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verbs - Connotation of "appease"



Is "Bob did what he could in his capability to appease them" a positive or negative comment about Bob?



Answer



One person seeks to appease another if the latter has some need and the power to satisfy that need at the former's expense. By appeasing the latter, i.e. satisfying their need, the former can avoid the latter's self-serving behavior and the expense it levies against the former.


Appeasement is often considered the "easy way out" as it's typically quicker, cheaper, and less risky than more aggressive solutions to conflict. This depicts the appeaser as weak, lazy, and/or fearful. Furthermore, when an oppressor dominates a group, a member of the group who appeases the oppressor might even be considered traitorous, as appeasement facilitates (or at least does nothing to resist) the oppressor's actions against the group as a whole and can even be construed as declaration of alliance with the oppressor.


There is nothing positive about appeasement in any scenario, as its very nature implies submission to a destructively dominant and self-interested power. The given phrase, "Bob did what he could ... to appease them," implies (doubly) that Bob is unable to overcome an oppressive force. It suggests Bob is weak, and that he is in a poor position. The situation might not be "serious" (e.g. if "them" refers to his grumpy children), but this phrase certainly does not paint Bob in a positive light.


Edit: I'm referring to literal positivity and negativity. If you're asking whether or not Bob should be insulted to be spoken of in this way... I'd say not. "You're such an appeaser" is a pretty weak insult, IMO.


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