If somebody's anxiety prevents them from connecting to the article because the author refers to themselves as "a baby" instead of "like a baby", that person may benefit from talk therapy.
If somebody is getting hung up on something as nit-picky as that, they're not going to see the forest for the trees in an article like this.
Ironically, playing nit-picky semantics games like this is the kind of avoidant attitude that lead people astray from personal growth.
* someone reacting strongly to this slight difference is "acting like a baby", at least colloquially, but I'm not sure if it meets the author's definition of "active".
* the author using the term "acting like a baby" might get through to people who are sensitive to the difference
I guess it is polite discourse these days to distance a person's actions from some intangible person-ness, but it feels very mushy.
I think what you're saying is that you should be careful telling someone that they 'are a baby' or 'are dumb', because they might believe you.
I would also be careful of telling someone they are 'acting like a baby' or 'acting dumb', because most people won't appreciate the semantic difference.
In the context of this article, though, I'm not too bothered since the article is about how one can change their baby-like habits. But it is always a good reminder.
Are you acting obnoxious or are you obnoxious?
> “It was a long day, we were playing live, and he was really calm and patient with me. He helped me to make sure that I told the story the right way. Less was more for him. I’m dramatic, so I have the urge to go over the top.
> “I was taking liberties, and he didn’t like that. He had to make a long walk from the control room to come down and put me right a few times.” When Bublé sang the line “I’m waiting on a sign”, McCartney called a halt and arrived in the booth.
> “Can you explain to me what you’re waiting on?” he asked. “Yes. I’m waiting on a sign,” trilled Bublé enthusiastically. “So are you actually on the sign, waiting?” asked McCartney, “or are you waiting for a sign?”
> Recounting the tale, Bublé hangs his head like a defeated schoolboy. “I’m waiting for a sign, Sir Paul.” He laughs. Bublé’s revived love for his craft is endearing.
[0] https://web.archive.org/web/20220404134753/https://www.teleg...
Get over it, walrus.
“Are you being a baby?” - Are you temporarily being a bit of a baby, like, at the moment? Could you maybe be a teeny bit braver to get through this current bit of anxiety you're feeling, and then we'll worry about the next bit tomorrow eh?
“Are you a baby?” - Is it possible you have always been a baby? Is it time to grow up, ie, make a real, permanent change to how you think? To start taking responsibility for managing your own emotional responses to the all the inevitable sources of potential anxiety that life will continue to throw at you forever? To break the cycle of weak/passive/burdensome social behaviour once and for all?