as well have said "be
>responsible" or "be fundamental" or "be respectful" or any of a
>number of emptied slogans. Sheesh!
>
>Sent from my iPad
>
>On Jan 23, 2011, at 5:31 PM, Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>
> > A self-improvement author on CNN just now was explaining how to bounce back
> > from setbacks.  Rule Number One is, "Be authentic."  This was so important
> > that the words replaced the people on the screen for several moments.  But
> > it was clear from the discussion that "authentic" meant 'realistic,' or at
> > least 'candidly truthful with yourself.'  Being "authentic" meant not
> > assuming that there's something horribly wrong with you personally, "being
> > humble," etc., etc.
> >
> > At any rate, not in OED.
> >
> > JL
> >
> > --
> > "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."
> >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------
> > The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>
>------------------------------------------------------------
>The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org