The World of ‘Isms’… What we knew of “isms,” during days of our youth, was limited. There were many “isms” about which we were totally unaware, and that’s still the case. Initially, though, we figured words ending in “ism” were bad “mocus,” and to be avoided whenever possible. Old-timers complained of painful rheumatism; some of ‘em said they had “rheumatiz.” Years later, it dawned on us that the two terms are interchangeable.