• Empricorn@feddit.nl
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    16
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    22 days ago

    Is “torched” the new “slammed”? How is it people can’t sound like normal humans when writing a headline!?

    • Danquebec@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      10
      ·
      edit-2
      21 days ago

      My first language isn’t English, and as I was trying to understand the headline, I thought “torch dead” might be an expression meaning, burning alive with torches or similar. So I was reading “reddit mods delete thread as doctors burn CEO alive”. The event described sounded much more brutal than it really was.

      • granolabar@kbin.melroy.org
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        22 days ago

        You are reading it correct but you are missing is the cultural context of how headlines in US are drafted by journalist and wording is reflecting of some custom or narrative.

        “slammed” specifically has a connotation of a certain type of a journalist that is now regularly mocked on social media. Commenter above merely making a joke at their expense here.

        • Danquebec@sh.itjust.works
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          4
          ·
          edit-2
          21 days ago

          I’m aware of the mockery for “slam”, thanks.

          Now that you are telling I’m reading it correct, I understand it must be a figurative sense of “torch”. I had taken it literally.

    • Stalinwolf@lemmy.ca
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      21 days ago

      In times like these we can probably turn to the WWE to draw upon more creative synonyms.

      Bernie Sanders COBRA CLUTCHES Republican Senators Over New Spending Bill