language
From Donald Knuth “The language in which we express our ideas has a strong influence on our thought processes.”
The more powerful communication technologies become, the more people will fight wars over words instead of territory. Language, when wielded at scale, is among man's most powerful weapons.
To share parts of ourselves as a way of undoing aloneness, as a method of connection, as a form of putting words to something someone else might not yet have the words for, feels like shining a flashlight on something that would otherwise stay hidden, or as Ocean Vuong said, building fire escapes for each other.
And so, while language is necessary, it does a disservice to reality. In attempting to describe the indescribable, words constrain reality. Through simplifications, generalizations, and connotations they mischaracterize and water it down. They fail to capture the complexity, uniqueness, and dynamism of life. And as a result, we never truly see,... See more
The Pursuit
"economy of words"
Names are powerful.
They shape how we think — both consciously and subconsciously.
Here are 10 name changes that flipped public perception:
Nathan Baughtwitter.comThat's what careless words do. They make people love you a little less.
-The God of Small Things, Arundhati Roy