Sticks and Stones, Insults and Double Standards.
“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” It is an old saying, but it contains an interesting truth: everything is relative. What one person considers an insult, another might regard as a compliment. One man's freedom fighter is another man's terrorist. One man's rubbish is another man's treasure. And, apparently, one man's insult can be another man's badge of honour. The real question, therefore, isn't simply what someone calls you. It is whether the description is true, and perhaps even more importantly, who is doing the calling. Consider the extraordinary difference between being called “John Williams from Skipton, a dangerous paedophile” and being called an “evil incel.” These are not remotely equivalent accusations. One is an allegation of serious criminal conduct; the other is a pejorative description based on the word incel, meaning involuntary celibate, with “evil” added for good measure. If a statement about someone is de...
