People who conflate words with violence deny this crucial fact: the ability of words to cause harm depends on the target’s psychological reaction. If you are verbally attacked, or if your feelings are hurt by a wanton remark, then your psychological resilience may mitigate the harm done to you. By contrast, if a careening fist, a thrusting knife, or a ripping bullet hits you, it harms you, no matter how you feel about being punched, stabbed, or shot.