A reader was confused by the ‘gaslighting’ reference in our recent DateGirl

A reader was confused by the ‘gaslighting’ reference in our recent DateGirl column “Nice One”. Since the 1940’s, the phrase has referred to presenting false information as truth to throw someone off and make them question their reality. In two 1940’s movies A husband convinces his dubious wife that she is imagining the gas lights in the house dimming when in fact the mindfucking husband is using extra lights up in the attic stealing her family jewels. Remember this when you’re on a dinner date they dim the lights to make the room more romantic. If your date brings it up (and you’re feeling rather evil), there’s your perfect chance to try your hand at gaslighting. The term was completely lost on commenter E T who thought this reference was a new interpretation of adolescent antics, thus earning our Comment of the Day: Wow. Feeling old. Back in the day, “gaslighting” meant lighting your farts to impress your drunken junior and senior high buddies. No idea there was a psycho-social classic movie component to the word.