Store owner shoots robber

[Lady Di]

From Memphis:

http://www.myeyewitnessnews.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=d80c702a-2104-4a19-a9a0-e3bf83450223&rss=59

[VegasGeorge]

"The shooting victim ...." Oh please!!!

How about "The shot crook .....". Or, "The robber with the bullet in him ....". Or, "The criminal scum who got shot .....".

Someone ought to tell these idiot reporters that you're not a victim just because you got shot. The word victim means "a person harmed, injured or killed as the result of a crime." It does not mean the criminal who got shot.
These newspapers are hiring reporters that don't know or care about the English language.

[Bill of Rights]

"The shooting victim ...." Oh please!!!

How about "The shot crook .....". Or, "The robber with the bullet in him ....". Or, "The criminal scum who got shot .....".

Someone ought to tell these idiot reporters that you're not a victim just because you got shot. The word victim means "a person harmed, injured or killed as the result of a crime." It does not mean the criminal who got shot.
These newspapers are hiring reporters that don't know or care about the English language.

To preface, I agree that the press uses "victim" incorrectly here and in many other stories I've seen. Any of your other examples would work, George, as would "The perpetrator", "The suspect", or any number of other phrases.

I will say that your definition would fit the injured criminal as well, though again, I don't think the usage is correct.

Lastly, I don't think that the reporters are ignorant of or indifferent to the English language. I think they're using it incorrectly and doing so intentionally, to slowly nudge the societal mindset toward that thought process. Was it not Goebbels who said that if you tell a lie often enough it becomes the truth?

Cogito, ergo porto.

Blessings,
M

[VegasGeorge]

I will say that your definition would fit the injured criminal as well ...

Au contraire, if I may be so bold as to quibble. "As the result of" is not the same as "during the commission of." The word "crime" denotes more than the commission of certain acts. You may see that clearly if you contemplate that some acts may be innocent under some circumstances, but criminal under others. So, "as the result of a crime" means as the result of the criminal nature of the acts. In the reported story, the criminals and the victim were clearly identified by the facts. So, there is no way that the criminal could legitimately be referred to as "the shooting victim" under the definition I proposed. :D

[Bill of Rights]

Au contraire, if I may be so bold as to quibble. "As the result of" is not the same as "during the commission of." The word "crime" denotes more than the commission of certain acts. You may see that clearly if you contemplate that some acts may be innocent under some circumstances, but criminal under others. So, "as the result of a crime" means as the result of the criminal nature of the acts. In the reported story, the criminals and the victim were clearly identified by the facts. So, there is no way that the criminal could legitimately be referred to as "the shooting victim" under the definition I proposed. :D

Works for me, Counselor. Case closed! http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd198/St-Michael/judge.gif

Blessings,
M