Andrew Hyde lives in Boulder, Colorado and travels frequently.

Definition Needed: Bringing Malice to the Conversation

I’ve wanted a word to describe this situation:

A third party brings negativity or malice to words by another party, who means no harm by saying a statement.

or, as Stowe Boyd suggests “bringing a negative tone into a conversation inadvertently“

Example: I have celiacs.  That means any form of gluten will make me really sick.  Barley (which has gluten) is in 99.9% of beers.  Someone says “I want to buy you a beer.”  To me, I can take this a few ways, but most literally, this is like saying “I would like to poison you.”  Most likely, they mean no harm by the gesture.

Perhaps a better example: A mountain is named something, in another language that is a swear word.  Now the council that named the mountain is under attack.

See where I am going? I see it happen with race, religion, gender and the Mac vs. PC debate.  Just wish there was an easy way to describe it.

Someone suggested a play on Jingoism.  Or does something exist?

</end random thought>

Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Posted

in

by

Andrew Hyde

Tags:

, , ,

Comments

8 responses to “Definition Needed: Bringing Malice to the Conversation”

  1. Vikas Avatar
    Vikas

    So you're looking for a word that describes a situation where somebody unintentionally brings malice to a conversation because they use a word or perform an action that has a negative association for the other person, but unknown to them?

  2. Jay Cuthrell Avatar
    Jay Cuthrell

    I've seen the term “ignorism” thrown around in similar kvetches but that might not have the fine point on it you are seeking and at worse it may invite semantic reflection.

    Perhaps you could try these sniglets/neologisms:

    “hellpaver” (road to hellish conversations is paved with…)
    “mal-parataxis” (two things linked or connected that kill or degrade conversation)

  3. Grant Avatar
    Grant

    Hmm, I think I need the clarification Vikas is going after as well. If the person “bringing the malice” does so unknowingly, then it can't be malice since by definition malice is intentional evil/harm. The situation can be uncomfortable for the receiving person, and requiring clarification, but that's up to the other person to set straight – the first time. After that, it could be ignorance or indeed malice, but this time knowingly.

  4. Ryan Wanger Avatar
    Ryan Wanger

    “Ate toe”

    As in: “Last night I ran into Andrew and totally ate toe. Who knew he was a celiac?”

    A combination of putting your foot in your mouth and eating crow.

  5. Kevin Owocki Avatar
    Kevin Owocki

    Isn't this person called a 'curmegedon' already? As in, “Dude, you're curmegedonning up this convo!”

  6. Charlie Avatar
    Charlie

    “I totally ate toe”

    Ryan, that's awesome!

    But there are two distinct roles here. They guy who “unknowingly brought malice” and the receiver, who is the one who brings the negativity — if he decides to take it the wrong way.

  7. Charlie Avatar
    Charlie

    “I totally ate toe”

    Ryan, that's awesome!

    But there are two distinct roles here. They guy who “unknowingly brought malice” and the receiver, who is the one who brings the negativity — if he decides to take it the wrong way.

  8. ANGELO

    CheapTabletsOnline.Com. Canadian Health&Care.No prescription online pharmacy.Best quality drugs.Special Internet Prices. No prescription pills. Buy drugs online…

    Buy:Lumigan.Petcam (Metacam) Oral Suspension.Actos.Accutane.Nexium.Zovirax.Prednisolone.Arimidex.Prevacid.Mega Hoodia.Zyban.100% Pure Okinawan Coral Calcium.Valtrex.Retin-A.Human Growth Hormone.Synthroid….

Leave a Reply