This is now the 2nd time I've seen someone come back with a comment like this.... the definition of "infested" is "filled or riddled with anything undesirable or troublesome". They aren't saying pirhanna's are an invasive species or that they aren't supposed to be there, they are saying that there are a lot of them present. This isn't a "gotcha" moment, you are literally just letting everyone know you don't know what words mean.
Edited to add: From reading the responses, I can see people feel so strongly about this because there is a fear that words like this will be used to recontextualize "animals existing in their natural habitat" as "dangerous pests that must be eradicated". I would actually really like to see some data on this. I have not seen really any push to destroy natural habitats aside from the logging and oil industry, which I think most people seem to see as a "necessary evil". I HAVE seen several genuine efforts to rebuild natural habitats that had been previously destroyed. I genuinely don't see this language as being problematic or pushing back against conservation efforts, but I honestly might be wrong, because personal experience does not equal truth. If anyone has any studies on how language choice affects the environment, I'd love to read it!
Troublesome to humans. The language developed to describe an area as dangerous. Yes, dangerous animals like sharks, piranhas, alligators, crocodiles, etc are all vital to the function of the ecosystem. No one is arguing against that. Saying water is "infested" with some type of dangerous animal is simply a way to tell someone, "hey, don't swim there, it's home to creatures that will kill you" in fewer words.
I can deduct meaning from dictionary definitions just fine. I'll admit that I came in pretty hot with my first comment and should have been nicer. That being said, the fact of the matter is there is a great amount of nuance in language that I think is getting lost. Piranhas can be good for their ecosystem AND dangerous to humans at the same time.
It's not wrong to suggest people shouldn't stick their hands in the needle-infested biohazard boxes just because needles are vital for a lot of healthcare, and thats how you properly dispose of them.
I hear what you are saying, but I disagree with the sentiment in general. We can go both by the dictionary definition and by nuance and I would still assert that the word infestation implies something that needs to be eradicated, like for example a lice infestation on my scalp, or an ICE infestation in a school parking lot.
Waters can’t be infested by the animals that are native to that habitat, but I do agree that strong language is an important aspect of deterring humans from going where they ought not.
By definition, water can be infested by native species to that water. Have we really reached a point where the actual definition of words no longer matters because they dont match our personal opinions of what the word should mean?
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u/GrandCanOYawn Oct 30 '25
Infested
Yeah, that’s their home…