One like the above is “I was only trying to make you think”. Two others that would need separate discussion are “political correctness”, and “I am not someone who is in thrall to the prevailing reality distortion field”.
Now I’m curious why you’re against the phrase “political correctness”, which I like. As Paul Graham put it,
You can attack labels with meta-labels: labels that refer to the use of labels to prevent discussion. The spread of the term “political correctness” meant the beginning of the end of political correctness, because it enabled one to attack the phenomenon as a whole without being accused of any of the specific heresies it sought to suppress.
I am compiling a list of phrases never to use; that’s one of them.
I would love to know what else is on your list.
One like the above is “I was only trying to make you think”. Two others that would need separate discussion are “political correctness”, and “I am not someone who is in thrall to the prevailing reality distortion field”.
Now I’m curious why you’re against the phrase “political correctness”, which I like. As Paul Graham put it,
Going up to the meta-level is often itself a way of preventing discussion.
That one might need a post of its own...
If you ever feel like making it, I’d be interested. Short summary?