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‘It was carnage’: students describe suspected mass food poisoning at New Zealand university (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 3 days ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Reports of vomit streaming down windows as more than 100 University of Canterbury students fall ill, with cause of stomach bug being investigated

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (18 children)

Carnage is a real word, and it's definition isn't broad enough to encompass a mass vomiting and diarrhea event.

carnage /kär′nĭj/ noun

Massive slaughter, as in war; a massacre. Corpses, especially of those killed in battle. Flesh of slain animals or men.

Corpses, especially of those killed in battle. Flesh of slain animals or men.

Flesh of slain animals or men.

I say this not to be pedantic, but because I had to read the article to confirm this wasn't a mass death event.... because words matter.

Doesn't matter that it was a quote, the editor shouldn't have run with it. Find another quote, or use your own words. JFC.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 3 days ago (3 children)

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/carnage

(figurative, slang) Any chaotic situation.

It also has slang usages, but I agree that in this context it shouldn't have been used in the headline.

[–] [email protected] -2 points 3 days ago (2 children)

So what? Are you saying that all slang is appropriate when reporting on real world events? Even if it completely changes the context of the article to mean something entirely different?

This is The Guardian, not a blog post.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 days ago

Your reading comprehension needs some work. I was basically agreeing with you, but you seem more interested in being outraged, so whatever...

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