I keep telling myself that, sometimes, you just have to move aside and let people believe what they believe. It’s been a very challenging stand to adhere to. I recently failed, once again.
There is fact. There is fiction. Then, there is opinion.
Opinion can be based on fact and it can be based on fiction. The latter is where I get stuck. A person’s well thought-out opinion based on a set of facts is fascinating to me. I thoroughly enjoy stimulating debate, often learning much about the topic, myself and the other person.
However, opinion based in falsehood is disturbing to me, and generally exhausting to my psyche as I battle the urge to steer the person to check the facts. Often times, as with this most recent experience, words can sometimes feel like a sharp slap on the cheek; the words become a weapon.
Words are often nicely said, harshly intended.
As I usually do when stuck, I started researching. I googled “Using Words as Weapons” and came across some interesting articles from very interesting places. If you face the same challenges I do, follow these links and explore.
Michelle Toomey, PhD, is the author of a website called Liberation Psychology, The Choice of Intimacy not Conquest. Using the Power of Words as Weapons or Tools is an interesting exploration of phrases that essentially have the same meaning, but have different intentions. Read the two lists and see which words you use more frequently and consider why. It has certainly given me pause.
I never heard of the term calumny before. Last June, the Catholic church printed a lengthy article, Words as Weapons, on their website discussing calumny, especially as it relates to the blogosphere and social networking sites, tying it to the sin of bearing false witness. Really interesting take on the opportunity and danger of online communications and the very human need to be right.
There are even books on the topic. “Unspeak” by Stephen Poole carries this lengthy subtitle: “How Words Become Weapons, How Weapons Become a Message and How That Message Becomes Reality.” Exactly.
There is an amazing freedom in being able to share thoughts and feelings with a global audience. As with any freedom, there is also a great deal of responsibility. Just because you can’t see your audience, doesn’t mean they aren’t there; very real people with real feelings. Whether blogging or tweeting or messaging on sites such as My Space or Facebook, use caution with what you post.
Start with the truth, and go from there.
image from http://languageartsgames.4you4free.com/fact_or_opinion.html
