Why I despise the word “Preferred”

I used to like the word preferred.  To me it meant something that was my favorite.  Things like a great restaurant, or an aromatic perfume.  Oddly, my “preferred” definition of the word preferred is only one of a multitude of definitions that have nothing to with liking something.  It seems that preferred means to prioritize, to promote, to rank, or my preferred from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prefer “:

4 archaic: to put or set forward or before someone: recommend”

I despise the word “preferred” now because the archaic definition is the one in most use except that the word has been updated for modern times.  “Recommend” has been replaced with the word  “Mandated”.

Companies have “preferred vendors”.  This doesn’t mean you have the choice to use others but these are the ones the company likes the most.  It means you have the choice to use these or buy it on your own.

Health care insurance has “preferred doctors, facilities, medications, and pharmacies”.  I feel like I left something out, oh well.  I some cases, depending on your plan, it is the same as with other companies.  Use these or pay for it on your own.  Some health care insurance plans that do give a little leeway to let you use your favorite medical whatever over their preferred.  They pay some of the cost but penalize monetarily for your difference of opinion.

Grocery stores have preferred customer programs.  This doesn’t mean they like one customer’s money over another.  It just means something you have to add to your key chain for discounts so the store can track purchases for marketing.

Well that’s enough complaining for today.  I’m sure you have another preferred activity to get to.

Enjoy your day.

Karen