For me it has been the amazing fluidity of people's working definitions of terms like socialism. They can change halfway through an argument without people even noticing. It's extremely frustrating to be arguing samantics when you're trying to make an actual point.
The absolute worst though is when you carefully avoid mentioning socialism, explain a bunch of things people agree with and actually want, then they decide they might want to call the thing you're describing socialism, then suddenly all the things you just said are inextricably linked with secret police, famine, and gulags.
For me it has been the amazing fluidity of people's working definitions of terms like socialism. They can change halfway through an argument without people even noticing. It's extremely frustrating to be arguing samantics when you're trying to make an actual point.
Yeah in the Western sphere to most people it means social democracy and that's not a good thing
And it gets worse when it changes to meaning gulag all political dissidents before you have formulated your answer
Yeah this is the big one for me.
The absolute worst though is when you carefully avoid mentioning socialism, explain a bunch of things people agree with and actually want, then they decide they might want to call the thing you're describing socialism, then suddenly all the things you just said are inextricably linked with secret police, famine, and gulags.
deleted by creator
I really feel this one. It's an "arguing with your relatives at thanksgiving" classic.