Jan 3, 2022
English language
Gaslighting
A term I had heard a thousand times, but…
Based on the context I had heard it used, I thought it just meant to mislead someone. But lately, I learned about the word’s origins and found out it means something much more sinister than “to deceive.”
It seems that the term is derived from a 1944 film titled Gaslight, which is a story about a man who tries to trick his wife into thinking she has a mental health condition in order to steal her wealth.
Today, “Gaslighting” refers to a form of manipulation of a target by a toxic individual to the point that the target starts to question their own judgment and sense of reality. Eventually, a gaslighting victim starts to doubt their very sanity.
Though the term has been around for quite some time, it has only recently become fashionable to use “gaslighting” to describe the actions of unscrupulous people in positions of power who are using every means at their disposal to manufacture consent.
Politicians who insist that things are fine when they obviously are not (or vice versa).
Agenda-driven news sources that tailor reports to suit their narrative.
Nations that deny wrongdoing despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
A Big Brother telling you that war is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.
So, get educated. Stay informed. And by all means, refuse to be gaslit!
