Learn how to speak and write without the meaningless words? If the word you want to use has a controversial meaning, it seems like any argument involving that word will become the focus rather than the larger topic.
For example, I feel like 'socialism' has been pretty much evacuated of all it's meaning in the public sphere. I don't need to say socialism to make someone understand the labor theory of value. I also don't have to say labor theory of value to get them to understand that without the worker, there is no value. I can work back from there a lot easier than I could if I started with trying to define socialism imo.
Blurring definitions is definitely something that the powers that be do. I just feel like it can be combated with better description rather than the singular words.
This is a good tactic and I'll definitely work on incorporating it.
Where I usually run into trouble is when chud or chud-adjacent folks bring up anything about fascism (or antifascism). I usually try to use leading questions to get people to process meaning instead of buzzwords but it's hard for people to navigate unfamiliar concepts when their map and compass (vocabulary and meaning) are backwards or non-existent.
Learn how to speak and write without the meaningless words? If the word you want to use has a controversial meaning, it seems like any argument involving that word will become the focus rather than the larger topic.
For example, I feel like 'socialism' has been pretty much evacuated of all it's meaning in the public sphere. I don't need to say socialism to make someone understand the labor theory of value. I also don't have to say labor theory of value to get them to understand that without the worker, there is no value. I can work back from there a lot easier than I could if I started with trying to define socialism imo.
Blurring definitions is definitely something that the powers that be do. I just feel like it can be combated with better description rather than the singular words.
This is a good tactic and I'll definitely work on incorporating it. Where I usually run into trouble is when chud or chud-adjacent folks bring up anything about fascism (or antifascism). I usually try to use leading questions to get people to process meaning instead of buzzwords but it's hard for people to navigate unfamiliar concepts when their map and compass (vocabulary and meaning) are backwards or non-existent.