“Hysteria” / “hysterical”

[CruCru]

I’ve seen quite a few posts (on Site Stuff and elsewhere) where posters are described as being “hysterical” or are in the grips of “hysteria” (not in the context of being really funny). I think this sort of language belongs in the past - it is used to silence women. It isn’t used to describe men’s language or opinions.

I would like to propose that posts describing others as “hysterical” be reported for deletion (much in the way that posts describing others as “moronic” are).

YABH

Language evolves. Otherwise we would all be writing like Chaucer.

For the vast majority of people, hysteria means excessive panic or emotion and is not specifically related to women.

This is one of the daftest things I've read all week.

I used the word hysterical in a post the other day but it wasn't me saying it about someone else, it was about what I think a GP thinks of me. Obviously if it's being used in a bullying way then yes delete the posts but ones like mine shouldn't be

Ffs

If you have time on your hands op Google historic treatment of so called hysteria.. Quite an eye opener..

I think histrionic personality disorder has been normalised by “Camp” humour. And histrionic responses are often not recognised as such nowadays, there is tremendous fear of under responding to excessive responses in case one is accused of ‘ minimising’ and of course it is utterly taboo to ever mention that anyone might be ‘ maximising’.

I agree with you OP. I’ve seen it used this week by posters knowing exactly what they’re saying. Those that don’t know the origins or connotations of the word, that’s on them.

Language does evolve and in evolving offensive words should be seen as such.

I like the word hysterical. It is sometimes apt. Word police, not so much.

I agree the word hysterical belongs in the bin.

But is it not just covered under the 'personal insult' header?

Of course it's used about women not men. There are tons of sexist insults used against women not men.
http://sacraparental.com/2016/05/14/everyday-misogyny-122-subtly-sexist-words-women/

Yours is one of the silliest posts I've seen all week.

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/heathrow-airport-hazardous-materials-scare-b1246655.html

Here is an example where it was used in a newspaper headline to describe mass panic not so long ago. Not targeting women.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr41v6gwzr2o

"Varley was "hysterical" and blaming himself for what had happened, but this was all a "cover-up" act, Wright said."

Nah. There's way too much language policing these days. Does anyone have any evidence that all this performative sensitivity about words actually does anything to improve attitudes? Especially in cases like this, where the word is most often used without its misogynist overtones, eg "My toddler was hysterical because I cut up his pear." In cases where it was being used to express misogyny, it would be the whole communication rather than the word that would be objectionable

I often see people trying to wrench us towards a superseded/marginal sense of a word or phrase just in order to police it. It makes about as much sense as breathing covid germs about the place in order to establish the necessity of mask wearing. Getting bored with it now.

“Frothing” needs to get in the bin too

But I like frothing my milk

Hysterical is a good word sometimes its appropriate its not going in my room 101. But I would put toffee in there when someone sits right next to you chewing a toffee I get really strong homicidal thoughts

You’re being hysterical

😮😂

Can’t get myself too worked up about it. My mum used it a lot and she aimed it at me, my sister, my brother and occasionally my dad. Complete equal opportunities usage. She pronounced it high-sterical. ‘No need to get high-sterical!’ We used to laugh at her pronunciation and then she would forget to be pissed off and start laughing too.

Sorry OP but this is not the 1950s anymore.

The word hysterical really IS used towards both men and women and has been for decades.

What about “mass hysteria”? That doesn’t mean only women.