I just came across this topic and decided to offer my view as well :dave:
Words and physical pain obviously hurt in different ways, but I'm with the people that say words cause more lasting damage - obviously there's special cases, but I just mean generally. For me, being punched/kicked is a lot less painful than words.
Although, words hurt depending on what is said or who says them. If anyone calls me the most rude word they can think of, I don't care. Call me a cunt and it doesn't bother me because I know you've just thought of the worst thing you can think of and there's no meaning behind it.
Likewise, if somebody who doesn't know me calls me a bitch, I don't care. They don't know me, how can you judge, etc. Just because you've had a small impression of me or maybe met me once, you can't justify calling me anything.
However, if one of my close friends was arguing with me and they said something like, 'Char you're being such a bitch', it would probably sting. Not much mind, but it'd sting nontheless. Or if one of them made a comment like, 'you're a slag', I'd probably be offended as well, but if someone random said that I wouldn't care either.
The only thing that really bothers me when randomers say things is comments on appearance - if someone random makes a comment on my appearance like, oh her hair's awful, or she's fat (I used to get that, not anymore, I've lost weight. I was never really fat either but people regard anything above a size 8 fat down here, it's infuriating) then it really gets to me because I know randomers are more likely to be honest about your appearance than friends or people you don't get along with - friends obviously are going to tell you you look fine even if you don't.
Worst thing is, I think, is if you get picked on for stuff you can't help. Like in primary school kids don't know better and pick on people for stuff they can't control like if they wear glasses. Even now, I have a friend who is really preoccupied with the size of her chest, and if anyone makes a comment, no matter how jokey, about her being flat-chested, she takes it completely to heart.
I hope that made sense. All in all I think words are a lot more powerful than physical violence.
Tl;dr post
Words and physical pain obviously hurt in different ways, but I'm with the people that say words cause more lasting damage - obviously there's special cases, but I just mean generally. For me, being punched/kicked is a lot less painful than words.
Although, words hurt depending on what is said or who says them. If anyone calls me the most rude word they can think of, I don't care. Call me a cunt and it doesn't bother me because I know you've just thought of the worst thing you can think of and there's no meaning behind it.
Likewise, if somebody who doesn't know me calls me a bitch, I don't care. They don't know me, how can you judge, etc. Just because you've had a small impression of me or maybe met me once, you can't justify calling me anything.
However, if one of my close friends was arguing with me and they said something like, 'Char you're being such a bitch', it would probably sting. Not much mind, but it'd sting nontheless. Or if one of them made a comment like, 'you're a slag', I'd probably be offended as well, but if someone random said that I wouldn't care either.
The only thing that really bothers me when randomers say things is comments on appearance - if someone random makes a comment on my appearance like, oh her hair's awful, or she's fat (I used to get that, not anymore, I've lost weight. I was never really fat either but people regard anything above a size 8 fat down here, it's infuriating) then it really gets to me because I know randomers are more likely to be honest about your appearance than friends or people you don't get along with - friends obviously are going to tell you you look fine even if you don't.
Worst thing is, I think, is if you get picked on for stuff you can't help. Like in primary school kids don't know better and pick on people for stuff they can't control like if they wear glasses. Even now, I have a friend who is really preoccupied with the size of her chest, and if anyone makes a comment, no matter how jokey, about her being flat-chested, she takes it completely to heart.
I hope that made sense. All in all I think words are a lot more powerful than physical violence.
Tl;dr post