Today's tip on "Pimp"

[PurrfectPeach]

Hi, I was interested to read today's "Daily Writing Tip." I agree that the word "pimp" has very different connotations depending on one's generation. I also wanted to point out that there is an ethnic component as well.

In modern youth culture, a "pimp" may mean someone who practices conspicuous consumption, almost to the point of tackiness, or just someone who is visibly powerful and influential (as a wealthy person in a poor neighborhood, no matter how ill-gotten their gains, might be viewed).

"Pimp" as a verb also has a new meaning, as in "wear" - (teenage boy steals another teenage boy's hat) - "Give that back!" - "Let me pimp it for a while."

My two cents.

Please all understand that I know that the use / acceptability of this word is NOT something which falls tidily along racial lines (I agree it's largely a generational thing) and I'm not trying to step on anyone's toes, just point out another facet of the issue.

[Maeve]

The way words change meaning over the years is a source of endless fascination.

While a word is undergoing metamorphosis, if it is one like pimp, that has deeply negative connotations for large numbers of speakers, it's probably wise to consider the effect it is likely to have on one's target audience.

In about fifty years everyone may be used to the new denotations. Meanwhile the new uses seem to pertain to youth slang and probably don't belong in writing intended for a multi-generational audience.