'Whistle-Blower': A History - "It was our responsibility to inform you."
>"The English language has a good number of words which may be loosely defined as “tattletale.” This should come as no surprise, given that we appear to always have a good number of people doing something that calls for some tattling. What is surprising is that almost all the words for the person who’s doing the tattling are somewhat uncomplimentary. If you see someone doing wrong and decide to tell someone about this you may find yourself referred to as a snitch, squealer, rat fink, stoolie, or any one of a number of other unappetizing words."<
>"Around the end of the 19th century whistle-blower took on a more specific meaning. It no longer referred only to one who blew any kind of whistle; now the word was applied to the referee in a sporting contest, who blew the whistle in an administration of rules and judgment."<
https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/whistle-blower-blow-the-whistle-word-origins
Synonyms of whistle-blower:
a person who provides information about another's wrongdoing
there are laws to protect whistle-blowers who reveal corporate malfeasance
Synonyms for whistle-blower: betrayer, deep throat, fink, informant, informer, nark [British], rat, rat fink, snitch, snitcher, squealer, stool pigeon, stoolie, talebearer, tattler, tattletale, telltale
None very complimentary.
But where would we be without?
Framing them in a different, heroic light, would be better.
Something with a more positive meme.
Canaries warned of noxious fumes. Coal miners would understand.
