That word "carnage"

[vilakins]

Media Watch last night criticised the exaggeration of news reports about Christchurch, and particularly the misuse of the word "carnage" which I objected to; vindicated! Because there weren't any deaths, let alone slaughter, as Media Watch put it.

Petrol-head Greg thinks the misuse of "carnage" comes from Formula 1 where they call every crash carnage, and I'm wondering if the "car" part is to blame. The reporter who used it in Christchurch was standing near a flattened car, but I really don't think he was thinking about that when he said it. I'm wondering what the general perception of that word is. So, a poll.

[Poll #1615401]
[Edit] Since I can't change a poll, add "with horrible injuries" to the last option. I kept it too simple. :-P

Comments

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Someone else associated it with animals too; interesting! Perhaps there's a novel or history about early Christians that uses it.

[pebblerocker]

Simpler than that for me: it sounds like carnivore.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Which means flesh-eater in Latin, so carnage is, well, fleshage. Eew. And it's hard to say as well.