When close to half a people-group go on to university schooling, they come close to being labeled un-common, in my opinion, because, in contrast, only the 8th and 5th Grades, respectively, were available to ninety percent of children in the US and Britain, before the Second War. More learning widens horizons, and more material comfort allows one to be more 'giving', as in a higher level of concern for the feelings of another. One example: my cats wash each other only after a meal ! Over the decades, I have observed "not pretty' replace "ugly" in everyday conversation. One tries, now naturally, not to be disconcerting. And so, if you can believe it, I do, "suck" has actually come to displace the word "stink". Inclement weather now 'sucks', as does un-fair play at sport: the shirt worn by a four year old in NY proclaims 'Boston Sucks' in bold letters. That refers to the local baseball team. The mention of a stink leaves you sqeaminish, whereas any connotation to sex is easily displaced in a society that consider it 'passe', not relegated to the shadows. Nevertheless, I still ordered my then six year old daughter not to use our Samir's phrase when on the telephone with friends. eric.
