Dig Deeper Community Forum

Have you ever observed the classism in our language?

If you take something away from someone against their will, it is called "stealing" or "robbery". If the elites and their minions do it, it is called "confiscation" or "seizure".

If you watch or listen to someone without their consent, it is called "spying". If the elites do it, it is "surveillance" or "monitoring".

If you take pictures and record videos at public disasters, you are considered a "gawker" and "sensationalist". If the established state-controlled media does it, it is "reporting" and "journalism". (Of course they don't want competition.)

(More examples will be added.)

If an enemy usurps control over a country and enacts an authoritarian regime, he is called a dictator. If one of "our" guys does it, he is called a… what? I’m thinking "self-appointed leader", but I’m sure there is a better term.