“Sounds are interesting things, aren’t they? Take words, for example. Words are just sounds, but so are farts. But I’ve never heard a fart that pretended to be something other than a fart. Farts just aren’t that tricky.”
- Conversations with Henry Bean
Mr. Bean’s observations were spot on. I find farts hilarious. I’ve never not laughed at a fart (though many have been followed by a searing, nasal-induced disgust). You see, farts are simple and genuine. Words, on the other hand are tricky, little things because they have meanings and associations that we have consciously or subconsciously agreed to (and continue to do so). So while there is obviously a fair bit of leeway for interpretation-variation and meaning-wrangling in the word-o-sphere, there is also ample opportunity for deliberate association-game malice and deception.
While walking in the store the other day, I came across some shelves that had been freshly stocked with “alcoholic seltzers”. As I gazed upon one of these aluminum-clad, barrels of fruity fizz, my younger self said to me: “What the f#$k is this?! Isn’t this just a wine cooler?” I agreed. For all intents and purposes, it appeared so. Now I’ve always had a thing for fruity alcoholic drinks (or at least I did when I drank with any frequency). But in my college years I was berated on multiple occasions for bringing wine coolers to a party. It wasn’t a “real drink” according to my beer-pounding, pre-alcoholic peers. Eventually I caved, switching to some lackluster, lager-swill for the same price but I never fully understood the disdain for the poor wine cooler. I mean, it WAS fruity and it DID get you buzzed.
It never made ANY sense.
Neither does our current state of wording (or is it re-wording?) coming from the press, the government bobble-heads or any of these annoying, self-righteous so-called “activists” looking for an opportunity to control other individuals.
It’s perfectly sensible, that in their limited scope, words may have to be bent and twisted to elicit mental responses that are really outside of the realm of words to begin with. For example, the ability to convey many philosophical, existential or spiritual ideas to others is greatly hampered by a paucity of adequately powerful words and the few that exist are already burdened with deep-seated associations. Thus word-wrangling and alternate meanings are required in an attempt to discuss certain concepts. But this happens in long conversations in good faith discussion.
This is not what is happening in the larger context. No, it’s deception by association.
Anyone paying attention can see this happening. Just look at the word-bending of once clear terms…man, women, vaccine, safe, effective, science, racist... The list goes on and on.
These are not good-faith attempts to clarify murky, existential concepts to other sentient beings but simply ways to co-opt power by using other people’s prior, meaningful associations with specific words. Calling an mRNA transfection a ‘vaccine’ is exactly this sort of thing (not to mention then changing the definition of vaccine to match it, on the side). It’s a way of piggybacking a new concept onto a pre-existing word BECAUSE of that word’s current associated meaning. It is not INCIDENTAL, like in a genuine conversation between individuals seeking a greater understanding of mutual existence. It’s just plain MANIPULATION.
So what to do?
The power of words rests in an agreement of meaning. So, in that spirit, if such entities seem so keen to abuse our good faith in the flexibility of language to convey ideas, we can simply ignore that agreement altogether. Make them explain what they mean by EVERY word (or every word you want them to try to explain). When they speak to you, take no word’s meaning for granted and feel free to make up your own meanings for words, if you like. Why not? They do.
Words are there to convey ideas.
BUT the meaning of a word requires YOUR agreement, your power.
Use THAT power.