The easy way to think of some of the controversial use of language can be just that it changes as it always has as its purely descriptive. The Spastic society changing its name is the perfect example, those involved in the charity and disabled people in general used the word spastic for years, why do I need to change?
Well, some fairly horrible people turn the word into an insult and it grows, becomes a playground insult, often at people who aren't disabled, suggesting they are. But after years or probably decades of people having the word shouted at them on the street and people giggling whenever the charity name is raised you can see why people don't want it using anymore and the charity (as disadvantaged people need to beg for charity in this country) decided to change their name.
It's not the word, it's what it represents noe. Officials and families don't need what has effectively become a swearword on their mastheads and envelopes.
The sticks and stones thing may have been good advice for some as it gave people a way to deal with abuse, others will have stored up pain, not talked about it and not really dealt with the issue which is bullying, and had recurring issues for years. It was never meant to tell people they could continue abusing freely, well not by anyone with any morals.
Why is there an "epidemic of mental illness" these days, say compared to WW2 times do people think. See, many of the older generation don't see it and TBF & truthful, neither do I. Happy to be educated and not arguing but let's be honest, times were a lot tougher then. For example, no central heating, lack of food, a bulk of one parent families, shortages of just about everything, etc. A similar comparison is creeping up on us today. Could it be a sense of entitlement has shown today where it wasn't so then?
I for one believe rightly or wrongly, that SM may have a large contribution in todays woes, as generally speaking, most people put "happy situations" on their SM accounts & so generally, the say up to 30 year old start to think that they are somehow missing out as everyone else is happy & has lots of nice things & go to nice places etc but they don't. The cold reality is that these situations are highlights and not the norm. We all have low points, average days interspersed with the odd highlight, say WWFC win.
An example of modern day MH issues, would perhaps be a person, where my wife works, has had at least a day off a week, (sometimes 2/3), the majority of recent months. Now that person has claimed that they are suffering from mental health issues, but here is the rub. After some light investigative work, it is now known by their employer that they've spent up to 8 hours a day live gaming streaming whilst on sick pay, (for which they earn a nominal amount) and spent Monday in London with their partner on a jolly, (idiot doesn't think before posting on SM). Is this a MH issue or entitlement born out of easy financial bak up support?
Yeah, I can't remember who said it but I always loved the line 'Despite many claims to the contrary, there is no evidence to suggest that a swan has ever broken a human's arm with its wing'.
They'd run straight through and over you. Vicious.
Interesting if fairly biased post above about people using mental distress to swing the lead, I'm fairly sure there was some evidence that the people in distress but at work far outweighs anything the other way round. There were far more people taking sickies 20 years ago than there are now btw, far more people are paid by the hour or on short contracts now that wouldn't be renewed and young people drink less.
Have to wonder back In the good old days when people were told to stop being pansies and get on with it how much of that was to cover abuse of one kind or another.
Just because you have been diagnosed with mental health problems doesn't mean you have to sit at home doing sod all. If the diagnosis stems from work related stress, shutting yourself away at home is just going to exacerbate the problem.
Thanks, a considered post. I believe you are partly right, but also wonder if the accusation of "pansies" might as well have been directed to those with genuine MH issues at the time?
Still hasn't persuaded me away from my belief that SM is a huge contributor to this current "epidemic".
Social media is undoubtedly a massive contributor - especially Instagram, I'd say, for the ease with which it makes people feel crap about their bodies etc. Influencer culture has a lot to answer for.
Agreed, it would have been dished out for a variety of reasons, mostly inconsiderate or unpleasant.
Wasn't actually disagreeing about Social media as a cause btw, it does have a lot of dark sides and is poorly regulated. Long queues for access to medical services and suitable facilities will also be a factors.
As someone who was at an inner city comp in an area that promised little for your future where just doing your homework was reason enough to be duffed up on a regular basis, I must admit I find the seemingly enormous levels of 'anxiety' amongst young adults staggering.
As a kid I was fairly withdrawn and quiet. I dare say these days people would have thrown labels on that, when in reality it was just something a lot of people go through growing up.
But for anyone who really has anxiety the whole time it must be torture, as we've all had moments of it, and that's not great.
Comments
I don’t think that’s ever been true.
Was it ever the case? Probably not.
The epidemic of mental illness suggests words absolutely have a powerful effect on people
The easy way to think of some of the controversial use of language can be just that it changes as it always has as its purely descriptive. The Spastic society changing its name is the perfect example, those involved in the charity and disabled people in general used the word spastic for years, why do I need to change?
Well, some fairly horrible people turn the word into an insult and it grows, becomes a playground insult, often at people who aren't disabled, suggesting they are. But after years or probably decades of people having the word shouted at them on the street and people giggling whenever the charity name is raised you can see why people don't want it using anymore and the charity (as disadvantaged people need to beg for charity in this country) decided to change their name.
It's not the word, it's what it represents noe. Officials and families don't need what has effectively become a swearword on their mastheads and envelopes.
The sticks and stones thing may have been good advice for some as it gave people a way to deal with abuse, others will have stored up pain, not talked about it and not really dealt with the issue which is bullying, and had recurring issues for years. It was never meant to tell people they could continue abusing freely, well not by anyone with any morals.
Sticks and stones don't generally break bones either
this chat has got out of control, create another chat if you wanted to discuss another topic
Unlike a swan's wing!
Why is there an "epidemic of mental illness" these days, say compared to WW2 times do people think. See, many of the older generation don't see it and TBF & truthful, neither do I. Happy to be educated and not arguing but let's be honest, times were a lot tougher then. For example, no central heating, lack of food, a bulk of one parent families, shortages of just about everything, etc. A similar comparison is creeping up on us today. Could it be a sense of entitlement has shown today where it wasn't so then?
I for one believe rightly or wrongly, that SM may have a large contribution in todays woes, as generally speaking, most people put "happy situations" on their SM accounts & so generally, the say up to 30 year old start to think that they are somehow missing out as everyone else is happy & has lots of nice things & go to nice places etc but they don't. The cold reality is that these situations are highlights and not the norm. We all have low points, average days interspersed with the odd highlight, say WWFC win.
An example of modern day MH issues, would perhaps be a person, where my wife works, has had at least a day off a week, (sometimes 2/3), the majority of recent months. Now that person has claimed that they are suffering from mental health issues, but here is the rub. After some light investigative work, it is now known by their employer that they've spent up to 8 hours a day live gaming streaming whilst on sick pay, (for which they earn a nominal amount) and spent Monday in London with their partner on a jolly, (idiot doesn't think before posting on SM). Is this a MH issue or entitlement born out of easy financial bak up support?
Like anyone's going to take any notice of your crowd control efforts 🤣
We should update the saying to "A swan's wing may break my thing, but words can also hurt me."
Apparently that's nonsense too, although I still out the way of swans
Yeah, I can't remember who said it but I always loved the line 'Despite many claims to the contrary, there is no evidence to suggest that a swan has ever broken a human's arm with its wing'.
They've got nothing on cassowaries
They'd run straight through and over you. Vicious.
Interesting if fairly biased post above about people using mental distress to swing the lead, I'm fairly sure there was some evidence that the people in distress but at work far outweighs anything the other way round. There were far more people taking sickies 20 years ago than there are now btw, far more people are paid by the hour or on short contracts now that wouldn't be renewed and young people drink less.
Have to wonder back In the good old days when people were told to stop being pansies and get on with it how much of that was to cover abuse of one kind or another.
aren't you a tough man....
Just because you have been diagnosed with mental health problems doesn't mean you have to sit at home doing sod all. If the diagnosis stems from work related stress, shutting yourself away at home is just going to exacerbate the problem.
Gotta say, can't wait until the primary schools return and we don't have @Wanderers82 posting during the day.
another mature respoae from you , maybe you need to go back primary school
Said the less educated! 🙄
Thanks, a considered post. I believe you are partly right, but also wonder if the accusation of "pansies" might as well have been directed to those with genuine MH issues at the time?
Still hasn't persuaded me away from my belief that SM is a huge contributor to this current "epidemic".
Social media is undoubtedly a massive contributor - especially Instagram, I'd say, for the ease with which it makes people feel crap about their bodies etc. Influencer culture has a lot to answer for.
Peter Kay. The exact quote is, "despite numerous warnings, you have never actually met anyone who has had their arm broken by a swan".
Agreed, it would have been dished out for a variety of reasons, mostly inconsiderate or unpleasant.
Wasn't actually disagreeing about Social media as a cause btw, it does have a lot of dark sides and is poorly regulated. Long queues for access to medical services and suitable facilities will also be a factors.
Because they've all been warned.
I think it would now almost be a distraction if Nathan Bishop did actually sign. Has anyone ever seen him? Does he definitely exist?
Who?
As someone who was at an inner city comp in an area that promised little for your future where just doing your homework was reason enough to be duffed up on a regular basis, I must admit I find the seemingly enormous levels of 'anxiety' amongst young adults staggering.
Maybe we can pick him up on the way to Bolton, bring his stuff back down with him on the team coach.
Perhaps we all just have to truly believe and, Lo he will be revealed to us.
As a kid I was fairly withdrawn and quiet. I dare say these days people would have thrown labels on that, when in reality it was just something a lot of people go through growing up.
But for anyone who really has anxiety the whole time it must be torture, as we've all had moments of it, and that's not great.