Words are Emotional

[BigApplePi]

There are two kinds of words. P words and J words. That is, there are words of perception and other words with emotional overtones. What kind do you use?

For example ignorant and stupid. Ignorant is more perceptive. If X is ignorant of Y, that can be examined and verified. It is objective. But Y is stupid? That is a J word. It carries a judgment of value. "Y is stupid" means "I, X, feel that Y is stupid. Y should (a value) have known about Z." Stupid is a subjective evaluation.

I tend to dislike J words because their subjectivity means they aren't true for everyone. If someone says BAP is a victim or BAP is disruptive or BAP has Aspergers, what does that mean?

Spoiler

I was not a victim. Now I'm becoming a victim.

I am deliberately disruptive because I want to stimulate the issue. I do not want to upset enough to cause long term injury.

I am like Aspergers because I am deliberately ignoring other's emotions. I am aware I am doing that.

If the thread is talking about something else, then I have to decide if I want to evaluate that evaluation. I can do that inwardly. If I decide I want to look at the side where it isn't true because the thread has been going on about something else, I will ignore it. Others may not feel that way. They have made their evaluation and want their judgment to carry weight. Maybe it will; maybe it won't. If it does carry weight and I haven't addressed it, I may have to go back and address how it is true instead of how it is false.

J words are always true AND false both. They are true because the originator had that in mind; they are false because their direction fails in other directions.

Above I said, "I dislike J words." Is that a J statement or a P statement? If I felt it as an evaluation which carried emotion, it would be a J statement. If I meant is as, "I discard J words and keep my distance", then it is a P statement. So "dislike" or "like" are either P words or J words depending on whether emotions or thinking pertains.

Whenever a word used is interpreted as a J word, it carries subjective emotion. When such words are used between people they stir up heat because the subjectivity means more than one interpretation. Rub two things together and the result is friction.

I don't mean to favor P words over J words. J words are deliberately directive. They indicate the direction the author wishes to take. I only aim to point out the difference.

What kind of words do you see used? What kind of words do you use? Do you avoid them or do you favor them?

 

[pernoctator]

I'm certainly unsure.

 

[BigApplePi]

I'm certainly unsure.

I certainly believe you. Unsure about what?

 

[Vrecknidj]

While I agree that the word "stupid" can be used in a way that is emotionally charged, I don't think it has to be.

A) "I was stupid to think he'd like me."
B) Compared to my cat, my fish is stupid.
C) My calculator doesn't actually know that the square root of 9 is 3, it can't, it's stupid, it lacks intelligence.

I think that people who say things like (A) are being harsh on themselves, etc. I don't think that the use of the word "stupid" in (B) or (C) is necessarily emotional or judgmental.

Similarly, I think that the word "ignorant" can be used disparagingly, and isn't necessarily just a descriptive word indicating that something lacks awareness or knowledge. Sure, that might be what it means, but it isn't always used that way.

I think a great many words can be used, as is implied here, either in a P sense or a J sense.

 

[BigApplePi]

I think a great many words can be used, as is implied here, either in a P sense or a J sense.

I would have to agree with your examples and with your generalization. To force any word into a rigid category won't work.

Yet,
A) "I was stupid to think he'd like me."
B) Compared to my cat, my fish is stupid.
C) My calculator doesn't actually know that the square root of 9 is 3, it can't, it's stupid, it lacks intelligence.

A) Notice the emotional connotation. A self-accusation.
B) Are we putting down a lower species? Would we say, Compared to my cat, my fish is ignorant?
C) Would we substitute "ignorant" here? Are we being arrogant about our intelligence just because we are life forms? After all, computers are gaining on us. Arrogance, if this is this case, is a feeling.

 

[Polaris]

To begin with I have to pain you with stating the obvious: Words in themselves aren't inherently emotional, but we are aware of that.

It is up to the user to imply a certain emotion, or the receiver to interpret the emotion. If the two get muddled somewhere in the middle, one could have a conflict. I think this is particularly difficult in a medium context like the internet.

For instance, I could call my best friend a stupid bitch in a very amicable way, and she would not take offense as she knows my intent is benign.

Aspergers is a neutral term until a user applies emotion to it, so it depends on the context more than the word itself. It is interesting how a word can gradually become derogatory over time, depending on the general consensus towards certain traits in certain minority groups. We also see the inverse development where a word, such as 'faggot' or 'nigga' are commonly used by the minority group themselves as affectionate terms, so the words are gradually losing their offensive edge.

I had a friend who used the word 'ignorant' like other people would use 'stupid'. Her usage of the word made it negatively charged. Hence, when I use words, I'm painfully aware of the context, and try to make note of how certain words may be interpreted by the other party. Even if the words I use may be neutral to begin with and my intent was neutral, they could be misinterpreted depending on the contextual emotional charge. Words thus seem to change meaning from one small system to another depending on the level of evolution within the respective groups. If the usage is accepted and transferred, it will eventually acquire a semi-static charge of some sort. Until it changes again.

 

[BigApplePi]

Yes. Context matters. "Let's go get him" could mean "Why don't we ask him to join our group for a party" or it could mean "Grab him, beat him up and kill him." Also words can create a context as when one party is name-called by another party and 3rd parties are within hearing range. Then we have candidates for slander. The 3rd parties do not know what is going on or possibly have their own suspicions and don't stop to do scientific analysis.

 

[k9b4]

I think that a simpler way of explaining what you are explaining is to say that some words lack definition. Words like "stupid", "intelligent", "idiot" all lack a single, widely agreed upon definition. These words can be and are interpreted in many different ways by many different people.

Or maybe I completely misinterpreted your post.