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   Jerrica makes art (jmakesart@spinster.xyz)'s status on Tuesday, 17-Oct-2023 04:00:23 JST Jerrica makes art
   So "houseless" is the polite term for "homeless" now. I can only assume this small and slightly awkward change was made because the word "home" has deeper emotional significance.
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     EatKnitSleep (eatknitsleepagain@spinster.xyz)'s status on Tuesday, 17-Oct-2023 04:00:23 JST EatKnitSleep

     in reply to
     @jmakesart This word really irritates me on several levels.
     People live in all kinds of structures: caravans, boats, appartments... They don't have houses, but they do have homes. The emotional significance of 'home' is important. It suggests safety and stability and privacy: things that homeless people do not have. Calling them 'houseless' instead, almost hides how dangerous and depressing homelessness can be.
     I would be interested to know how this change came about, and willing to bet money that those pushing for the change are not, themselves, homeless.
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     Seahorses are horses (piss_ant@spinster.xyz)'s status on Tuesday, 17-Oct-2023 04:01:25 JST Seahorses are horses

     in reply to

     • EatKnitSleep
     @EatKnitSleepAgain @jmakesart Exactly... Houseless is kind of meaningless. "Having" a home and "having" a house are two different things...
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     Jerrica makes art (jmakesart@spinster.xyz)'s status on Tuesday, 17-Oct-2023 04:14:38 JST Jerrica makes art

     in reply to

     • EatKnitSleep
     @EatKnitSleepAgain Yes, you make an excellent point about the emotional significance being a part of the situation that shouldn't be left out.
     I almost wonder if it's like "sex worker". A push to make it more sound more clinical for the people who "choose" it. I don't know.
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     EatKnitSleep (eatknitsleepagain@spinster.xyz)'s status on Tuesday, 17-Oct-2023 04:14:38 JST EatKnitSleep

     in reply to
     @jmakesart I think you're right. Everyone knows that prostitution and homelessness are miserable experiences, but sex work and houseless sound much less upsetting, and possibly chosen.
     
     George Carlin did a whole rant about this type of euphemism.
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