This is a brief discussion of language and its effects. Thank you for listening, if you wish to.
I suggest we call it the "BP Gulf Rupture Event." I like this because it addresses a variety of important questions.
one, who was in charge,
two, where it was,
three, what happened,
four, that it was an event, and an event can keep on happening for a long time.
- Who was in charge...well, that's going to be debated endlessly, and already is, but I already see BP whining about it, and I already see people here reminding us of their previous failures (yay people here!)
- Where it was. Well, the GOM isn't the only gulf. Are there other Gulfs BP has effed up? I think "BP" plus "Gulf" gets it pretty clear. At least for the decade.
- What happened. Well, there is a lot of talk about that. Spills, gushers, all of that. Spills sound like something that happens in the kitchen...whoops! and then you cuss or yell at the kids.
Gushers? Well, that sounds far too positive for my taste. Far too "Whooooh!!! ain't mining Grand!" to suit my fancy, thank you very much.
I like "Rupture" and have liked it for some time. It sounds so medical. And "BP Gulf Rupture Event" sics it right back on the petroleum companies, one way or the other. Bad doctor rupturing Mom!
Okay, now for #4; "event." Event, in this sort of context, always makes me think of "Extinction Event."
We can't survive the oceans dying. For that matter, it's unlikely that any mammal can, to any extent.
So folks, that's my vote on this one. But only because I don't think "Delusional selfish whiny upright apes continue to ruin everything in their typical batshit crazy way" would fly in the press.