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Comment by gordian-mind | Hacker News Reader

I don’t agree to your exclusive use of gaslighting for personal relationships, I think it’s fine to use it in any context that makes sense.

Same for toxicity, where I actually do not even agree to your definition: toxicity refers to something toxic, you are the one adding the “codependency” aspect but it works well without it. There’s no such thing as “real toxicity” btw. Or should a biologist forbid you to use the term because it originally refers to poisonous creatures and not relationships?

Anyway, would you please consider not trying to gate-keep the use of words?

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Don't you see how it is important to differentiate between these two things? Do you have a suggestion on how to make it clear what you mean if you mix two very different meanings into one?

I did not say it can only be used for personal relationships. I said it only _works_ in such relationships. Because that is a fact, once we narrow it down to its original definition.

Of course you are free to use whatever words for whatever you want. But it means someone who wants to be able to clearly communicate loses their ability to do so. I am asking people to reconsider, and be precise. If you call that "gate-keeping", we can start a whole new conversation about what "gate-keeping" actually _means_. Because if we do not agree on definitions of words, we simply can not communicate with each other.

It’s pretty clear in this context what the author meant. My suggestion would then be not to pretend otherwise. And, in general, pay attention to the context to understand what meaning of a word is being used.

“I did not say it can only be used for personal relationships. I said it only _works_ in such relationships.”

I didn’t say I was right, I said you were wrong, and this is a fact. …

IMO this use is not unclear or imprecise. And you were previously arguing that it was important because “they are watering down important terms“, but now you say it’s about communicating more efficiently. You are inconsistent.

"it means someone who wants to be able to clearly communicate loses their ability to do so" is a result of "watering down important terms". Where is the inconsistency?

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