Well, I am as uncomfortable as you are with some of the neologisms that are popping up. But I don't know that vandalism is a useful metaphor here. Vandalism takes something functional (a door, say) and reduces its usefulness--for everyone equally.
When someone else talks about "a big ask" when they mean "a big request" they have ruined the door, or blunted the knife, only for themselves. You and I still say "a big request" and people know what we mean. And while I shudder to see someone deliberately using a blunt knife, it is a free country and it is not my place to demand they sharpen it; I am not their mother.
Trying to dictate other people's use of language doesn't seem to have worked well in the past. I wonder if it would work better to do what you already do--create works of art with the version of English you like: works of art compelling enough to make people want to emulate you in the use of language. Instead of shouting "get off my lawn" grow your flowers until the kids next door come over to wistfully watch you pruning and ask how it is done.
You won't ever be able to win over all the kids that way. But you can win some. And you don't need to win them all; language is a majority usage type of activity.
no subject
When someone else talks about "a big ask" when they mean "a big request" they have ruined the door, or blunted the knife, only for themselves. You and I still say "a big request" and people know what we mean. And while I shudder to see someone deliberately using a blunt knife, it is a free country and it is not my place to demand they sharpen it; I am not their mother.
Trying to dictate other people's use of language doesn't seem to have worked well in the past. I wonder if it would work better to do what you already do--create works of art with the version of English you like: works of art compelling enough to make people want to emulate you in the use of language. Instead of shouting "get off my lawn" grow your flowers until the kids next door come over to wistfully watch you pruning and ask how it is done.
You won't ever be able to win over all the kids that way. But you can win some. And you don't need to win them all; language is a majority usage type of activity.