To think we should put a stop to terms like 'toxic', 'narcissistic', 'gaslighting'...

[justalittlethought]

..'safe space', 'boundaries'.

These words were not widely used before 2014/15 (in the way we use them so liberally now), peaking - I'm guessing - around 2020/2022?

Guess what - basically mirroring the Tik Tok, Social Media / Influencer boom.

I'm thoroughly fed up with people using these terms.

Also, people using sociopath and psychopath willy-nilly. These used to be terms used by psychologists/psychiatrists about individual who had some level of formal diagnosis using the DSM-IV.

Dont use these if you don’t like or relate to them

policing others use of language is not the way to go

I don’t think the is article makes the point you are hoping. When the author says ‘It explains that narcissism has a common foundation, which includes things such as self-importance and entitlement.’. I mean that could be half the teenagers in the world right now.

It depends on the situation and topic but often telling someone ‘straight’ is beneficial for example but for those who don’t like it see it as a trait of something psychological.

😂

It is simply not true that there is no diagnosis for these conditions outside prison! My friend would be out of a job if people like this weren’t asking for and receiving treatment.

I find on social media that many of those accusing others of being the first three are guilty of it themselves.

These words shouldn't be used inappropriately but in general, if someone in your life is a toxic narcissistic gaslighting bully, or a sociopath with no respect for boundaries, then it is totally ok to say so. Mental health increases when we can name and reject the unacceptable behaviours of those around us and can have self-respect.

I agree with you about psychopathy - that should be diagnosed by professionals, but sociopathy is widespread and underdiagnosed as many sociopaths are fully functional in the world (just making those around them miserable in ways that are perfectly legal) and have no reason or obligation to seek a diagnosis.

I am deeply suspicious that you want to suppress these terms though. It makes me wonder which ones are being applied to you? Is it that your blessed and lovely life is free from such people and you have some kind of empathy deficit for thise who are less blessed?

If people are using these words in the wrong context then they are just stupid (lacking brain) you can't do anything about stupid people im afraid, they are everywhere.

I agree about "narcissistic". Most people are not qualified to diagnose people as such and have little understanding of what it really means.

If that's the case that would make you one of those who accuse others of being the first three too. Ie, one of the guilty ones.

Bit 1984

"If that's the case that would make you one of those who accuse others of being the first three too. Ie, one of the guilty ones."

I don't accuse people of it on social media.

The current most annoying word is empath.

I think, although overused, these words are used to describe abusive relationships.
If they help just one person to identify they are being manipulated, exploited or abused in any manner, then they should stay.
Unfortunately it is still the case that many women do not recognise abuse unless it is physical. These words are helping to raise awareness that this is not the case.

Does it matter if you accuse them in your head or on SM? If you think that anyone who calls someone a narcissist is a narcissist then you are effectively calling them a narcissist, which in turn would make you a narcissist.

Wow, that's a lot of narcissists in one sentence.

"If you think that anyone who calls someone a narcissist is a narcissist then you are effectively calling them a narcissist, which in turn would make you a narcissist."

No not anyone. Those on social media who accuse multiple people they know of being those things, often while they themselves are an empath.

They have a useful side, OP.

Use of these terms is a great way to tell that the user is a jargon-loving fool.

I don't want to have to say "my father, who is diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder" every time I'm referring to him just to please a few people who protest a little too much that it's all a "trend". I'll continue calling him a narcissist, cheers.

I don't care if the words are overused. I spent over 18 lonely years feeling like I was alone and like surely it was my fault because no one else I knew had parents who behaved like mine. If more people feel able to throw the word around, maybe children will be able to speak up sooner about the behaviour happening at home. Maybe that's why some people are so keen to ban the words.

I think they should be used appropriately.

YABU. My first husband was 100% a narcissist. If I’d understood narcissism and gaslighting back in my 20s maybe I wouldn’t have wasted 10 years with the prick. As it was, he conditioned me to believe that I was imagining it all.

The problem is people using these terms wrongly. A narcissist has come to mean ‘a bit of an arsehole’. I’ve seen people on here describing any white lie as gaslighting, or even someone having a difference of opinion.

It’s important that we know how to recognise a genuine narcissist, and real gaslighting.

Narcissist is definitely overused.

I remember watching a documentary on them and apparently very very few people are true narcissists. Apparently people can show some narcissistic traits but aren't narcissists - I think that's what's really being confused.

As a family solicitor I couldn’t agree more. Almost every single client who I see in their first appointment ensures they tell me their ex is a narcissist and I think it takes away from those who really really are!

Up to 6% of people are though to suffer from NPD - that is potentially 1 in 20 people. I think actually they're quite hard to spot and often quite popular, unless you've spent 10 years with one and then you realise the patterns. It's the same with ASD IMO, spend 10 years with an autistic child and you can often spot when other kids are probably autistic.

That's just how languages evolve and have always evolved. Trying to stop it is like trying to stop the earth rotating.

It doesn't mean it's a good thing. The words lose their potency.

And they obscure and mislead.