The nine rules of "Freddish": the positive, inclusive empathic language of Mr Rogers

I think that’s kina the idea of “giraffe language”. I don’t know much about it though. It’s supposed to be about learning to avoid language patterns that implicitly control, threaten, marginalise and so on (like “you never take out the trash” instead of “sometimes I wish you had taken out the trash”).

I imagine this kind of mindfulness about language could be helpful for people who want to work together better, but it can’t help with those who intend to control and threaten and marginalise. I mean, the Sermon on the Mount is supposed to be the foundation of Christianity, but not one of its admirable sentiments is much help to the person being disemboweled by a crusader.

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