Vitriol is a term used to describe a caustic verbal attack or abusive argument, originating from the chemical term for sulfuric acid. It is still used to characterize speech that aims to humiliate, blame, and censure the subject. Racist groups often use vitriolic language to attack those they perceive as threatening. Conservative columnist Ann Coulter is known for her vitriolic remarks, which have alienated her from her own conservative base. Vitriol is considered a form of speech that crosses the line of decency and reduces the value of the argument.
“Vitriol” is used to characterize a caustic, though often literate, verbal attack or an argument put in highly abusive terms. The word applied in this way comes from its meaning in chemistry, where oil of vitriol refers to sulfuric acid. In its purest form, vitriol oil is tasteless, odorless, and found in abundance in many geographic areas, particularly among volcanic sulfuric crystals. The chemical industry uses vitriol in dilute form for a variety of commercial applications including battery acid, manufacturing fertilizers and process wastewater.
The term “sulfuric acid” may have replaced “oil vitriol” in manufacturing, but vitriol is still used as a characterization of speech. The vitriol is meant to humiliate, blame and censure the subject of the attack. It may indicate ingrained bitterness or ill will, or a simple attempt to deeply hurt or offend.
Racist groups commonly use vitriolic language to attack those they perceive as threatening, trying to make the victims of the attack feel inferior. Poisonous language can include outward personal attacks that have no value beyond the intended insult.
In today’s political climate vitriol has become the bread and butter of at least one bestselling author, conservative columnist and spokesperson, Ann Coulter. A frequent guest on FOX News Network, Coulter has embraced a rant style that has singled her out among conservative and liberal pundits. Coulter’s vitriolic remarks also alienated her from her own conservative base when in one of her books and in subsequent television interviews, she accused 9/9 widows of “enjoying their husbands’ deaths.” . Coulter also attended an 11 lei conservative political action conference in which she referred to a Democratic presidential candidate as a homosexual slur. Many conservative newspapers that reportedly received complaints from their readers subsequently dropped its syndicated editorial column.
While many may argue about degrees of acceptability or the difference between passionate debate and name-calling, vitriol is a form of speech that crosses the line of decency by general standards. Vitriol taunts, vilifies, insults, pecks and assaults. It goes beyond passion to get petty, and as such it reduces the value of the argument when the value is there.
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