People who are quick to say that they are “triggered” when they hear something they don’t like that supposedly hurts their feelings are not mature adults. We older folks learned early on the meaning of “sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me.” When I hear hurtful words, I can step aside and consider the problem lies with the source.

How you feel is not my responsibility or concern, although I will add that I do not go out of my way to hurt others. But to be concerned about this generates self-censorship where we are afraid to say what we mean for fear of reprisal.

Those college kids who were so quick to be “triggered” are not ready to be in college. Nor do I want to hire them for any job I may have. I need responsible adults, not babies, for work. Now it will be interesting who might be “triggered” by my remarks.

If words are just words, then how can we have THOUGHT CRIMES?

Like Climate denial which disavows “consensus science”?
Oh i forgot…that is too “triggering”
Wait words are triggering
HOW CAN THAT BE?

– Frederick Douglass

– Gandhi (1869-1948)

epigone: an undistinguished imitator, follower, or successor of an important writer, painter, etc.
leonine: of or relating to the lion.
coeval: of the same age, date, or duration; equally old.
solecism: a nonstandard or ungrammatical usage, as ‘unflammable’ and ‘they was.’

and finally…
amamentarium: the aggregate of equipment, methods, and technologies available to one for carrying out one’s duties.

Oh hell yes.

Try using one of those words in conversation with someone whose every other word is ‘like’ (ie infected with the ‘like’ virus). Will that end the conversation abruptly? Uh, yeah. Would using such a word elicit looks of incredulity and maybe even covert or overt hostility? Maybe but it is probable.

What if more writers used “obscure” words in their blogs, essays etc? How many people would double-click on the word to even get a popup definition? I guess if they’re reading someone very literate, they might. Or they might stop reading and think, “pretentious bastard.” I don’t know; I’m just conjecturing.

So let’s have ’em, Mr R. Maybe you can break tha ice.