Social DynamicsDiagnosis
Red Flag
red flagnoun
What it means
A warning sign, identified in others with total clarity and in oneself never.
What it actually means
A dealbreaker I will ignore for six months.
How it is used in a sentence
"He's rude to waiters. That's a red flag."
Filed under
Social Dynamics — The unwritten rules we invented online and now enforce in public without irony.
Diagnosis — The phrase already names a real problem. We define it properly.
How are you coping
Related entries
The Ick
Social Dynamicsthee iknounDiagnosis
A sudden irreversible loss of attraction caused by a detail so small it cannot be defended aloud.
Real meaningHe held the fork wrong and now it is over.
Beige Flag
Social Dynamicsbayzh flagnounDiagnosis
A middling incompatibility, invented because calling it a red flag felt excessive and calling it fine felt dishonest.
Real meaningNot a dealbreaker, but I have told everyone.