Hyphenated rhetoric renders speakers immune and susceptible simultaneously
Evidence
The effect is again a magical and hypnotic one—the projection of images which convey irresistible unity, harmony of contradictions. Thus the loved and feared Father, the spender of life, generates the H-bomb for the annihilation of life; “science-military” joins the efforts to reduce anxiety and suffering with the job of creating anxiety and suffering. Or, without the hyphen, the Freedom Academy of cold war specialists, and the “clean bomb”—attributing to destruction moral and physical integrity. People who speak and accept such language seem to be immune to everything—and susceptible to everything. — Herbert Marcuse, One-Dimensional Man, 397
Categorization
- CANDY: ‘The loved and feared Father generates the H-bomb for the annihilation of life’ is a striking compressed observation.
- XREF: connects to: Euphemisms numb conscience while convoluted language obscures harm; Audiences can decode the same message in a globally contrary or oppositional way