I actually find the fact that they hurt people quite useful.
I'm not sure what it is about dictionaries that makes them so intimidating....it's like, you raise one up as if you're going to hit someone with it and they cower. (This is also true with the bible.) I think they're afraid that if they get hit with a book that teaches you things, then they'll turn all intellectual and be spurned by their former friends.......
Hm........

I don't think Aristotle could've put it better than that.