For Posteriors' Sake

A google reader tiff started this week with this post, in which Josh Marshall misused/employed the modern use of "begs the question":

Everything I've heard is completely consistent with PN's report, though that does beg the question of how this goof got elected and reelected in the first place.

and addended this defense of his use:

(ed.note: Please no emails telling me this is the incorrect use of the phrase 'beg the question', though I know you're right. I've decided that this misuse is too widespread, too serviceable and too lacking in an alternative not to simply persist in using it.)

before reconsidering:

Late Update: Despite my forewarning, I'm being deluged by emails from purists telling me it would be so easy simply to use "raise" instead of "beg." I guess I'll have to give it more thought.

As far as the blogosphere knows, he's still contemplating.

Rugby Dan shared this post initially (prior to Marshall's reconsideration) with the comment, "No, asshole, it raises the question. The ed note makes it worse." I reshared expressing agreement.

Ariel responded at length:

everybody complaining about the use of "begs the question": get over it. language changes. if a term is used with such regularity to mean x that everybody who hears the term understands it as x, it means x. congrats on knowing that in one particular discipline there's also a meaning, y, that predates x, but acting all pissed off and saying "no, you're all idiots: this term means y because we were using it first!" is dogmatic, not to mention probably motivated by a desire to prove intellectual superiority to everybody 'misusing' the term (elitism, btw, is almost always the motivation involved whenever people complain about the adoption of a new linguistic convention. as in "this isn't in line with how people who are properly educated talk, so because this new way of talking reflects a lack of sophistication/education/class it must be something to be frowned upon and dismissed.

Dan clapped back:

"saying 'no, you're all idiots: this term means y because we were using it first!' is dogmatic"...

"elitism, btw, is almost always the motivation involved whenever people complain about the adoption of a new linguistic convention"

hahahahahahahahaha...see this, is why it's good to know what words mean; particularly, why it's useful to have a term like 'begs the question,' the better to observe when it's being done

Ariel had to have the last word, with:

[RugbyDan's] comment shows why it is also useful to have terms like "beg the question," all the better so that one can point out "this begs the question, what the fuck is dan talking about?" because, of course, there would otherwise be no way to express such a thought.”

Today, I see this on Rugby's FB profile:

The only way I can see to settle this is a combination poker-weightlifting biathlon once Ariel's labia labrum heals.