I have mentioned many times that if you have to redefine common terms - patriot, racist, supremacist - in order to prove your point it is an admission you can't win on the merits. Cults do this with words like atonement, and especially love. I had thought of a humorous example about a year ago, but couldn't remember it this morning after waking too early, and eventually just got up. I finally brought it back to mind after two hours. It's not as funny as I remembered, but it's not a bad example. And even if it's terrible, I'm posting it anyway, in honor of this morning's frustration.
"So when I tell my patient she has outstanding charges, she should be happy about that?"
5 comments:
Sure, why not? More cash in her pocket in the short term.
When I say that to my clientele, it usually means they defaulted and are under suspesnion, so they don't miss the meaning.
Yes, I don't think an activist could redefine it for them to convince them it's great. they know too well that "outstanding" has at least two meanings.
"Jargon, not argument, is [Satan's] best ally" -- C. S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters
I swear, Lewis has the answer for everything.
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