A look at life, death and humanity. 

Detected Manipulations & Suggested Changes

Appeal to emotion

Using emotionally charged stories and language to influence readers’ feelings and attitudes rather than presenting balanced analysis or evidence.

1) "The iconic beauty and humanitarian was shown walking down a narrow path in a minefield..." – The description of Princess Diana as an "iconic beauty and humanitarian" and the vivid minefield imagery are designed to evoke admiration and emotional resonance rather than neutrally describe the context. 2) "Less than 5cm underground, landmines and unexploded ordnance lie waiting to be thrown up by a plough, or to be stepped on by a child. Sometimes the verdict is instant death, sometimes a maimed eternity." – The phrasing "maimed eternity" and the image of a child stepping on a mine are highly emotive and dramatized. 3) "I hope that you will find the article deeply touching, as it did for me, dear reader. And let that feeling inspire us to shun violence in all forms and in all spaces." – The editor explicitly asks the reader to be emotionally moved and to let that feeling drive a normative conclusion (shunning violence), without presenting any nuanced discussion of complexities. 4) "One cannot read the article without weeping." – This is a strong emotional assertion about the reader’s likely reaction, rather than a neutral description of the content. 5) "As a father of three and grandfather of five, I cannot even bear to imagine being in the shoes of Nirmala and Ashok Rana. The heaviest burden that life can impose on a parent is to make him watch his child suffer." – The personal identification and superlative claim about "the heaviest burden" are meant to intensify emotional engagement. 6) "That is a serene space to be in, I must say. And, on that note, let me wish you a blessed 2026, filled with happy days and good health." – The closing reinforces a warm, sentimental tone, steering the reader’s emotional state rather than offering critical reflection.

4 suggestions

Replace highly emotive phrases with more neutral descriptions. For example, change "Sometimes the verdict is instant death, sometimes a maimed eternity" to "These devices can cause immediate death or long-term, severe injuries, including permanent disability."

Avoid prescriptive emotional expectations such as "One cannot read the article without weeping"; instead, use neutral framing like "Many readers may find the article emotionally challenging."

When drawing normative conclusions (e.g., "let that feeling inspire us to shun violence"), separate emotional appeal from argument by briefly acknowledging complexities or alternative views, such as the contexts in which societies debate the use of force.

Reduce personal emotional positioning ("As a father of three and grandfather of five, I cannot even bear to imagine...") or clearly label it as a subjective reflection, e.g., "From my personal perspective as a parent and grandparent, I find it difficult to imagine..."

Biased language

Use of value-laden or evaluative terms that implicitly endorse certain views or moral judgments without presenting them as subjective.

1) "The iconic beauty and humanitarian" – The terms "iconic" and "humanitarian" are evaluative and admiring, presenting a positive judgment of Princess Diana as fact rather than as a widely held perception. 2) "I hope that you will find the article deeply touching" – The phrase "deeply touching" presupposes a particular emotional and evaluative response. 3) "One cannot read the article without weeping" – This is an absolute, universalizing claim about the emotional impact, implying that any other reaction would be abnormal. 4) "The heaviest burden that life can impose on a parent is to make him watch his child suffer." – This is a strong, generalized value judgment about suffering and parenthood, presented as a universal truth rather than a personal view. 5) "That is a serene space to be in, I must say." – The description of the Kessler twins’ outlook as "serene" is an evaluative characterization that subtly endorses their stance.

4 suggestions

Qualify evaluative terms to make clear they are opinions or widely held views, e.g., "often regarded as an iconic figure and humanitarian" instead of "The iconic beauty and humanitarian."

Replace universalizing emotional claims like "One cannot read the article without weeping" with more measured language such as "Many readers may find the article deeply moving."

Reframe strong value judgments as personal reflections: change "The heaviest burden that life can impose on a parent" to "For many parents, one of the heaviest burdens in life is..."

When describing the Kessler twins’ outlook, use neutral phrasing such as "They described their life as peaceful and blissful" and omit or qualify the editor’s own evaluative comment.

Oversimplification

Presenting complex ethical or social issues in a simplified way that glosses over important nuances or alternative perspectives.

1) "And let that feeling inspire us to shun violence in all forms and in all spaces." – This statement moves from the emotional impact of landmine stories to a broad, absolute prescription to "shun violence in all forms and in all spaces." It does not acknowledge complex debates about self-defense, law enforcement, or just war theory, thereby simplifying a multifaceted ethical issue. 2) The description of the Harish Rana case: "Harish's parents have begged the court to let their son die... 'Par aisi zindagi ka kya fayda (But what is the point of such a life)?'" followed by the editor’s reflection. The framing emphasizes the parents’ plea and suffering but does not mention any legal, ethical, or medical counterarguments or the broader debate on euthanasia and end-of-life decisions. This can give the impression that the parents’ view is the only or obviously correct perspective. 3) The Kessler twins’ decision to die by their own hand is presented with emphasis on their serenity and life choices, but without any mention of the ethical, legal, or psychological complexities surrounding assisted suicide or self-chosen death in old age.

4 suggestions

Qualify absolute prescriptions like "shun violence in all forms and in all spaces" by acknowledging complexity, e.g., "These stories may inspire us to question and reduce the use of violence wherever possible, even as societies continue to debate its role in self-defense and security."

In the Harish Rana case, briefly note that there are differing views and legal considerations, such as: "The case raises difficult questions about autonomy, quality of life, and the legal limits of end-of-life decisions, which courts and ethicists continue to debate."

When mentioning the Kessler twins’ decision, add a neutral sentence indicating that such choices are part of broader societal discussions: "Their decision also touches on ongoing debates about assisted dying, autonomy in old age, and the support available to elderly individuals."

Clarify that the article is an editorial reflection rather than a comprehensive analysis, e.g., "This note does not attempt to resolve these debates but reflects on the human stories behind them."

Unsubstantiated claims

Statements presented as fact or near-fact without evidence or clear attribution, especially when they concern readers’ reactions or universal conditions.

1) "One cannot read the article without weeping." – This is a strong, universal claim about the emotional impact of the article, offered without any evidence or qualification. 2) "The heaviest burden that life can impose on a parent is to make him watch his child suffer." – This is presented as a general truth about parenthood, but it is a subjective assertion and not supported by data or framed as opinion. 3) "That is a serene space to be in, I must say." – While milder, this still asserts a particular interpretation of the Kessler twins’ mental state as fact, based on limited quoted material.

3 suggestions

Recast universal claims about emotional reactions as subjective or probabilistic, e.g., "I found the article deeply moving, and many readers may have a similar reaction" instead of "One cannot read the article without weeping."

Frame broad statements about burdens and suffering as personal reflections: "In my view, one of the heaviest burdens a parent can face is..."

When interpreting others’ mental states (e.g., the Kessler twins), attribute the interpretation clearly: "Their words suggest a sense of serenity" rather than "That is a serene space to be in."

Confirmation bias / Narrative fallacy (mild)

Selecting and arranging anecdotes that fit a particular emotional or moral narrative, potentially reinforcing a preferred worldview without acknowledging counterexamples or complexity.

The editorial note strings together several stories—Princess Diana in a minefield, landmines in Sri Lanka, the Great Dying in Guryul ravine, the Harish Rana euthanasia case, and the Kessler twins’ chosen death—to support a broad, reflective narrative about life, death, suffering, and the desire for control or dignity. The selection and framing of these stories all point in a similar emotional direction: the horror of violence, the tragedy of prolonged suffering, and the appeal of serene or chosen endings. There is no mention of stories that might complicate this narrative (e.g., people who find meaning in severe disability, families who oppose euthanasia, or debates about the moral status of self-chosen death), which can subtly reinforce a single interpretive frame.

3 suggestions

Explicitly acknowledge that the chosen stories represent one set of experiences and that others may have different perspectives, e.g., "While these stories highlight certain ways people confront suffering and mortality, many others find meaning in continuing life despite severe disability or oppose assisted dying on ethical or religious grounds."

Clarify that the editorial is offering a personal or thematic reflection rather than a comprehensive account: "This note brings together a few stories that resonated with me personally; they do not capture the full range of views on these complex issues."

Where space allows, briefly mention the existence of alternative experiences or viewpoints to signal awareness of a broader landscape of perspectives.