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<blockquote data-quote="Raven Crowking" data-source="post: 5440229" data-attributes="member: 18280">If you said that the meaning of &quot;pet&quot; and &quot;dog&quot; were co-equal; that there is no dilution of meaning by broadening the definition, then you would be denying reality.If you said that the meaning of &quot;pet&quot; and &quot;German shepherd&quot; were co-equal; that there is no dilution of meaning by broadening the definition, then you would be denying reality.Your strawmen rely upon the idea that it cannot be both clear what &quot;pet&quot; means, while that meaning is less dilute than what &quot;German shepherd&quot; means.The meaning of a broader category is always more dilute than that of a narrower category, or of a specific.&nbsp; &quot;Fish&quot; is a clear term, but tells you less than &quot;trout&quot;, just as &quot;trout&quot; tells you less than &quot;rainbow trout&quot;, and &quot;rainbow trout&quot; tells you less than &quot;this rainbow trout frying in the pan&quot;.&quot;Pet&quot; gives you a clear idea; it fails to give you a specific idea.&nbsp; Thus, Kleenex is diluted because it is now often used to refer to any facial tissue.&nbsp; That doesn't mean people mistake facial tissues for tractors.Dilution of meaning means that the meaning is less specific; it doesn't mean it is unclear.RC</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Raven Crowking, post: 5440229, member: 18280"] If you said that the meaning of "pet" and "dog" were co-equal; that there is no dilution of meaning by broadening the definition, then you would be denying reality. If you said that the meaning of "pet" and "German shepherd" were co-equal; that there is no dilution of meaning by broadening the definition, then you would be denying reality. Your strawmen rely upon the idea that it cannot be both clear what "pet" means, while that meaning is less dilute than what "German shepherd" means. The meaning of a broader category is always more dilute than that of a narrower category, or of a specific. "Fish" is a clear term, but tells you less than "trout", just as "trout" tells you less than "rainbow trout", and "rainbow trout" tells you less than "this rainbow trout frying in the pan". "Pet" gives you a clear idea; it fails to give you a specific idea. Thus, Kleenex is diluted because it is now often used to refer to any facial tissue. That doesn't mean people mistake facial tissues for tractors. Dilution of meaning means that the meaning is less specific; it doesn't mean it is unclear. RC [/QUOTE]

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