Words of wisdom

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me. We grew up with that mantra, a saying we throw back to name callers. But we grew up to find out that it wasn't true. Names can break hearts, as one singer put it, and other ill chosen words can do great damage.

For this and other reasons we must choose our words carefully, especially in a time of stress like now.
We tend to make three mistakes in our use of words. One is the use of hyperbole - instead of a good player we say they are the best ever, instead of saying someone is bad, we say they are evil. Our descriptions of events and people and causes go beyond reality to extremes - leaving no room for accurate descriptions for real extremes.

Another way we misuse words is similar. We tag so much as priority that we are torn between the things we really needed to do. We encounter this at work often. If everything is priority, then nothing is priority. We need to use our words carefully to focus our efforts on the things that really matter the most.

And the third way we misuse words is throwing out strong words carelessly. Such things as gunpowder words- words that are often used just for shock value. Some are obviously extreme, some are dug up and tossed , like a hand grenade in the middle of a crowd, verbally very dangerous. Some are not even matching the situation. People take a word that they know would get a strong negative reaction and use it to amp up the opposition to something they personally don't like.

Two examples stand out recently. Many who have opposed the common sense "shelter in place" regulations to safeguard public health have used the word "draconian" to describe those regulations.
Public health is important for all, yet those who want to go about their lives without restrictions harm us all. The regulations are not draconian, but really common sense. Especially as shown by a recent religious leader of a church who strongly pushed for large public gatherings, who shortly thereafter contracted the virus and died less than 2 weeks after his bombastic outburst

Another example involves the controversy around a touted "cure" for the virus - a medicine that had been pushed by some in the absence of a vaccine. Many in the medical field have countered the push because of legitimate concerns about side effects of it. And while there is room for discussion and debate over the merits of medical help. But there have been some who have gone ballistic over the criticism of this "cure" and called the efforts to oppose it as a "jihad". Not only is the a failure to fully understand the 2 different applications of the word - personal and political - it also uses it way out of context. And also using it just for shock effect to get people to oppose the effort to realistically handle the remedies for the virus.

So, in the time of stress and worry, etc, let us watch the words we use. Let us be realistic - and kind.
Words of comfort and encouragement, and wisdom will help us all come through it better.