One-sided for Dummies

One-sided is a word that we often use to describe something that is not balanced or fair, like when you and your friend are playing a game and one of you is winning all the time. It means that something is only happening or only being seen from one perspective, without considering or giving equal importance to other perspectives or viewpoints.

So, imagine you and your friend are playing a game of soccer but only one team is allowed to score goals. That would be a one-sided game because the other team doesn't have a chance to win or even participate. It would be like all the attention and advantages are given to one side, while the other side is left out and disadvantaged.

In a similar way, when we talk about a one-sided argument or conversation, it means that only one person is expressing their opinion or point of view without giving the other person a chance to share their thoughts or ideas. It's like having a discussion where only one person is talking and nobody else gets to say anything. This can make the conversation feel unfair and unbalanced because it doesn't consider the thoughts or feelings of everyone involved.

Now, let's explore another way we can understand the meaning of "one-sided." Think about a coin, like a penny or a dime. When we say that a coin is one-sided, it means that it only has a picture or design on one side, while the other side is blank or just has some writing on it. This illustrates the concept of imbalance, where one side is emphasized or stands out more than the other side.

In summary, "one-sided" means that something is unbalanced, unfair, or biased towards one perspective or viewpoint. It can refer to situations where one person or group has all the advantages or dominates a conversation without considering others' opinions. Additionally, it can be used to describe something that has a clear emphasis on one side, like a coin with a design on only one side.