When did "passed" replace "died" -- and WHY?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's such a confusing use. I hear that someone passed, and I'm like "... a kidney stone? an intersection?"

When I was a kid, the country folk used to say "passed away," but it was very definitely a hick thing. And now "passed" all by itself.

Why have so many well-read and otherwise well-spoken people taken up this sloppy speech? What's the objection to "died"?

I heard passed away for people we knew and died for people in the newspaper. I grew up in a highly educated Boston suburb in the 1970’s and 1980’s.

I grew up in Houston and heard the same growing up. I didn’t hear simply “passed” until I moved to DC. I strongly dislike the term “passed.” Passed what? The Bar exam? The stop sign? I wish people would just say “died.” There’s nothing pleasant about death and saying “passed” doesn’t sugar coat it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I will take croaked or unalived any day over passed (gas).

Yes!

[Anonymous]

I have a friend that uses the word Transitioned. I like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in DC and “passed” was very common. Maybe it’s regional?

Agree this is part of it. My (wealthy, well-educated) southern relatives say passed.

We in the New York branch say died.

Huh, my experience is different. My mom's wealthy, snobby deep-south family insists on "died." My dad's midwestern farmer folks said "passed away" when they were trying to be polite, but "died" for daily use. Or in the case of that one simpering aunt who collected Precious Moments figurines, "gone to Jesus."

(No one says "passed")

I grew up in Ohio and my mom’s side (catholic, poor, but very well-read and snobby) believes strongly that “died” is the only possible word and people who say “passed” or “passed away” are classless, tacky, and/or Protestants.

In the last few weeks where I live on the west coast I have encountered multiple people breathlessly describing someone who has “passed” and the weird way they prance around saying “died” yet act like they’re on some kind of high ground for saying “passed” has me agreeing with my mom’s family. Everyone who has said it is a rich but undereducated white person and either nondenominational Christian or evangelical. Plus one Catholic convert.

[Anonymous]

I'm getting Monty Python Dead Parrot vibes.

Stunned, deceased, passed on, no more, ceased to be, expired, late parrot...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm getting Monty Python Dead Parrot vibes.

Stunned, deceased, passed on, no more, ceased to be, expired, late parrot...

The DCUM version of this skit would be: The parrot died. Died. Died. Died. Died. Died. Died. Died. Died. Died. Died. Died. Died.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a friend that uses the word Transitioned. I like that.

I know someone who says graduated. They post every year that their love one graduated on that day. To be honest it is a little confusing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's such a confusing use. I hear that someone passed, and I'm like "... a kidney stone? an intersection?"

When I was a kid, the country folk used to say "passed away," but it was very definitely a hick thing. And now "passed" all by itself.

Why have so many well-read and otherwise well-spoken people taken up this sloppy speech? What's the objection to "died"?

Political correctness demands we diminish language to the lowest common denominator.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's such a confusing use. I hear that someone passed, and I'm like "... a kidney stone? an intersection?"

When I was a kid, the country folk used to say "passed away," but it was very definitely a hick thing. And now "passed" all by itself.

Why have so many well-read and otherwise well-spoken people taken up this sloppy speech? What's the objection to "died"?

Political correctness demands we diminish language to the lowest common denominator.

Double plus good, comrade.

[Anonymous]

DC native here: passed away
My Pittsburgh in-laws all says: passed

But then when a little one in my family died, I started saying: died.
It feels blunt and straight, but that’s what death is, right? Can’t sugar coat it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC native here: passed away
My Pittsburgh in-laws all says: passed

But then when a little one in my family died, I started saying: died.
It feels blunt and straight, but that’s what death is, right? Can’t sugar coat it.

Exactly. No reason to be polite to the sensibilities of other people. Be blunt. Be direct. Make sure they understand it. Scream it at them if you have to.

[Anonymous]

It is all part of the wonderful word diversity that is the English language. I don’t care what you use. I like that there are so many different words to describe the same thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a friend that uses the word Transitioned. I like that.

That would make me assume someone went from male to female or vice versa. That's just really stupid.

[Anonymous]

When my family members died in car accident saying the word "died" felt painful/too real, so I would say they "passed"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a friend that uses the word Transitioned. I like that.

I know someone who says graduated. They post every year that their love one graduated on that day. To be honest it is a little confusing.

WTF? I’d say “graduated from where?” Jesus Christ! Just say “died.” It’s not a dirty word.