"Slaughter" a Dangerous Word

It is commonly used in sports writing to describe a decisive defeat but it's dangerous at Harvard:

"The article, which dealt with the political correctness of Native American sports mascots, concluded with the line, "I think the Crimson would've slaughtered the Indians," in reference to the possibility of a game between the Arkansas State Indians and the Harvard Crimson.

"I think the phrase `slaughter the Indians' is terrible" he said. He added that the word "slaughtered" is commonly used in sports writing, but that it can be hurtful in some contexts.

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