Angst

A couple of caveats.

First, I know language is flexible. I know words begin life with one usage, then evolve as people use them differently. I know this.

Second, I know I’m being a silly, old fuddy-duddy when I object to the mis-usage of words. To invoke Jessie Foster: “I’m that old man on the front lawn, in my underwear, shaking a rake at the kids.” Yeah, I know that.

But dammit, the word “angst” does not mean “pissed off.” Nor does it mean “angry.” It is the root of our own word for “anxious” and its proper usage (according to Merriam Webster) is a bit more like this:

a feeling of anxiety, apprehension, or insecurity

I know White Wolf adopted the word and made it mean something completely different from its original usage, but dammit, that’s White Wolf! That’s what they do! Take words that mean one thing and hammer them into shape so they mean something completely different.

So, let’s stop replacing “anger” with “angst.” I know they came from the same root word, but don’t mean the same thing.

I blame George Elliot and Siggy Freud. And White Wolf.