Maybe it’s because we live in a world full of these “adjectives from the future”, but when I think of, for example, a “weight-loss program” I don’t think the program will result in weight loss, but rather a program whose purpose is weight loss, whether or not it achieves it. Similarly with the other examples: the adjective is not describing what it will do, but what the intended purpose is.
I guess you’re saying we allow for the possibility of failure when somebody says “I’m on a weight-loss program”. I agree. We are not completely gullible in the face of such descriptions.
I’m claiming that we seem to be visibly more skeptical when we see the features than when we see just the intended result. For example, “weight-loss program” vs using the telemarketed ab machine for 15 minutes. Similarly with “clean air law” vs raising the fuel tax rate, or “cost-cutting measure” vs switching to online advertising.
Would you agree with that claim? Thanks for your feedback.
Maybe it’s because we live in a world full of these “adjectives from the future”, but when I think of, for example, a “weight-loss program” I don’t think the program will result in weight loss, but rather a program whose purpose is weight loss, whether or not it achieves it. Similarly with the other examples: the adjective is not describing what it will do, but what the intended purpose is.
I guess you’re saying we allow for the possibility of failure when somebody says “I’m on a weight-loss program”. I agree. We are not completely gullible in the face of such descriptions.
I’m claiming that we seem to be visibly more skeptical when we see the features than when we see just the intended result. For example, “weight-loss program” vs using the telemarketed ab machine for 15 minutes. Similarly with “clean air law” vs raising the fuel tax rate, or “cost-cutting measure” vs switching to online advertising.
Would you agree with that claim? Thanks for your feedback.