In social and political discourse, all sides are likely to use identical or similar labels to devalue each other. Sadly, words that highlight serious social issues, such as racist and misogynist, are now widely used as slurs. They’re judgments, if not accusations, about other people’s attitudes or behavior, which is why they usually elicit counter judgments and accusations. Expressing feelings can bring us closer together; negative judgments masquerading as feelings drive us further apart. I now believe this faulty scholarship was a product of confirmation bias rather than sloppiness, narcissism, or dishonesty.