Inasmuch as the meanings of words are central to today's remarks, and since you've mentioned "gaslighting," I'm going to jump onto a hobby horse that I know full well is going nowhere.
Since 1938, when the play by Patrick Hamilton was first performed, the term "gaslight" as a verb has had a specific meaning: psychological manipulation int…
Inasmuch as the meanings of words are central to today's remarks, and since you've mentioned "gaslighting," I'm going to jump onto a hobby horse that I know full well is going nowhere.
Since 1938, when the play by Patrick Hamilton was first performed, the term "gaslight" as a verb has had a specific meaning: psychological manipulation intended to make its victim doubt their own sanity. Colorful, useful word.
Putin's puppy, the Stalin wannabe, has never gaslit anyone. We who've seen right through him since day one are perfectly sure of our sanity. And while we may doubt that of his MAGAt minions, they're completely unaware they've gone 'round the bend.
But in years since the advent of this century, this poor, once-great word has, like so many things in the era of the mango menace, been cheapened and stripped of its meaning. It's become reduced to nothing more than a synonym for something for which there were already perfectly good words: lying and bullshitting of the most unremarkable garden variety.
Yeah, I know I'm pissing in the wind, and the 21st-century definition has all but supplanted the original one. And that's a tragic representation of the degradation of both the beautiful language we speak and communication in general.
While I understand your point, Steven, language has always changed over time…and always will. Also, I believe there are many who are genuinely gaslit. Some willfully ignorant. Some just trying to live their own lives and other who enjoy too much wrestling and “reality” tv.
It’s all smoke and mirrors by amateur magicians in my book. I wish they’d all just disappear…forevermore. :-)
Inasmuch as the meanings of words are central to today's remarks, and since you've mentioned "gaslighting," I'm going to jump onto a hobby horse that I know full well is going nowhere.
Since 1938, when the play by Patrick Hamilton was first performed, the term "gaslight" as a verb has had a specific meaning: psychological manipulation intended to make its victim doubt their own sanity. Colorful, useful word.
Putin's puppy, the Stalin wannabe, has never gaslit anyone. We who've seen right through him since day one are perfectly sure of our sanity. And while we may doubt that of his MAGAt minions, they're completely unaware they've gone 'round the bend.
But in years since the advent of this century, this poor, once-great word has, like so many things in the era of the mango menace, been cheapened and stripped of its meaning. It's become reduced to nothing more than a synonym for something for which there were already perfectly good words: lying and bullshitting of the most unremarkable garden variety.
Yeah, I know I'm pissing in the wind, and the 21st-century definition has all but supplanted the original one. And that's a tragic representation of the degradation of both the beautiful language we speak and communication in general.
OMG I h8 that no wut I mean?
While I understand your point, Steven, language has always changed over time…and always will. Also, I believe there are many who are genuinely gaslit. Some willfully ignorant. Some just trying to live their own lives and other who enjoy too much wrestling and “reality” tv.
It’s all smoke and mirrors by amateur magicians in my book. I wish they’d all just disappear…forevermore. :-)