Why do they call the gulf problem an "oil spill" the Valdez was an oil spill

[Imagevision]

Quite obviously this is a oil gusher out of control. Oil spill, like a barrel or two was dumped over how effing lame!

[Art_from_Ark]

1. It's all about semantics

Spill (like "spilling milk") sounds a lot less disastrous than "out of control oil volcano"

[dipsydoodle]

2. Its just an expression

An expression to which most people across the world can relate. Calling it something else won't affect its severity.

[Chulanowa]

3. Because "The earth is projectile vomiting petroleum 24/7" lacks the elegant simplicity

[KharmaTrain]

4. Industry "Speak"

To me it's a silly semantics game as be it a spill or a gusher or whatever, words only go as far as the coverage. It's the pictures that matter...the reporting. We've had other spills that haven't been covered, not that their not bad but because they had little impact on the American media world. No biggie when the spill is off Australia or Mexico...that's their problem. A spill on the Aleyska Pipeline? Heck, it's in the middle of the "north pole"...outta sight outta mind.

With all the media coverage, I think those who are downplaying what's going on either are on BP's payroll or deliberately ignorant. BP's effort to spin and control this story has failed thus the lexicon no longer matters. It's not what people are hearing, it's what they are seeing...and the pictures are damning and will get worse.

So what other term would fit? The scope of this disaster is beyond definition.