There are certain words that sprung up in my late years, and some existing words in the dictionary that became commonplace. Words got abbreviated, and the spirit lost in the carelessness with which these are thrown around.
Awesome and Rockstar are two I can recall right away. ‘Amazing’ was the boss’s remark on congratulatory mails for routine performance at work. The favourites had to be encouraged, and made to think in bigger boots. The introverts quietly deleted the chain of nonsensical mails saying ‘Way to go, buddy’ and ‘You rock’.
On this blog, I had to ask a commenter not to use the words XOXO liberally with strangers. I’ve never known him in real life. He disappeared from the scene thereafter.
‘Darling’ falls in a different territory. Celebrities are darlings of the masses, till they commit an unspeakable act and are shamed for it. ‘Darling’ and ‘Honey’ for the spouse have got replaced by a rather insipid and passionless ‘Baby’. I’ve never understood the lingual logic of it, except that it is ‘cool’ for ‘hot’ guys and chicks to say that.
For me, it is real babies, pups and kittens who are ‘darlings’. But I’m unashamedly old-fashioned. What say you?
Tale Weaver – #233 – July 25th – Darling
Creative Experiments and More 
It’s an interesting dilemma you raise Reena, I find the word “darling’ somewhat grating as to me there should be something that goes after it. Maybe I’m old fashioned, but I see how babies and pets can fall into that category.
In Australia we sometimes in a very colloquial manner might say: “Hey darl, what do you call this?” in reference to dinner. I did like your response to this prompt.
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Thank you, Michael!
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Each generation seems to alter contexts. I can’t keep up anymore, but it is a phenomena.
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If we don’t need it, forget it 🙂
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