I know in dictionary terms it carries a negative connotation, but does it have a different connotation within the context of modern marketing? For modern marketing I thought it was a neutral word, but I want to confirm that based on your experience.
Words are fairly fluid and mean different things to different people.
The word 'slut' was terrible for a long time but ever since Amber Rose founded the 'slutwalk', the word has been reclaimed and repurposed in a more positive light fairly often. Regardless of how quickly the word is gaining ground as a term of empowerment for proudly sexually-liberated women, using the word 'slut' around my Christian parents still won't go over well and they'll stick with either the traditional dictionary definition, or their own internal definition, no matter what I say.
The word 'shill' is similar, I'd say, though less further along. It began as a negative term, dictionary-wise, marketing-wise, and traditionally so. Lately though, with all the crypto coins and influencers, a lot of millennials are using 'shill' with a more positive spin, similar to what's happening with the word 'slut', but since it's a far newer transition, so you'll likely find most people take issue with the word 'shill', still seeing it as a negative. (And understandably so, since the positive spin is so new.)
On top of all this, people 'read what they want to read', for example, I can easily spot your good intentions, kind heart, and positive aims when you use the word 'shill', but someone else is bound to come along, ignore the massive amount of data pointing to your positive use of the word, get triggered and lash out at your use of the word. (If that hasn't happened yet, please do not be surprised if it does. I write incredibly positive things all the time, but there's always someone with serious mental issues who can't help but get triggered and lash out. I wrote a 6,000 word beautiful story recently and a whale swung by and downvoted it, not because it was a bad piece, but because they have their own neuroses, issues, and triggers and let those things cloud their judgment and cause them to lash out.)
Our understanding of the term "shil" is similar. For everyday use it still retains its dictionary meaning and connotation. When applied to marketing-- especially cryptocurrency marketing-- it does not have the baggage associated with its everyday use meaning.
Maybe for us, but personally I'd be careful using it around others because, as I've hopefully emphasized, the new meaning and context is quite new, and likely to be met with far more traditional understandings of the term. Either that or embrace the inevitable backlash if we do choose to use it. :)
I only knew the traditional meaning of the word until a year ago when I started reading marketing content and then crypto content. Once I learned about how the word was used in that context I was OK. We can't say that about others. If we explain that to others and they still have a problem, they cannot say that they don't know.
BTW-- rwgarding the word "shill"....
I know in dictionary terms it carries a negative connotation, but does it have a different connotation within the context of modern marketing? For modern marketing I thought it was a neutral word, but I want to confirm that based on your experience.
Words are fairly fluid and mean different things to different people.
The word 'slut' was terrible for a long time but ever since Amber Rose founded the 'slutwalk', the word has been reclaimed and repurposed in a more positive light fairly often. Regardless of how quickly the word is gaining ground as a term of empowerment for proudly sexually-liberated women, using the word 'slut' around my Christian parents still won't go over well and they'll stick with either the traditional dictionary definition, or their own internal definition, no matter what I say.
The word 'shill' is similar, I'd say, though less further along. It began as a negative term, dictionary-wise, marketing-wise, and traditionally so. Lately though, with all the crypto coins and influencers, a lot of millennials are using 'shill' with a more positive spin, similar to what's happening with the word 'slut', but since it's a far newer transition, so you'll likely find most people take issue with the word 'shill', still seeing it as a negative. (And understandably so, since the positive spin is so new.)
On top of all this, people 'read what they want to read', for example, I can easily spot your good intentions, kind heart, and positive aims when you use the word 'shill', but someone else is bound to come along, ignore the massive amount of data pointing to your positive use of the word, get triggered and lash out at your use of the word. (If that hasn't happened yet, please do not be surprised if it does. I write incredibly positive things all the time, but there's always someone with serious mental issues who can't help but get triggered and lash out. I wrote a 6,000 word beautiful story recently and a whale swung by and downvoted it, not because it was a bad piece, but because they have their own neuroses, issues, and triggers and let those things cloud their judgment and cause them to lash out.)
Hope that answers your question. 🙏
Our understanding of the term "shil" is similar. For everyday use it still retains its dictionary meaning and connotation. When applied to marketing-- especially cryptocurrency marketing-- it does not have the baggage associated with its everyday use meaning.
Maybe for us, but personally I'd be careful using it around others because, as I've hopefully emphasized, the new meaning and context is quite new, and likely to be met with far more traditional understandings of the term. Either that or embrace the inevitable backlash if we do choose to use it. :)
I only knew the traditional meaning of the word until a year ago when I started reading marketing content and then crypto content. Once I learned about how the word was used in that context I was OK. We can't say that about others. If we explain that to others and they still have a problem, they cannot say that they don't know.
Exactly so. :) 🙏