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Comment by paulsutter | Hacker News Reader

In which we learn that forgiveness is a suitcase word (prone to useless debate as each party uses a different definition)

https://alexvermeer.com/unpacking-suitcase-words/

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Aren't those the only words that matter?

Anything else, that everybody is clear and agrees on, might as well not be discussed at all...

The category doesn't necessarily imply any value judgement by itself, at least as discussed in that article.

The activity of unpacking those words is important, because in the process you get to an actual debate and not just people talking past each other. Once you do it everyone involved realizes that they mostly agree anyway, that they actually disagree on something fundamental, or that some people are intentionally clouding the argument to try to make a dishonest point.

If definitions are clear and everyone agrees on them, then discussion can be about whether those definitions apply. Discussion is then about the real world. The definition of murder is pretty clear and widely agreed on; there is plenty of room for discussion about whether it was Smith or Jones who committed it.

If definitions are unclear or people disagree on them, then discussion may either be about the definitions and not about the real world, or be incoherent.

The real problem is when you and another person have a different working definition of something "everyone is clear and agrees on" and make plans or agreements around the assumption of shared definition. The way you will find out will not be fun.

I've unfortunately run into this concept many times firsthand, but thank you for finally giving me a term for it! Hopefully naming it will make it easier to talk about. As long as we can keep "suitcase word" to a single definition, of course.

I never knew the term before! Thank you. I've heard it applied to love, for women it often means it willingness of others to sacrifice for them, and for men it's dedication, at least in heterosexual relationships in the West. I've found these expectations truthful in my life. Had no idea it was a class of words.

Sorry to hijack your answer here. But you pointed me to the pmohackbook, I read it, and it is helping me a lot. Thanks so much. (Couldn’t reply to older thread)

I'm very happy to hear it! It helped me a lot too!

I would join others here in saying this is a useful concept. I wonder, though, if you were to drop it in conversation that anyone would know what you mean or if it would just disorient them and demand explanation.

this is the most philosophically abject concept I came across in a while ...

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