• Iron Lynx@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    It’s also worth noting that a profession where you spend every day in close proximity to cows is very common. Meanwhile, a profession that regularly has you in close proximity to sharks is way more niche. Make of this what you want.

    • ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      2 days ago

      Yup! Though it’s worth noting that cows, while beautiful, are not necessarily gentle. They can fuck your shit up.

      Also, does this stat separate cows from steers/bulls? It says cows but it feels like it means bovines of all genders.

      • doingthestuff@lemy.lol
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        2 days ago

        If you look up the definition of cow, it includes this:

        (loosely) a domestic bovine animal, regardless of sex or age

        So, it is maybe an informal use of the word, but not unrecognized.

        • ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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          2 days ago

          I think this is one of those “so many people use it wrong it’s now ‘right’” situations, but yeah people definitely do often use it wrong like that.

          • doingthestuff@lemy.lol
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            2 days ago

            It once was wrong. When it becomes one of the definitions, it’s no longer wrong. That’s how language works.

            • ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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              2 days ago

              Ehhh, kinda. If enough people call a duck a chicken for dictionary.com to add

              1. (loosely) some call ducks chickens

              That doesn’t mean ducks are now chickens, it just means so many people were incorrect it had to be noted.

              • doingthestuff@lemy.lol
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                1 day ago

                It isn’t only misuse. Sick now means very nice. That didn’t happen because people didn’t understand the meaning of the word sick. Language just changes, and dictionaries acknowledge common use.

                Yes, in this case it probably came from generations of people not understanding the difference between a cow and a bull. And most people only see cows irl, not a lot of places have fields full of bulls. I was pretty much raised understanding that “cow” was both a general term and a specific term. No one uses the term bovine in real speech.

                • ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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                  1 day ago

                  Yeah that’s the “kinda” part, sometimes for sure that happens, but that’s different than say something like “literally now means figuratively due to people misusing it” doesn’t mean it’s actually correct even if a dictionary were to adopt it.

                  Furthermore I believe words don’t have to be in the dictionary to be “correct,” imo embiggen is a perfectly cromulent word whether or not some people who compile a book agree. I just don’t think that “many being incorrect” deserves to be a reason words change to new meanings necessarily, maybe sometimes, but sometimes also “no they’re just wrong.”

                  Bovine is more scientific, I can’t say that I’ve heard it in regular speech myself, but 'round here people usually say cow, steer, or bull depending on which it is.

    • stankmut@lemmy.world
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      3 days ago

      Shark milking is one of the most dangerous professions out there. It doesn’t surprise me that the industry is under reporting deaths.

      • Øπ3ŕ@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        2 days ago

        Whereas cow fucking is even less accurately reported, and isn’t even a profession. It’s almost inevitable, really, whenever a MAGAt’s left alone with livestock long enough —and the rampant cow rape’s only a fraction of that number, too. 🤦🏼‍♂️