Sacrifice = opportunity cost

[Benjamin Barrett]

The overall point was that usage of the word seems to have changed from allowing only important things to allowing trivial things as well.

It seems likely that at least some Olympians are talking about trivial things given how often the word is used.

I admit to having a bit of resistance to the trivial use, but I'm not claiming any of it is inappropriate per se, just changed.

Hope that clears it up :)

Benjamin Barrett
Seattle, WA

On Aug 5, 2012, at 2:57 PM, Dan Goncharoff wrote:

>
> OK, I have become confused.
>
> I thought the original point was that the word "sacrifice", when used for
> Olympic athletes, was inappropriate because their sacrifices were trivial.
>
> Now your point seems to be that some apparently random uses of the word are
> inappropriate because the sacrifices are trivial.
>
> I disagree with the first point but agree with the second, not that my
> opinion counts for anything.
>
> DanG
>
>
> On Sun, Aug 5, 2012 at 4:30 AM, Benjamin Barrett <gogaku at ix.netcom.com>wrote:
>
>> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
>> -----------------------
>> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>> Poster:       Benjamin Barrett <gogaku at IX.NETCOM.COM>
>> Subject:      Re: Sacrifice = opportunity cost
>>
>> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> Here is some evidence about how trivial this can be:
>>
>> Recently I sacrificed my beloved Sunday morning lie-in in order to join =
>> a cycling expedition to Thanh Thoan Bridge, a small but famous bridge in =
>> a local village just outside Hue.  =
>> (
>> http://huehelp.tumblr.com/post/22566167806/recently-i-sacrificed-my-belov=
>> ed-sunday-morning)
>>
>> I sacrificed my kids clothes and a can of tuna to make some high quality =
>> FIRE STARTER!! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Df7Qv16VKtxU)
>>
>> I Sacrificed My Previous Blog [=3D killed?] =
>> (http://victorialeealexander.tumblr.com/post/27479110589)
>>
>> Benjamin Barrett
>> Seattle, WA
>>
>> On Aug 2, 2012, at 1:08 PM, Dan Goncharoff wrote:
>>
>>> I think Olympic athletes are making more interesting choices about how =
>> to
>>> lead their lives and devote their energies than the choice between =
>> training
>>> and "loafing and partying".
>>> =20
>>> DanG
>>> =20
>>> =20
>>> On Wed, Aug 1, 2012 at 9:13 PM, Jonathan Lighter =
>> <wuxxmupp2000 at gmail.com>wrote:
>>> =20
>>>> =
>> --------------------------------------------------------------------------=
>> -----
>>>> =20
>>>> All the Olympians have "sacrificed," in the more traditional sense of =
>> the
>>>> word, is time they could have spent loafing and partying, which, =
>> let's face
>>>> it, is pretty important by modern standards.
>>>> =20
>>>> The current questionable usage, though, seems so well established (at =
>> least
>>>> in connection with athletes and celebrities) that it may be pointless =
>> to
>>>> worry about it.
>>>> =20
>>>> "To put in endless hours of effort at the expense of comparatively =
>> trivial
>>>> things" seems to be the more recent meaning. "She's made so many
>>>> sacrifices" =3D "She's exhibited extraordinary single-mindedness of =
>> effort."
>>>> =20
>>>> At least that's what these words seem to mean to me. And they must =
>> mean
>>>> something.
>>>> =20
>>>> =20
>>>> JL
>>>> =20
>>>> =20
>>>> =20
>>>> On Wed, Aug 1, 2012 at 7:23 PM, Benjamin Barrett =
>> <gogaku at ix.netcom.com
>>>>> wrote:
>>>> =20
>>>>> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
>>>>> -----------------------
>>>>> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>>>>> Poster:       Benjamin Barrett <gogaku at IX.NETCOM.COM>
>>>>> Subject:      Re: Sacrifice =3D opportunity cost
>>>>> =20
>>>>> =20
>>>> =
>> --------------------------------------------------------------------------=
>> -----
>>>>> =20
>>>>> On Aug 1, 2012, at 9:43 AM, Laurence Horn wrote:
>>>>> =20
>>>>>> On Aug 1, 2012, at 4:44 AM, Benjamin Barrett wrote:
>>>>>> =20
>>>>>>> My partner (Japanese native) pointed out today that the use by
>>>>> Olympians of the word "sacrifice" is odd. I had trouble fingering =
>> his
>>>>> objection, but then he pointed out that what they are calling =
>> sacrifices
>>>>> are choices not sacrifices.
>>>>>>> =20
>>>>>>> The OED seems to be outdated. The closest is: " The destruction or
>>>>> surrender of something valued or desired for the sake of something
>>>> having,
>>>>> or regarded as having, a higher or a more pressing claim; the loss
>>>> entailed
>>>>> by devotion to some other interest; also, the thing so devoted or
>>>>> surrendered."
>>>>>>> =20
>>>>>>> The AHD (
>>>>> http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/sacrifice) =
>> says:
>>>>> "Forfeiture of something highly valued for the sake of one =
>> considered to
>>>>> have a greater value or claim."
>>>>>>> =20
>>>>>>> Olympians and athletes in general certainly do give up a lot in =
>> their
>>>>> pursuit of athletics, but this seems to be less lofty: opportunity =
>> cost;
>>>>> the giving up of something in the pursuit of something else (more =
>> highly
>>>>> valued).
>>>>>>> =20
>>>>>> So you're telling me that my assumption that the athletes are =
>> referring
>>>>> to having made burnt offerings of oxen and goats to Zeus before the
>>>> trials
>>>>> is unwarranted?  Who knew?
>>>>> =20
>>>>> I'm not sure whether this is just a joke, or whether you think that =
>> this
>>>>> meaning of sacrifice is so well embedded in the word as to be =
>> unworthy of
>>>>> note.
>>>>> =20
>>>>> I don't know what this word was like 50 years ago, but my sense is =
>> that
>>>>> there is a change.
>>>>> =20

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