Just Sayin': Proposing a new set of descriptive phrases

Proposing a new set of descriptive actions

In the interest of helping those politicians and their followers in Texas and other parts of the country, who don't like the current "word usage" to describe the negative actions of ourselves and ancestors, we need to create some new terms for some events. For example:

One would no longer be sent to jail but rather would be a guest at "involuntary housing."

Kidnappers would be guilty of "involuntary detention."

Someone guilty of murder would be charged with causing "involuntary death" of another individual.

Robbery would be listed as soliciting an "involuntary donation."

Carjacking would be called an "involuntary ride share."

The assault of a person would be designated as the "involuntary violation of personal space."

And, finally, genocide in history could be softened by calling it an "involuntary ethnic cleansing."

I'm sure the new designations of these crimes would make the victim feel so much better and allow the perpetrators to feel better about themselves, too.

Bill Etzel, Manorville

Personal public displays getting out of hand

I don’t recall any friends or acquaintances, etc., out of the blue, relating information about their spouses, girlfriends or boyfriends to me unless it was part of an actual conversation. These new public celebrations of one’s personal life choices are overboard. It is inappropriate to constantly display partner information.

What is needed is for everyone to be treated fairly and equally. One’s personal life choices are, well, personal. They are not a cause for overt and constant celebration. I have never seen my friends or acquaintances dancing down the halls singing about their partners. I know this is the information age, but really?

I look at it as a social media disease. Like the people who take a picture of their lunch and post it online. A similar phenomenon is the proliferation of reality shows. I remember saying to a friend, “Do you realize you are now watching people you don’t know, do everyday things in their lives as if it was interesting? Instead, why don’t you work on your own mundane life?”

Cultural pendulums swing in the one direction, then another, and, after enough time, you have no idea where they are.

Ron Greenfield, Wantagh

An opening question about closed captions

My wife is hearing-impaired and depends on closed captions to watch TV programs. We have been using closed captions since their inception. I have good hearing. We have noted that closed captions have gotten worse over the years. A highly rated longtime newsmagazine recently was real bad, with captions that were three sentences behind the picture and sound. My wife was unable to follow the dialogue, and as a hearing person, I was confused, too. This episode was a repeat, and I don't recall if the original had the same problem. Are the networks or producers monitoring these show so they can correct problems? 

Fred Smith, Massapequa