It's difficult to clearly convey most ideas with any single word. And while "spoiled" may not be the word I would have thought to use, someone used it...and I can't say I really disagree. And since a couple people got weirdly defensive about it, I couldn't not stick with the existing theme.
Being serious for a moment, I
think the "spoiled" remark was, or should have been, made with the relative degrees of spoiledness... spoileditude... chronic brat-itis... whatever... in mind.
...as well as, among other things, the whiny and petulant behavior of a disgraceful number of people nationwide when they don't get their way or have to do some minor something they don't want to do
during a crisis situation.
I honestly don't remember what it was in response to specifically, so I may just be projecting my thoughts onto someone else's words. Either way.
From where I sit, having actually read almost none of this exchange, the issues seem to be
- As you've said, people's definition/understanding of the word, and whatever additional meaning they assign to it.
- People not understanding/acknowledging the fact that there are levels and degrees to everything, including being spoiled. i.e., He's spoiled. She's spoiled. That doesn't mean, or even imply, one is as spoiled as the other, That's a harder concept than it oughta be for far more people than it should be. Some shit should go without saying. But...ya know. Humans being.
- A couple/few people getting needlessly offended/defensive; behavior that could be viewed by some as validating the assertion.
- And, yeah. Accurate or not, the choice of words could have been better. You've been here long enough, though. You know how we do.
My personal opinion: If being called spoiled is all it takes to upset someone, the word may in fact apply. Even if it doesn't apply at all, taking offense to such trivialities gives the impression that said individual is either accustomed to being handled with kid gloves (spoiled), or has deeper issues that cause them to view any sort of mild criticism as a personal attack.
Call it being a snowflake, soft, fragile, thin skinned, hypersensitive, narcissistic, or being so indoctrinated into this moronic country's increasingly tribal "us vs them" mentality, even minor criticism or an unflattering observation is seen as an attack. However one chooses describe it, it's not a good look. Frankly, it's pitiful.
For
@Sleet: It ain't about being "manly men" or "tough guys" or whatever your new goofy catch phrase is. There's a broad spectrum between trying to act hard and being more sensitive than a sunburnt clitoris. It should be easy for people to not veer into either ditch. But...spoiled is as spoiled does, I reckon.