Nuance Entry 360 / 1011 60-second read

Tone Policing

Attacking the way someone expresses an argument rather than the argument itself.

The comparisoni

✗ Wrong

The police are tone policing the crowd.

✓ Correct

Saying 'I'd listen to your point on racism if you weren't so angry' is tone policing.

The ruleii

TONE POLICING = a distraction tactic.

Often confused with 'asking for politeness.' The difference is using the 'impoliteness' to ignore a valid grievance.

Memory aidiii

Remember it like this

Focusing on the volume, not the words.

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