Can we talk about how everyone overuses 'gaslighting' now?

My roommate told me I was gaslighting her because I said she left the milk out, and I realized people just throw that word at any disagreement. I heard a cashier at Target say her manager gaslit her over a schedule change, made me wonder when we lost the real meaning.

3 comments

3 Comments

diana2023d ago

I read somewhere that actual gaslighting involves a pattern of making someone question their own reality, not just having a disagreement. People heard a cool psychology term and now use it for any conflict. Makes it harder to call out the real thing when it happens.

willow11423d ago

@diana20 that whole "makes it harder to call out the real thing" part hits so true, it's like every little disagreement now gets a label instead of just being a normal argument.

hannahk1923d ago

Man that cashier story really gets me. The word has lost all its weight because people throw it around like confetti. Had a friend tell me I was gaslighting them because I forgot they said they wanted Thai food not pizza. Like no, I just have a bad memory sometimes. It's really frustrating when you can't even have a normal disagreement without someone pulling out the therapy speak. Makes you feel like you're walking on eggshells just trying to talk to people.