The article discusses the evolution of the term 'self-entitled', which originally denoted a negative personality trait characterized by a sense of superiority and lack of consensus. This notion has since been truncated to 'entitled', which can also simply refer to legitimate rights recognized by social agreements. The author contrasts the negative implications of 'self-entitlement' with the neutrality of legitimate entitlements, emphasizing the importance of context in understanding these terms and their societal impact.
"It's because the original term for the negative personality trait was 'self-entitled,' i.e., declaring an entitlement for yourself with no one else's agreement or input. This is a person who feels they're more important than everyone else, even in the face of all evidence to the contrary. Then the phrase got truncated, but the negative connotation stuck."
"Being simply entitled just means you have the right to something. I'm entitled to live in my house and drive my truck, because I have made a socially sanctioned agreement with others stating that fact. I'm entitled to vote and entitled to freedom of political speech."
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