[allmendream]

I read some Sci Fi (John Brunner IIRC) where an anthropologist spoke of the “emotional index” of the language being used in newscasts.

In other words he could tell when someone was trying to “wind his tail”.

Desecration must be pretty high on the “emotional index” within the lexicon.

Defacement is a much more accurate word.

[BelegStrongbow]

Well, I have to agree that many newscasters are now insinuating scare words into their work, so as to semi-subliminally influence the viewers. I’m sure most people have enough sense to tell a hawk from a handsaw, but I’d bet there are studies showing that TV-watchers lose a good chunk of that ability to discern. I know I irritate people when I correct the record the newscaster just tried to twist. I should be less negative, they say.

I don’t know what the solution is to that, so I just shut up.

As to Brunner, the only work of his I’ve read is ‘Stand on Zanzibar’, which is so huge and so diverse what you wrote could be in there, but I don’t recall it.

[Donald Rumsfeld Fan]

Desecration must be pretty high on the “emotional index” within the lexicon. Defacement is a much more accurate word.

In this instance 'desecration' is the more appropriate word, not 'defacement'. That's because it wasn't a mere photo, but an iconic photo.

Similar to this one.