Hola!
So I've been thinking a lot about language lately, like how sometimes the way we say things can often outweigh or override the meaning behind what we are actually trying to say or even outright contradict it.
One off the top of my head is the title of the
#BlackLivesMatter movement. I notice a lot of the resistance against the movement hinges upon that title (for example, with the retaliatory
#AllLivesMatter that sprang up in response to it). I am not saying the resistance in this case is entirely because of the title, but it is definitely a focal point point for the opposition. I've also noticed that there are a lot of people not really opposed to the ideals the movement stands for but misinterpret what it stands for because they don't realize
#BlackLivesMatter isn't meaning "only black lives matter" or "black lives matter more", etc.
I wonder, though, with one minor change could dissenters focusing on the title still hold their ground as well as they think they do. If it was
#BlackLivesMatterToo they really couldn't counter with an
#AllLivesMatter or whatever argument, at least not in the same manner or as effectively. The shift in language would put dissenters in a much different position, they couldn't make the claim that
#BlackLivesMatter is to mean "black lives matter
more" if the movement was called
#BlackLivesMatterToo because "too" already implies that other lives matter and that black lives do not matter more, they matter equally (
too). It'd probably clear up things for all those confused as well. It's crazy that the entire dynamic could potentially change just by adding one word (
too) yet doing so would not change the meaning of the title at all (as
#BlackLivesMatter is already meant to mean "black lives matter too").
Anyways, with my writing this focus I've had on language has been helpful but I've also been reflecting a lot on what I say to my wife, kids, friends, etc. because I am catching myself saying a lot of things that when dissected in retrospect don't seem to reflect what I am actually trying to get across or seems to only confuse things and it is all because of my choices in wording. Most of the time small tweaks to what I am saying is all it takes to get a lot more impact, so I've been practicing stopping myself before speaking and thinking about the words I want to use.
That aside, I've been playing Grand Kingdom (PS4) and various tactical RPGs while studying the shit out of board games, card battle games, etc. as I work on my latest mutant creation. How're you all doing?