Words are hypnotic and can be used for both good and evil.
Some of the most heavily abused words that are used to manipulate people are "we", "they", "your", and "our".
I call these "collective-speak" as they are used to subtly "rope you in" to another's agenda.
When I hear or read these words I immediately challenge the assumption reject them 99% of the time.
Look out for these and, when you come across them, ask, "Is someone trying to manipulate me?"; "Do I accept the underlying presumption?"
Some common examples are, "pay YOUR taxes" and "support OUR troops". Which have you come across?
“Thank you for YOUR service”
This one particularly grated on me because when I ‘served’ I was 17 years old and only joined the military because I barely escaped high school with no idea what else to do. My ‘service’ was completely self-service as was the ‘service’ of 90% of the people I ‘served’ with. There was no altruistism invlolved and this obligatory expression of thanks distorts the actual motives of our state sponsored mercenary forces. Even with the increased focus on ‘service’ and ‘patriotism’ in recent decades I’m sure the majority of ‘servicemembers’ are there because they need a job and know they’ll have their basic needs addressed on base.
