I wonder how much of it is like, "we lived through it so it can't be that bad." (except of course for not admitting how much it scarred them. And I will not get on the soapbox of how much I dislike the particular form of gatekeeping that is "I suffered X therefore you must also or else you have not earned your way" because we could be here for days and I have better things to do with my limited allotted days of life than rehash that argument.)
I think, too, that there's a distinct unwillingness to understand both how much damage "mere" words cause to the psyche (scare quotes very intentional) and how very easily people cross from words/thoughts to actions. Like, there's the saying that thoughts become words become actions become habits become destiny, right? (paraphrased heavily) And we see it in action, we use its positive side in business, psychology, and other fields. The negative side exists. And sure, sometimes it legitimately is "just a joke" blah blah thought police, but there are a lot of ways to know when it's not--and surely having a conversation to figure out when it's not isn't so high a cost when the alternative is people literally dying?
I realize I'm effectively preaching at the archbishop here, but. ugh.
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Date: 2020-02-02 08:15 pm (UTC)I think, too, that there's a distinct unwillingness to understand both how much damage "mere" words cause to the psyche (scare quotes very intentional) and how very easily people cross from words/thoughts to actions. Like, there's the saying that thoughts become words become actions become habits become destiny, right? (paraphrased heavily) And we see it in action, we use its positive side in business, psychology, and other fields. The negative side exists. And sure, sometimes it legitimately is "just a joke" blah blah thought police, but there are a lot of ways to know when it's not--and surely having a conversation to figure out when it's not isn't so high a cost when the alternative is people literally dying?
I realize I'm effectively preaching at the archbishop here, but. ugh.