Stay with me here: Pretend, for a minute, that each word you say is a magic spell, and that the events that follow whatever you say are direct effects of your words. A basic example might be, "I would like a cheeseburger," followed by some actor bringing you a cheeseburger. It's not quite unicorn-level magic, but it's still pretty neat; lungs, lips, tongue, and teeth (and some money) function together to make a desire a reality.
It's Magic!! Or refraction. Or reflection. Or whatever the hell we learned in fourth grade.If I took this premise seriously, that words directly affect reality, I would certainly be more mindful of my speech. I would need to root through my vocabulary and decide which words should be used and which should not. Words like "sea monster" and "USB cable" are probably innocuous. I've only met one person who could summon sea monsters at will and he died a rather horrifying (and poetic) death. The people that use "USB cable" don't have friends and need not be discussed.
Click to read more ...