by (Name Withheld by Request)
“Toxicity” and “toxic” are overused words in contemporary parlance. When not employed for literal purposes
(e.g., “This snake’s venom is highly toxic”), such phraseology is often, to
some degree, manipulative and dishonest, since it tells rather than shows. (e.g.,“So-and-so’s
misogyny is positively toxic,” which translates to YOU MUST HATE SO-AND-SO BECAUSE
I DECLARE HIM BEYOND THE PALE AND HOW DARE YOU THINK IT MIGHT BE OTHERWISE; YOU
HORRENDOUSLY AHBORRENT TOXIC MONSTER FULL OF TOXIC TOXICITY!!!)
Nevertheless, I think that one may well declare the current state of discourse “toxic,” given that at least one major media publication told its readership that it was in fact incumbent upon all right-thinking,non-deplorable people to be openly rude, hostile and obstreperous on Thanksgiving (i.e., a holiday ostensibly intended to promote love and togetherness) to relatives who voted for Trump (i.e., roughly half the country). Nor were such-- well, toxic—suggestions made in a cultural vacuum.
Nevertheless, I think that one may well declare the current state of discourse “toxic,” given that at least one major media publication told its readership that it was in fact incumbent upon all right-thinking,non-deplorable people to be openly rude, hostile and obstreperous on Thanksgiving (i.e., a holiday ostensibly intended to promote love and togetherness) to relatives who voted for Trump (i.e., roughly half the country). Nor were such-- well, toxic—suggestions made in a cultural vacuum.
