Speech IS often a form of violence or aggression. Them are fightin' words. We often use speech as a form of violence and oppression/suppression because we are not free to use actual violence.
Words are used with the intention to harm. While you may not bleed on the outside and no bones were broken, yo…
Speech IS often a form of violence or aggression. Them are fightin' words. We often use speech as a form of violence and oppression/suppression because we are not free to use actual violence.
Words are used with the intention to harm. While you may not bleed on the outside and no bones were broken, you were harmed--and that harm can be far more reaching and difficult to overcome than bruises or cuts or broken bones. I see the harm that words do every day and this has become ever more prevalent in the age of social media.
And that harm can become pervasive if others take up the idea and act upon the words in various ways... especially if they get government support.
Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me is a foolish children's rhyme, without actual foundation in reality.
Words are often the harbinger and signal for physical violence.
Totally agree with you, R Mercer, about the foolishness of the idea that "words can never hurt me". Having been an educator my entire career and a dedicated observer and advocate for child development, I believe the impact of hurtful words on the development of children into functioning, happy adults can be as harmful as physical abuse. Look at the lifelong impact of bullying on people who experienced it as kids (as well as, in my opinion, the sometimes equally bad impact on the lives of the bully-ers).
And children who are emotionally abused by their parents are just as damaged emotionally as children who are physically abused.
And let's fast forward that to adults. Aggressive, abusive, insulting words are absolutely a form of violence, and as we have all seen throughout our lives (Jan. 6 being a great example) very often leads to physical violence.
I disagree. Verbal "harm can be far more reaching and difficult to overcome than bruises or cuts or broken bones." If a person is fragile & insecure and easily triggered by words, then they are likely in need of cognitive behavioral therapy. People are responsible for their own emotions & reactions. Accusing others for making themselves feel bad as akin to violence is a major distortion of the meaning of violence in my opinion. A person that PHYSICALLY attacks someone because they were VERBALLY insulted is the one committing violence not the person that made the insulting remark. It would be nice if everyone was civil & respectful of others feelings, but labeling their speech as violent just because people's feelings were hurt or contradicts their own beliefs is hyperbolic pearl clutching.
I have seen real harm done with words. This is particularly true with adolescents. There is an amazing number of insecure and easily triggered people in the world, particularly younger people. This has become even more prevalent in our "socially engaged" social media world, where all you actually have are words.
Words are far more dangerous than you seem to think. Their effects more far-reaching than you think. I have studied language and its use and misuse for several decades and people always underestimate the power of words or somehow think that their use and effect is less severe or powerful than something like hitting somebody in the face.
On the whole speech is violence thing:
Speech IS often a form of violence or aggression. Them are fightin' words. We often use speech as a form of violence and oppression/suppression because we are not free to use actual violence.
Words are used with the intention to harm. While you may not bleed on the outside and no bones were broken, you were harmed--and that harm can be far more reaching and difficult to overcome than bruises or cuts or broken bones. I see the harm that words do every day and this has become ever more prevalent in the age of social media.
And that harm can become pervasive if others take up the idea and act upon the words in various ways... especially if they get government support.
Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me is a foolish children's rhyme, without actual foundation in reality.
Words are often the harbinger and signal for physical violence.
Totally agree with you, R Mercer, about the foolishness of the idea that "words can never hurt me". Having been an educator my entire career and a dedicated observer and advocate for child development, I believe the impact of hurtful words on the development of children into functioning, happy adults can be as harmful as physical abuse. Look at the lifelong impact of bullying on people who experienced it as kids (as well as, in my opinion, the sometimes equally bad impact on the lives of the bully-ers).
And children who are emotionally abused by their parents are just as damaged emotionally as children who are physically abused.
And let's fast forward that to adults. Aggressive, abusive, insulting words are absolutely a form of violence, and as we have all seen throughout our lives (Jan. 6 being a great example) very often leads to physical violence.
I disagree. Verbal "harm can be far more reaching and difficult to overcome than bruises or cuts or broken bones." If a person is fragile & insecure and easily triggered by words, then they are likely in need of cognitive behavioral therapy. People are responsible for their own emotions & reactions. Accusing others for making themselves feel bad as akin to violence is a major distortion of the meaning of violence in my opinion. A person that PHYSICALLY attacks someone because they were VERBALLY insulted is the one committing violence not the person that made the insulting remark. It would be nice if everyone was civil & respectful of others feelings, but labeling their speech as violent just because people's feelings were hurt or contradicts their own beliefs is hyperbolic pearl clutching.
I have seen real harm done with words. This is particularly true with adolescents. There is an amazing number of insecure and easily triggered people in the world, particularly younger people. This has become even more prevalent in our "socially engaged" social media world, where all you actually have are words.
Words are far more dangerous than you seem to think. Their effects more far-reaching than you think. I have studied language and its use and misuse for several decades and people always underestimate the power of words or somehow think that their use and effect is less severe or powerful than something like hitting somebody in the face.
There's a reason totalitarian governments jail the intellectuals.