BLUDGEONSPEAK.

Six weeks ago we noted that self-styled progressives were so used to scolding and shaming people that they would often dispense with making an argument.  Eric S. Raymond now describes that conduct as bludgeonspeak.

Bludgeonspeak is the use of invented terminology, or historical terminology that has been hijacked and corrupted, and then emptied of all meaning except as an attempt at moral blackmail.

Here are some notable bludgeonspeak items in 2025: "racist", "fascist", "homophobe", "transphobe", "islamophobe", "far-right". Also, the term "genocide" might not be quite there yet, but it's being pushed in that direction pretty hard.

At ¡No Pasarán!, a site popular with the Militant Normals of Pajamas Media, comes advice on how best to deal with bludgeonspeak.  Be like Maggie Thatcher.  "I always cheer up immensely if an attack is particularly wounding because I think, well, if they attack one personally, it means they have not a single political argument left."  Which means the imagined -isms and phony -phobias get the respect they deserve, which is none-a-tall.

You don't hate women, you miserable misogynist, do you? Correct? Not anymore than you're frightened of gays, you wretched homophobe, are you? Or of Muslims, you wicked Islamophobe? You just don't want to be shamed endlessly in order to be silenced when those groups' wishes are used to become the epitome of national (or local) policy. All the while having those allegedly oppressed victims and martyrs, along with the country's politicians, believe the worst of you.

Put another way, refuse to be shamed because someone accuses you of committing a meaningless sæcular sin.