4-Letter Words

Who would stand in the middle of their neibhborhood supermarket and start shouting a torent of 4-letter words?

"F--k, s--t, p--s,d--n, h--l, ... !!" You get the idea. Even in our permissive, laissez-faire 2020s, someone would probably call the cops! Or worse, the verboten language police!

Kidding aside, here's a 3-letter word that's more awful and dangerous than any 4-letter word that you could ever dredge up out of the most foul, repressed, corners of your brain:

"Too."

I don't mean the adverb "too," as in "I like red beans and rice too." (where "too" modifies "like") I mean the usage where "too" carries with it, the speaker's prejudicial agenda." Like: "Don't be an asshole." Don't we all do that? That's the thesis I'm aiming for, here. We need to be careful in our words with loved-ones and colleagues.

The thesis is, "Don't be an asshole."

Here's what Google's AI, "Gemini" says:

Using "too" with an adjective:

While these statements may appear less overtly offensive than direct insults, they can still carry implicit judgments and biases. Saying someone is "too emotional" might reflect a bias against open emotional expression, especially in certain cultures or contexts where emotional restraint is valued. Similarly, calling someone "too stoic" could imply a prejudice against those who don't readily display emotions, potentially labeling them as cold or uncaring.

Directly labeling someone with a noun:

These statements are more explicitly derogatory and can be directly harmful. Calling someone an "asshole" or an "idiot" is not only disrespectful but also reveals a lack of understanding or empathy for the individual's perspective. Such labels can perpetuate stereotypes and reinforce negative biases against certain groups of people.

Beloved and appreciated friends, family and colleagues (present and past), don't be an asshole.

Love, Vern Sep. 23, 2024