Inflicting help
“Inflicting help” is the curious human habit of dressing up domination, control, or self-interest in the language of benevolence. It describes well-intentioned or performative actions imposed on others—often without their consent, awareness, or any genuine benefit to them. The giver feels virtuous; the receiver is often disempowered, silenced, or even harmed. The word help suggests care and generosity, but when prefixed with inflicted, it carries the unmistakable sting of condescension and coercion. ...