Community Corner
How Do You Define These Controversial Words?
Ideology shapes how we interpret language. Share what these words mean to you.

Patch wouldn’t be what it is without its comment threads.
These threads spin off in directions Patch editors never imagined. Users add new information, new opinions, even new issues that go far beyond what the author wrote.
And yet comments can also create confusion and frustration. It’s not just that people have different opinions; it’s that these opinions shape how they use and interpret language. Although dictionaries can help, words carry baggage that’s not mentioned in Merriam-Webster. The end result can be two sides talking past each other.
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That’s why Patch wants to know how you interpret some key vocabulary of these debates. We’ve collected a handful of choice words that pop up in our online discussions regularly. In the comments below, share your thoughts on what they mean and how they get misused. Feel free to note any key words that you think we missed.
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What do these words mean to you?
- Censorship
- Hate Speech
- Insult
- Balanced
- News
- Fact
- Opinion
- Truth
- Faith
- Moral
- Socialist
- Fascist
- Conservative
- Liberal
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