There`s this ancient saying, either forgotten or purposely ignored...
Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me.
It seems neither sticks nor stones really matter any longer. What matters is words. For some weird reason, people have been getting more and more hysterical about words. It`s no longer even funny, the way uttering a wrong word is considered a crime worse than mugging. How much longer till it`s a crime worse than murder, I wonder...
I`m starting to believe the overly sensitive to harmless words should be brought back to their senses by applying real sticks and real stones, apparently the only medication effective enough. Without saying anything during the manipulation treatment, so that the patients may not feel hurt.
Because, as things go, we are very likely to reach the stage of total muteness soon. I`m afraid that`s no longer Science Fiction, either.