We love how June writes. We LOVE the Flexies she sells…
Please welcome June.
I adore how she and I disagree on many topics and yet a friendship based on mutual respect has been created. I invited her here to share her response to my BINGE WATCHING post.
What do words mean to you?
For me, they are music.
They can transport me to another world. They can make me fly into a rage. They can delight my soul or they can send me into the depths of despair.
Words have incredible power.
They have MEANING, but that doesn’t mean every word means the exact same thing to every person.
We read aloud to our children every day when they were growing up. That time created special memories for all of us in different ways.
My favorite memory is my husband reading The Ransom of Red Chief by O’Henry to the kids and laughing so hard he was crying. When the kids were older, we read The Lord of the Rings aloud as a family.
10 years later, my daughter was rereading The Fellowship of the Ring and she came upon a section where she remembered me stopping, telling them “LISTEN to this! No one writes like this anymore!” and I reread the passage.
I love the music Tolkien creates with words.
She told her co-workers about it and they were astounded that she had that kind of memory AND that we read aloud as a family as a habit. Many people don’t do that (and then complain that their children don’t like reading!)
Those are just small examples of the power of words.
Most of us were taught as children the little ditty “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”
Now, we know that’s not completely true, because words can really hurt us down to the core. But we DO have control over how much that hurt will change and affect us. We can separate ourselves from people who seem to take great pleasure in trying to hurt people with words.
Many times it can be unintentional and just takes a simple comment. “Hey, that didn’t come across too kindly!”
But lately, we have gone way too far down the road of taking offense over every little thing!
Some try to change the word to mean something different than was ever intended. Then they make an accusation against someone who uses the word and calls them a hater, a bigot, evil!
I have frequently said that everyone should read The Joy of Hate by Greg Gutfeld.
He talks about the rampant faux rage that sweeps our country and keeps everyone offended ALL THE TIME.
The way Mr. Gutfeld puts it into words is sarcastic, snarky, sometimes a little vulgar, but also HILARIOUS!
Some of my ultra-conservative, ultra-religious friends (and family) would be horrified that I read books with so many bad words in them.
Some of my ultra-liberal, atheistic friends (and family) would be horrified that I read a book by such a rabid right-winger. (He’s not, he makes fun of EVERYONE!)
People have taken words and made them sacred, so if someone misuses that word, they can scream HATE!
And if they immediately throw out accusatory words, they think they can shut down the debate.
I love a good debate, and will often play devil’s advocate to make people THINK about the things they say.
But life is too short to argue and get offended over EVERYTHING.
There are certain topics where I will vigorously defend my beliefs and stand up for those who may not know how to do so.
I don’t like seeing people bullied or mocked for their faith or beliefs. I have many friends (and family) who are polar opposites on many issues.
That’s OK.
We usually know when to step back from debating and find a common ground again.
What started this train of thought was a conversation a few weeks ago about the word “binge.”
People were using it to describe a marathon of watching a television show for hours in a row.
By the dictionary definition, binge does describe what people are doing.
Some thought it made light of alcoholic binges or eating binges, which are serious issues. But it really doesn’t. (Just like talking about black holes in outer space is not racist.)
Binge is a word.
It can be used many ways.
There are serious issues in our world that deserve our outrage.
I just don’t think people’s TV watching habits is one of them.
jill conyers says
May 1, 2015 at 4:05 amLove the hair clip! Very unique design.
Almost every sentence of this conversation made me think.
Vonnie says
May 1, 2015 at 4:11 amI agree with June.
I do think we have gotten a bit sensitive these days and have also lost our appreciation for the magnificence of words!
Bea says
May 1, 2015 at 4:58 amI agree, but take exception at the word binge as Carla did.
It’s just a hot button for me. :/
Liza says
May 1, 2015 at 4:30 amYes!
I like her point about lively debate and playing devil’s advocate.
I also think that is a lost art and something which strengthens our minds.
Allie says
May 1, 2015 at 4:44 amNow I want to read The Joy of Hate! I love what you’re saying here and I agree with so much of it. I think I try to stay somewhere in the middle b/c Carla’s original post made me stop and think but I also agree with what you’re saying. I too enjoy a lively debate!
Ida says
May 1, 2015 at 6:01 amTrue writers do have beats to their sentences. I miss the days of reading out loud to my son!
Jennifer F says
May 1, 2015 at 6:25 amLove to ALL the legit words . . (maybe a few exceptions) It’s not the words that can be so offensive, it’s the person flinging them
Misszippy says
May 1, 2015 at 6:49 amI love a good, respectful debate, and agree we get a bit over sensitive these days. And now I’m adding that book to my kindle!
Susie @ SuzLyfe says
May 1, 2015 at 7:09 amOn a completely point blank level, I love words and the craft of wordsmithing. I think that the way language can be strung together to mean essentially the same thing, but have a totally different delivery and implications, is just incredible. That said, words are indeed powerful, and we have to respect that.
Coco says
May 1, 2015 at 7:46 amI love words. And I love when people are clever with words. I think it’s important to consider the words we use, but there are more pressing issues than how to refer to watching several episodes of a tvseries all at once. Now I’m going to have to find that O Henry book …
Renee says
May 1, 2015 at 9:49 amYou hit upon precisely what I was thinking: I cannot stand laziness with words. I will take clever and debate anytime.
Jess @hellotofit says
May 1, 2015 at 7:47 amTo be able to disagree, debate friendly, and still be friends is just AWESOME. I appreciate this thought-welcoming post today. Happy Friday!
Pattie says
May 1, 2015 at 8:25 amFantastic post. I second the endorsement of Greg’s book!
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says
May 1, 2015 at 10:10 amThis is fabulous. People need to learn to take more care and appreciate their words and the meaning behind them. We as a society have become to flippant.
Sari says
May 1, 2015 at 11:07 amI love everything about this post, June. Right down to the black holes 🙂
Kim says
May 1, 2015 at 1:46 pmI don’t know if it means that I’m self-centered or what but I rarely get too bothered by other people’s words – I don’t always agree with them or the way a word is used but that just means I don’t use the same expression. Other times, I love a word or saying and adopt it as one I like to say!!
Christy Mensi says
May 1, 2015 at 8:31 pmAwesome guest post, June! It’s so true that many have become over sensitive to so many words. Thanks for this great perspective…I often just shake my head and move on, because life is too short.
And I read aloud EVERY single day to my kids, with crazy voices and accents even. And now when I hear them read aloud, they do voices and accents, too. It’s pretty much the best part of our day.
Carla, thanks for always sharing such great people with us. xoxo
cherylann says
May 2, 2015 at 5:19 pmGood writers make me dream in their “language” and word choice and help me become a better writer.
Chris says
May 3, 2015 at 10:32 pmI think we all have to calm down about getting offended and think about the intended context in which they are used. People these days seem to be lack this nuance in their approach to critical thinking though…