Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis for January 11, 2016
January 10, 2016
January 12, 2016
Transcript:
TV: Come to our dealership and check out our terrific selection of pre-owned vehicles.
Rat: It's called a used car!! I can't take it anymore.
Pig: The sanitation engineer is at the door. He says you called him a garbageman.
Political correctness has been way out of control for years now.
But I do have a thought reading those first couple of panels. If you buy a car fresh from the factory where they NEVER started the engine or put gas in the tank or a battery in the engine compartment, had to push it onto the car carrier so it could be delivered to your home and never goes to a dealership, then it’s pushed off the carrier at your home and you NEVER put gas or a battery in it or even use the key to lock, unlock the doors and then you sell it two years later with absolutely ZERO miles on it, is it a used car or a previously owned but still basically brand new? I mean that’s personally the only true way to call a car previously owned without it being used. Previously owned is a possibly true statement (more likely it was previously leased), but certainly used is true even if the last owner only put 400 miles on the car.
Pig: "He says that you upset him to the point that he was forced to discharge liquids from his eyes to the point that vision had become troublesome.Rat: “No, I made him cry like a girl.”
Anyone who has bought a used car has said to friends “I got a new car,” which is always followed by “well, new to me.” The problem is just semantics. Both “new” and “used” (and “owned” as explained by F6F5Hellcat) can have multiple meanings.
This has been one of my pet peeves, too. “Pre-owned” (should) mean “new,” not bad short-hand for “previously owned.” First time I saw this was on a dealer ship for BMWs and other expensive cars. Knew what kind of buyer they were trying to appeal to.
Those on the right have no justification to complain about politically correct speech as they are just as guilty. Freedom fries, gun regulations being gun control and right wing terrorists in Oregon being freedom fighters are just the tip of the iceberg.
I read a story in the paper a few years back where they asked a guy if he called himself a “sanitation engineer.” He replied, “No, I just tell people I drive a truck for the city.”
In all fairness, the term “sanitation engineer” is a very old one that predates the current politically correct era by decades. I believe Ed Norton, the sewer worker from The Honeymooners , referred to his job title as “subterranean sanitation engineer”, and that was 60 years ago. People have been coming up with impressive titles for unpleasant or mundane jobs for a very long time.
I laugh at the ads that call them “Certified Pre-Owned”. Think about what they’re claiming; that they certify the vehicle to be pre-owned. It’s the same with, “All credit applications will be accepted.” Of course they’ll accept them, they just won’t approve many of them. It’s all in the wording.
Orwell addressed this in 1946: Politics and the English Language.https://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/orwell46.htmOf course Carlin’s: “I’m a Modern Man” is as brilliant an exposition on language and its ever changing nature as I’ve ever heard.
The moral of the story could be, the more upset you get about things like wording, the more angry you’ll get at the world, and the more you’ll be like rat. Not a good goal, I’d think.
Amen, Rat, Amen! For car dealers to think they’ll ever con people into using the phrase “pre-owned” to describe a used car is Dumb! We have one local independent dealer who runs TV ads who isn’t afraid to call them USED cars. I like that guy!
Carlin wasn’t for PC and saying bathroom tissue is PC. Funny thing is, I don’t remember ever hearing anyone ever say bathroom tissue but I vaguely remember the skit in which Carlin mentioned that.
Actually, there’s a difference. Pre-owned vehicles have a special warranty from the automaker themselves, and have to undergo an at least 150-point inspection before certification. However, used vehicles only have a warranty from the dealer, if they even HAVE a warranty, but many times they don’t.
BE THIS GUY almost 9 years ago
A rose by any other name…
danfromfreddybeach almost 9 years ago
wait until he watches the news and hears about the collateral damage
knight1192a almost 9 years ago
Political correctness has been way out of control for years now.
But I do have a thought reading those first couple of panels. If you buy a car fresh from the factory where they NEVER started the engine or put gas in the tank or a battery in the engine compartment, had to push it onto the car carrier so it could be delivered to your home and never goes to a dealership, then it’s pushed off the carrier at your home and you NEVER put gas or a battery in it or even use the key to lock, unlock the doors and then you sell it two years later with absolutely ZERO miles on it, is it a used car or a previously owned but still basically brand new? I mean that’s personally the only true way to call a car previously owned without it being used. Previously owned is a possibly true statement (more likely it was previously leased), but certainly used is true even if the last owner only put 400 miles on the car.
Eric Salinas Premium Member almost 9 years ago
Pig: "He says that you upset him to the point that he was forced to discharge liquids from his eyes to the point that vision had become troublesome.Rat: “No, I made him cry like a girl.”
Liverlips McCracken Premium Member almost 9 years ago
What’s in a name? Trash by any other name would smell as sweet.
cdgar almost 9 years ago
Pre-owned? Pre-abused is what they really mean.
dadoctah almost 9 years ago
Does anybody have any problem if I refer to mother-of-pearl as “oyster snot”?
PICTO almost 9 years ago
Cars are “owned” by the manufacturer until they are sold to the dealer (2nd “owner”) then they are sold to the consumer (3rd “owner”).
Dave Thorby almost 9 years ago
“My Old Man’s A Refuse Disposal Operative” by Lonnie Donegan from 1961https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODEShfdxoR0
crabbear almost 9 years ago
America has lost both it’s mind and it’s soul! Political correctness sucks to high heaven!!!
DiminishedFirst almost 9 years ago
Anyone who has bought a used car has said to friends “I got a new car,” which is always followed by “well, new to me.” The problem is just semantics. Both “new” and “used” (and “owned” as explained by F6F5Hellcat) can have multiple meanings.
whiteheron almost 9 years ago
New or previously owned, they instantly devalue once it leaves the lot. An amazing coincidence.
cdward almost 9 years ago
OOOOoooorrrrr, you could just call them what they want to be called and not get your panties in a knot.
mainframe2548 almost 9 years ago
…most people think of ‘politically correct’ people as ‘reality challenged’….
Kristiaan almost 9 years ago
As an engineer, it really annoys me that anyone can just call themselves an engineer’.
RedRock2512 almost 9 years ago
This has been one of my pet peeves, too. “Pre-owned” (should) mean “new,” not bad short-hand for “previously owned.” First time I saw this was on a dealer ship for BMWs and other expensive cars. Knew what kind of buyer they were trying to appeal to.
healing huggs almost 9 years ago
Pre-Owned dirty old truck for sale. call BR-549.
mattro65 almost 9 years ago
Those on the right have no justification to complain about politically correct speech as they are just as guilty. Freedom fries, gun regulations being gun control and right wing terrorists in Oregon being freedom fighters are just the tip of the iceberg.
OGWhatahunk almost 9 years ago
jppal almost 9 years ago
Nice, rat. Now the “sanitation engineer” hates you.
pshapley Premium Member almost 9 years ago
I read a story in the paper a few years back where they asked a guy if he called himself a “sanitation engineer.” He replied, “No, I just tell people I drive a truck for the city.”
nosirrom almost 9 years ago
Why’s the Sanitation Engineer upset?Isn’t he used to Rat’s trash talk by now?
hariseldon59 almost 9 years ago
In all fairness, the term “sanitation engineer” is a very old one that predates the current politically correct era by decades. I believe Ed Norton, the sewer worker from The Honeymooners , referred to his job title as “subterranean sanitation engineer”, and that was 60 years ago. People have been coming up with impressive titles for unpleasant or mundane jobs for a very long time.
ProfessorBob Premium Member almost 9 years ago
Sanitation Engineer is a professional title for licensed engineers who design sanitation systems; it is not an appropriate title for the garbage man.
eepeqez almost 9 years ago
The Australian term is a “garbologist”.
Packratjohn Premium Member almost 9 years ago
I laugh at the ads that call them “Certified Pre-Owned”. Think about what they’re claiming; that they certify the vehicle to be pre-owned. It’s the same with, “All credit applications will be accepted.” Of course they’ll accept them, they just won’t approve many of them. It’s all in the wording.
StCleve72 almost 9 years ago
Carlin on euphemisms: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuEQixrBKCc
StCleve72 almost 9 years ago
Orwell addressed this in 1946: Politics and the English Language.https://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/orwell46.htmOf course Carlin’s: “I’m a Modern Man” is as brilliant an exposition on language and its ever changing nature as I’ve ever heard.
rgpope Premium Member almost 9 years ago
“Pre-order”, “Pre-board”, “Pre-lease”, etc, etc…. What happened to plain, simple English?
Diane in comics land Premium Member almost 9 years ago
The moral of the story could be, the more upset you get about things like wording, the more angry you’ll get at the world, and the more you’ll be like rat. Not a good goal, I’d think.
Sherlock Watson almost 9 years ago
IMO, people who misuse language to make ordinary things sound prettier or more special are a bunch of [feminine sanitary products].
PackMyBags almost 9 years ago
Is that a console TV?
Number Three almost 9 years ago
Rat is also a Garbageman.He speaks Garbage after all!xxx
abbybookcase almost 9 years ago
no one mentioned—“encore performance” aka rerun. 1 of my personal favorites in this category
K M almost 9 years ago
I’m sure Rat will get a visit from his letter carrier bringing a lawsuit from his sanitation engineer.
Sisyphos almost 9 years ago
Yes! Yay, Rat!Used car. No more pretentious, laughable euphemisms!
elvoycehooper almost 9 years ago
At the age of 74, my sentiments exactly.
wiatr almost 9 years ago
I love the phrase I hear on the radio lately. Such and such “is powered by-”Near as I can figure they mean ‘sponsored.’
Spade Jr. almost 9 years ago
Amen, Rat, Amen! For car dealers to think they’ll ever con people into using the phrase “pre-owned” to describe a used car is Dumb! We have one local independent dealer who runs TV ads who isn’t afraid to call them USED cars. I like that guy!
knight1192a almost 9 years ago
Carlin wasn’t for PC and saying bathroom tissue is PC. Funny thing is, I don’t remember ever hearing anyone ever say bathroom tissue but I vaguely remember the skit in which Carlin mentioned that.
Phil (full phname Philip Philop) over 7 years ago
Ah,the male cattle-management specialists of the nineteenth-century western rural United States of America.
elementium11 about 2 years ago
Actually, there’s a difference. Pre-owned vehicles have a special warranty from the automaker themselves, and have to undergo an at least 150-point inspection before certification. However, used vehicles only have a warranty from the dealer, if they even HAVE a warranty, but many times they don’t.