Sickness, wokeness and the limits of language policing

For the last six months I have been as ill as I have ever been. I was exhausted, my muscles ached, and the carpal tunnel syndrome in my fingers was so bad I could barely type.

A few days ago, I had the good news that I did not have a fatal condition, merely an overactive thyroid. The diagnosis had two blessings: first, it can be easily treated (at least…