Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression reposted this
One of the biggest problems in the world today is the confusion which is caused by people redefining and attempts at reassigning language, as you have attempted to do here, aka the way they see fit, instead of understanding that all language has a history, and a source from which all of our meaning is derived.. If the definition displays ways in which speech and violence are linked, why attempt to redefine and effectively sever any of its its original meaning, none the less do it in a way which causes confusion?
VI'OLENCE, n. [L. violentia.] 1. Physical force; strength of action or motion; as the violence of a storm; the violence of a blow or of a conflict. 2. Moral force; vehemence. The critic attacked the work with violence. 3. Outrage; unjust force; crimes of all kinds. The earth was filled with violence. Gen 6. 4. Eagerness; vehemence. You ask with violence. 5. Injury; infringement. Offer no violence to the laws, or to the rules of civility. 6. Injury; hurt. Do violence to no man. Luke 3. 7. Ravishment; rape. To do violence to or on, to attack; to murder. But, as it seems, did violence on herself. To do violence to, to outrage; to force; to injure. He does violence to his own opinions. VI'OLENCE, v.t. To assault; to injure; also, to bring by violence. [Little used.]
There are some extreme cases like brainwashing & psychological torture where you could force someone to listen to degrading insults 24 hours a day for extended periods of time where words can have negative effects on the nervous system as well as hormonal regulation and the endocrine system. But beyond that people need to learn to control how they choose to react to words and information.
Curious if the purpose of your article is because understanding the ACTUAL definition of violence, (see attached) is either not enough, or it is no longer applicable? Your article says that the definition is wrong and that you are right, and many readers support you, but the facts do not.
Fabulous piece, Greg. Really enjoyed the read! That is: as much as one can enjoy reading about this particular phenomenon of our times, which is utterly disturbing.
Public and Government Affairs at ExxonMobil
1mo"My speech — even if sharp, brutal, and filled with invective — is still simply speech. Indeed, it might be commendable, righteous rage. But their speech, even if it’s similarly sharp and brutal, is violence — and I am therefore allowed to respond with violence. It is the kind of bad idea that can only be generated in an environment of low viewpoint diversity and highly moralistic ideological rigidity, which of course we see in too many corners of campus today." A great read.