Former or Ex?

Submitted by HHW on

I find it interesting that the A2.com refers to Cissoko as a "former player" (DetNews.com says the same):
http://www.annarbor.com/news/former-u-of-m-football-charged-in-attempte…

and in a earlier article refers to Charles Woodson as an "ex-Michigan football star":
http://www.annarbor.com/sports/um-football/benefit-dinner-will-feature-…

Maybe i'm nit picking, but it seems that those references should be reversed. "Ex" sounds like you left on bad terms, former sounds like you used to play there and moved on to bigger and better things.
I go with the U.S. Marines theory, once a Marine, always a Marine. The only Marines i've seen referred to as ex-Marines are those dishonorably discharged.

Thoughts?

HHW

April 21st, 2010 at 11:06 AM ^

Seeing that I generally get as many responses about that avatar as my content, I might need to change that avatar. Or maybe I need to improve my content! Of course I once put a comparable photo in the content and the MGoModerators deleted the content.

Baldbill

April 21st, 2010 at 10:52 AM ^

As a former (or veteran) Marine, I think you are correct. Ex-Marines are guys that have received BCD's (Bad Conduct Discharges) or Dishonorable Discharges. I like Veteran Marine but former is ok and fits better with football. So Woodson is a former Wolverine while Cissoko is an Ex-Wolverine.

Baldbill

April 22nd, 2010 at 8:05 AM ^

I recognized that the guy in the photo was not a U.S. Marine, but I liked the photo sequence and the setup. I had a good laugh at them. His uniform does not match current ones in use by the U.S.

david from wyoming

April 21st, 2010 at 11:03 AM ^

You're reading way to much into a second tier news organization. There probably is a difference between the terms, but the assumption that the writer/editor knew what they were doing when using the terms might be questionable.

WildcatBlue

April 21st, 2010 at 11:04 AM ^

'Is metabolic processes are now 'istory! 'E's off the twig! 'E's kicked the bucket, 'e's shuffled off 'is mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisibile!! THIS IS AN EX-WOLVERINE!!

a2bluefan

April 21st, 2010 at 11:51 AM ^

During the recent Olympics, I frequently heard the phrase "Former Olympic Gold Medalist" being used to refer to someone who had retired from the sport (but still had their medal). Obviously, unless it gets stripped away for some reason, they'll be a gold medalist forever. The erroneous use of this phrase irritated the shit out of me.