virus = "any disease-causing organism whatsoever"

[Dave Wilton]

No, it's just ignorant newscasters.

My question is whether the "on-screen head" talking about the bubonic plague
was a general journalist or some kind of "expert." If the latter, there is
no excuse; such a person should not be allowed on the air to talk about such
things. If it was the regular news person, then some leeway can be given
because we can't expect them to know everything--although the difference
between a bacteria and a virus is pretty basic stuff.

(And plague isn't a real worry anymore, at least not to anyone in the
Western world. Penicillin or any other broad-spectrum antibiotic stops it
cold.)


-----Original Message-----
From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of
Charles Doyle
Sent: Tuesday, June 05, 2007 8:59 AM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: Re: virus = "any disease-causing organism whatsoever"

Perhaps the metaphorical use of the term "virus" in computer parlance has
resulted in the broadening of the literal application to organic pathogens?
After all, there ARE no computer bacteria!

--Charlie
_____________________________________________________________
---- Original message ----
>Date: Tue, 5 Jun 2007 08:43:38 -0700
>From: Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at YAHOO.COM>
>Subject: virus = "any disease-causing organism whatsoever"
>
>Fox News this morning: "The beef in your refrigerator could be contaminated
with a deadly virus! We'll tell you exactly the brand you must not eat - and
why!"
>
>  OK, don't eat "Moran's.". The "virus" turns out to be the aggressive kind
of _E. coli_ bacteria.  A recall has been declared.
>
>  Some days ago an on-screen head was talking about the "virus" that causes
bubonic plague, and why you should steer clear of rodents in Denver.
>
>  JL

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