CAMC - Use of language

One of the wonderful things about language is that it evolves. It may change but essentially stays the same - a means of communication.

I'm currently reading a transcription of Pepys' diaries. It is  published day by day. The language may be slightly different, but it still feels the same as any other daily update. And the context is highly relevant to our times.

And written in the The King's English.

Sorry, I've wandered from the point.

I should think ‘paying guest’ would be more accurate🤭

I am currently reading Balderdash and Piffle by Alex Games, looks at the origin of words and sayings. Some pre date any of our monarchs. 

Oh gosh, life’s to short!! 🥴

Thanks for the replies.  It has been interesting to find out that some agree with me, and some don’t agree.

We have had a long membership with the Club and have of course seen a lot of changes.  These changes in language are just a mild annoyance and I wondered if it was just me! (and it’s not!).

One Putt, you are partly right.  Life is too short to worry about it.  Change is constant nowadays, including use of language.

I broadly agree with what you say; The word "guest" is used in hotels etc, but as a paid-up member of CAMC, I agree that the word "guest" isn't exactly the word to describe a member of a club. 

Agree that a sign on a pitch saying it's in use by someone shouldn't have a "sorry" sign to go with it; if I've paid for a pitch, then why should I be sorry if I've gone out for the day and left a sign that the pitch is in use? 

Saying that awnings, under 5's and dogs are free is wrong IMHO.  None of those are free at all, they're included in the price and it would be more hoest and upfront to say those are included in the price you pay; no way is it "free".

 Guests we are not, and no longer really members of a club, but what we all are is customers, surely!

Yes, life is too short and change does happen. But what we need to be aware of is the nature, the direction of change and its effect upon both us and our future generations. Change does not just happen, we are currently living though a major change which, for many of us, was deliberately mis sold to us. Sometimes we can’t ‘see’ the changes for smoke and mirrors. 
I'm off now to enjoy a weekend away!😉

I wonder if its the case with longer serving Club members that over  "familiarity" blinds us to what the less familiar would think in that we know what we know and we don't need things softened or changed? But in recent years we have had a lot of new members who are not so attuned to all things Caravan and Motorhome Club? To me it makes sense to use the sort of words and phrases that the Club are currently using. I think CS's post above really sums up the nuances of the different types of wording. Just a couple of examples, guest covers all options, whether you are staying on site or a non-member visiting someone on site. I would prefer the Club to use the word "sorry" as it has quite a wide ranging meaning. Imagine a situation where you are a tent camper and you know there is a Club site near where you want to stay. You arrive at the site to be greeted with a sign saying "No Tents" That doesn't convey a very friendly message. However if the sign says Sorry, No Tents it softens the rejection. Just my thoughts.

David 

With reference to the last paragraph: Those  members without awnings, children under 5 or dogs pay exactly the same price. There is no reduction, therefore they must be free of charge.

It has never bothered me whether the Clubs say " free " or "included in the price". Using one word "free" is shorter!

Guest means either "a person invited to someone's home or to attend a social function" or "a person staying at a hotel or guest house". It is obviously inappropriate to use such a term for a person or people occupying their own caravan or motor home on a club pitch. Visitors, members, campers, site-users are all preferable. "Site-user" is a bit cumbersome, but I do not think anyone in their right mind would ever say "house-user" which Corners thinks justifies ruling out "site-user". I am not sure it does.

As DK says "I am pitched here" would be abrupt, but the fault there does not lie in the omission of the word "Sorry". "This pitch is reserved" or simply "Reserved" as you would see on a restaurant table, for example, would be fine. No doubt, soon, restaurant tables will say "Sorry, I am reserved". Let us hope not. Sorry is just not needed. "Sorry, I don't know" in response to a person's question is polite and I would always say that too. However, that is a quite different circumstance. 

On a separate point, the use of the first-person pronoun is hugely irritating to me.  It's like, "Sorry, I am not in service" which you see on the front of buses often. "This bus is not in service" would be much better. Buses are not living things. 

I do not think the use of "free" in publicity is about the use of English per se. Nonetheless, it is annoying, albeit used by marketeers universally despite it being blatantly misleading. 

"Going forward" and "reaching out", mentioned by Tinny, are hugely irritating, especially the latter which, as is so often the case, is an American import; I see this a lot in emails from across the pond and I HATE IT. I would love to make some sarcastic response to it, but I have never dared.

I am a pedant about use of English; I know there are those who talk about language evolving; but too often the evolution is driven by ignorance.