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I think there's a difference between police-ing speech, and clarifying it. Language is hard, and misunderstandings are surprisingly common, and many world's evi
by bheadmaster 4y ago
I think there's a difference between police-ing speech, and clarifying it. Language is hard, and misunderstandings are surprisingly common, and many world's evils comes from pure misunderstanding.
Most misunderstandings arise from people having different understanding of same words - so approaching agreement on the meaning of words is important to reduce misunderstandings. The problem is the language is self-manifesting - the word gains the meaning from the way people use it, even when the meaning differs from the original (perhaps academic or technical) meaning.
So one side has to stand back - either academia (in this case, psychiatry), or the general population. Since academia largely relies on solid, defined meanings of words, while the general population relies on "how other people are currently using it", it's supposed to be easier to change the usage by the general population. Although it's pretty hard to do both ways.
Otherwise, we end up with words having two distinct meanings, one professional, and other layman.
- mantas 4y ago
- harimau777 4y agoDue to the second law of thermodynamics, all work is neverending wack-a-mole. That in of itself doesn't mean that the work is useless.
- eckza 4y agoOn some level I agree; however, this article in particular is not a collection of virtue signals. If I have failed to see how this is not the case, I would appreciate some examples.
- astrange 4y agoVirtue signalling is a good thing and an essential part of leadership.
- bheadmaster 4y agoWhy do you see virtue signalling as a good thing? What good comes from empty posturing?
- astrange 4y agoLeaders obviously aren’t required to personally do the things they ask you to do. An army where the general dies in battle isn’t a good army.
- bheadmaster 4y agoI extremely disagree. Leaders that don't lead by example aren't real leaders, but demagouges and deceivers. To become a general, you must first be a soldier.
- astrange 4y agoThat's not how generals work, they go to officer school, don't they? Actually I don't think "virtue signalling" implies "doesn't do it themselves". Vegans who go around telling everyone they're vegan generally don't secretly eat meat.