Another thing I can do if I want to reduce the uncritical acceptance of the second version is to consistently use the first version myself, including when I interpret others (principle of charity, as you suggested), and make this explicit when it seems appropriate.
The set of situations in which I consider modeling my preferred use of language appropriate is much greater than the set of situations in which I consider it appropriate or useful to insist that other people change their language use to conform to it. But on reflection, I’m not sure where that judgment of appropriateness comes from or whether I endorse it.
That aside, I certainly agree that “all men are abusers (when given a chance)” is false for any interpretation of “abuser” and “chance” that doesn’t also make “all humans are abusers (when given a chance)” equally true.
True enough.
Another thing I can do if I want to reduce the uncritical acceptance of the second version is to consistently use the first version myself, including when I interpret others (principle of charity, as you suggested), and make this explicit when it seems appropriate.
The set of situations in which I consider modeling my preferred use of language appropriate is much greater than the set of situations in which I consider it appropriate or useful to insist that other people change their language use to conform to it. But on reflection, I’m not sure where that judgment of appropriateness comes from or whether I endorse it.
That aside, I certainly agree that “all men are abusers (when given a chance)” is false for any interpretation of “abuser” and “chance” that doesn’t also make “all humans are abusers (when given a chance)” equally true.