I think these can be defended as mental models, even though the article doesn't do a good job of it.
We're familiar with inflation in the financial sense. But then there is also grade inflation. There is inflation of superlatives in our language, e.g. "great" and "awesome". Once we see a few examples we realise that inflation is a more general concept, and a useful one to use in explaining a lot of situations.
Same for peak oil, I think. Not sure about botnet.
Hmm.. the entry on inflation hasn't changed (doesn't say anything like what I said) but I see notes that mention grade inflation. I don't know whether that was there first time round.
We're familiar with inflation in the financial sense. But then there is also grade inflation. There is inflation of superlatives in our language, e.g. "great" and "awesome". Once we see a few examples we realise that inflation is a more general concept, and a useful one to use in explaining a lot of situations.
Same for peak oil, I think. Not sure about botnet.