• pntha@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    idk if this needs to be said but the term ‘Gaslighting’ is the denominalisation of the 1944 film ‘Gaslight’, and doesn’t relate to the 19th century profession. one plot point in the film, the protagonist notices the gaslights in her house flickering, which her husband assures her is all in her mind.

    • BCsven@lemmy.ca
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      2 days ago

      I think It needs to be said, and explained: that in that film the husband systematically erodes his wife’s grip on reality by purposely messing with her (adjusting lights, etc, which is the actual term for Gas lighting in psychology now when a person has been driven to question their grip on realiry. Not the new trend where everyone is thinking gaslighting is when you have a day off and boss says “oh don’t take the day off, stay with the team we are family.” That is just manipulation attempt, since you aren’t challenging their reality. Psychologists have mentioned that using gas lighting for every perceived contradiction erodes the term for people whom have actally gone through real gaslighting.

      • TheSlad@sh.itjust.works
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        2 days ago

        My ex would bitch at me and start shit, then accuse me of gaslighting her if i tried to de-escalate or defend myself.

        Good riddance. I hate when people use the term for trivial shit now.

  • Aux@feddit.uk
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    2 days ago

    Well, to be fair, modern lamplighters in London are not low skilled employees, they’re highly skilled and well paid engineers. So it did work out quite well for them