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Having a think about etymology often helps.
The root of violence is something like violate - seems like words can be violence, but it's a fairly high bar. Some folks seem to have totally run with the 'words as violence' concept, most notably the mob who insist criticism of Zionism is anti-Semitic... 🫣
Kimmo-
it's a fairly high bar
Indeed, because, unlike sticks and stones, wielding words aggressively depends on context to be considered violent, but denying the possibility outright is simply wrong.
Violentia is the root you’re thinking of, meaning the use of force to cause harm or injury. Words may not have mass but they are plenty capable of causing injury, including medically diagnosable injury. But I’m labouring the point…
Some folks seem to have totally run with the 'words as violence' concept
Defo. See also the mythical ‘(excessively) woke’ crowd who take offence to everything and anything. Fortunately they’re not as numerous and nowhere near as powerful or impactful as their scapegoating political critics make them out to be, but they do exist and are thoroughly unpleasant.
Muc-ed-off
What a bizarre opinion.
Violence can be verbal according to the World Health Organisation, whose definition of violence includes threats of physical harm. Or according to American Psychiatrist Association. Or the European Psychiatric Association….