Why are reporters using "Went Missing" instead of "Disappeared"?

Question

What moron started this? Im really tired of reading news articles and seeing this stupid phrase and having to re-think what they wrote. It's BEYOND ANNOYING as much as they changed NBC Warfare to WMD. WTF???

Answer 1

Kristen is correct.  These words have different meanings.

Thinking of the disappeared in the "poof-gone!" sense is much different than someone out of sight, hiding, lost, kidnapped, etc.

"Went missing" is accurate -- because none knows if the person will return.

Soldiers who desert or prisoners who escape are "missing" and may be found.  They have not "disappeared."

Those victims in Argentina who constitute the "disappeared" were executed and buried in unmarked graves.

Hope this answer helps you.

Answer 2

Journalist have certain jargon that use to describe situations.  To disappear is to not be seen, like a magician makes objects disappear.  When in reality the person hasn't disappeared, they are just temporarilly out of sight.

Answer 3

It's called SOFT LANGUAGE.

Just like Shell Shock became Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and retards became the mentally challenged, and the old people became senior citizens.

People can't face reality any more.

Answer 4

because the word disappeared would be much more of a moronic word to use instead of went missing.

disappeared is more of used in fictional writings and it is quite informal to be used in current events.