I’ve heard it explained that “hey” used to be more of an urgent way to get someone’s attention, rather than a casual “hello” like it is now, so it sounded rude to some older folks.

  • @MetaCubed
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    71 year ago

    There is a difference, but it’s not one of inherent meaning, it’s more or less a generational culture difference.

    I’ll place this here and pre-emptively say that assisting your understanding was… no problem https://youtu.be/eGnH0KAXhCw?si=sVBI__SCJ3mQkkWo

      • @[email protected]
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        91 year ago

        They’re idiomatic phrases people are supposed to say by custom, divorced from their literal meanings.

      • @[email protected]
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        21 year ago

        They literally don’t (with the possible exception of onomatopoeic words), one of the defining factors of language is that it is arbitrary.

          • @[email protected]
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            21 year ago

            This is an old pattern, language changes. You can react to it however you like, but things have already changed in your lifetime. Wicked or hot, for example,