Why has 'socialism' become a dirty word ?

Because its a lovely pipe dream but in reality would never work . We are the ones stopping it because human nature being what it is we are selfish , greedy people when it comes down to it and never happy no matter how much we have we always want more . If real socialism were to exist we would all have to change our ways because that would mean we would all have to be equal in every way .There would be an end to rich posh people and an end to the haves and have nots etc .That would mean just taking UK as an example the queen and the windsor family living in an ordinary house all working earning an average wage being the average family like everyone else . Nice dream reality no way.