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Society, over time, decides terms and usage.  This isn't something new.  Language evolution.

well we need to tell society were still using this word so go change something else

but my point is who has been appointed to decide to change names of something

If the Indians in this country had some big convention and voted to use a certain name then no problem I would respect that

instead one day somebody just decides this with no real authority

It's called an emergent phenomenon. Social change isn't always "decided" by anyone--things change and we all just sort of adjust. 

I, for one, don't want to live in a totalitarian state where all use of language and naming is tightly decided by some central authority. That would be doubleplus ungood, I'd say. 

not saying the gov should control language

just that all of a sudden one day its unacceptable to use a certain word but no one really knows who decided or why

Well, I'm pretty sure "Indian" has been out of favor for at least a couple of decades now. 

Society, over time, decides terms and usage.  This isn't something new.  Language evolution.

Yes, as old folks like longhorn320 die off so does that old terminology. 
Evolution 

and yet nobody knows who decided this

out of favor with who?

folks on an Academy Awards show?

People in this thread keep using the term "evolving" about changes in language. Evolution is not a top down process decided upon by a committee. Evolution just sorta happens. Some people maybe deliberately wanted the change and attempted to start using it, but they couldn't "decide" that everyone else change; if people didn't like it they wouldn't use it. But it seemed to resonate with enough people that it caught on. And then the result is that people using the old term stick out as oddities and outliers. 

It's kinda like slang. It starts with the "cool" people to signify their "coolness", expands to the "squares" and starts to lose its "cool", and by the time the old people and/or politicians have caught on, it's become cringey. 

Well, I'm pretty sure "Indian" has been out of favor for at least a couple of decades now.

Not where I live. 

Most of us adhere to at least many social "norms".  These aren't decided by some official body of course.  We put the fork on the left in a place setting.  I used to put it on the right because I'm right handed.  We don't chew with our mouths open.  We don't use certain words in "polite company".  We take our hate off at the table.  We face forward in an elevator. 

It goes on and on, just a means of playing well with others.  The penalty of noncompliance can be not being invited over any more, which for some no doubt is no penalty at all.  I personally find it easier to "get along" in life by complying with most such norms. 

don't piss into the wind