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Your younger coworkers are wrong. By definition, violence is physical. There is, however, a push within educational institutions to redefine terms like "violen
by hyperdunc 9y ago
Your younger coworkers are wrong. By definition, violence is physical.
There is, however, a push within educational institutions to redefine terms like "violence" as part of a wider "social justice" programme. The crux of it is that offending someone else is a very bad thing to do, regardless of whether it's intentional or your words are true.
- Tenhundfeld 9y agoIs it true that violence is physical, by definition? It is one definition, but there are other more abstract definitions that mean "an unjust exertion of force or power", "rough or immoderate vehemence, as of feeling or language", "damage through distortion", etc. For example, the phrase "violent scolding" is stuck in my mind from a fairy tale I read as a child, and indeed, if you search Google Books for that phrase, you'll see many examples dating back to at least the 1800s, examples that do not mean physical violence. So, I don't think it's some new redefinition of violence to use it more abstractly. I think of it similar to the term abuse. Sure, abuse often means a physical act, but it often means verbal/emotional acts.
- apostacy 9y agoMaybe we need a word that is more powerful than harassment, that isn't physical violence. I've heard people say things like "virtual rape". I think it's problematic to say that something that occurs in text can compare to having your body physically violated.
- ptaipale 9y agoIn "violent scolding", the violent is a figure of speech. It's not real violence. Like a particularly showy car could be colored "violently red". Still, it's not violence that anyone should step in to stop.