I don't think that means what you think it means

[xoxoxoBruce]

The only way I know what you think is you telling me. The words we use have to mean the same thing to both of us in order for that to work. Phrases we use as shorthand for ideas/methods/concepts, are even worse. There seems to be a lot of miscommunication when certain words/phrases are used. Some may be intentional obfuscation, especially in advertising, but much confusion comes from what we were taught.

We went through this here in the Cellar awhile back with the "carrot & stick" phrase, where it meant different things to some people.

At io9 there is a list of "10 Scientific Ideas" which have migrated into daily conversations, often with wrong meanings. So when people hear scientific explanations the misunderstand the true meaning.

One example...

8. Survival of the Fittest
Paleoecologist Jacquelyn Gill says that people misunderstand some of the basic tenets of evolutionary theory:
Topping my list would be "survival of the fittest." First, these are not actually Darwin's own words, and secondly, people have a misconception about what "fittest" means. Relatedly, there's major confusion about evolution in general, including the persistent idea that evolution is progressive and directional (or even deliberate on the part of organisms; people don't get the idea of natural selection), or that all traits must be adaptive (sexual selection is a thing! And so are random mutations!).

Fittest does not mean strongest, or smartest. It simply means an organism that fits best into its environment, which could mean anything from "smallest" or "squishiest" to "most poisonous" or "best able to live without water for weeks at a time." Plus, creatures don't always evolve in a way that we can explain as adaptations. Their evolutionary path may have more to do with random mutations, or traits that other members of their species find attractive.

Check out the other nine.

[Sundae]

Very good, I liked.
None of that was completely new to me, but it did add some details I wasn't aware of. And I am certainly lazy enough to misuse many terms (including scientific) as verbal shorthand.

[footfootfoot]

Before I check the link I would like to predict and hope that "Freedom of Speech" is on that list.

[footfootfoot]

And yet again, I need to read more closely before I shoot off my mouth. Scientific...

[Aliantha]

I read all of them and thought that i didnt really learn anything new because of it. It all seemed pretty sensible really.

[Spexxvet]

Inconceivable!

[Aliantha]

I think i need to clarify my statement last night. I was tired. I meant that a lot of the issues with understanding, as they say, is because of the understanding of definitions, so although the common usage is what we mostly use, if you did science in HS, you probably knew the scientific definition too.