It has been noted that the players themselves seem infantilised within this mob-handed structure, unresponsive in adversity, sporting instincts oddly blunted.
It is also the case, though, that the impact of QE has been blunted in the US and the UK by the combination of unconventional monetary policies with conservative fiscal policies.
Coming into the final the 6ft 4in rocket launcher had delivered twice as many aces as the next most potent server, but on leaving it the delivery had been blunted to a half-measure.
The Conservatives are hopeful that the swing to Labour in the key English marginals will be blunted, pointing to the experience of 1992 and previous opinion polls that have over-estimated the Labour share of the vote.
They achieved their win despite being blunted, both by QPR's eager energy and their own injury problems.
Only the dismal acoustics of Scotland's national stadium blunted the atmosphere.
Hong Kong's protests ended in September after its chief executive, Leung Chun-ying, backed down: a victory for the protesters, making it highly unlikely that the government will try such a plan again.None of this has blunted Chinese vigilance about perceived shortcomings in textbooks elsewhere.
But as that puritan passion propelled her into high office, its sharp edges were blunted.
But in so doing they have also blunted their own incentive to train their workers and lead to more abuse.And a lot of training is required.
The ruthlessness of the campaign, plus the killing of Osama bin Laden, blunted Republican charges that he is soft on national security.Because drones can loiter over potential targets for hours before firing their missiles, they are more discriminating than either fast jets or helicopter-borne special forces.
However, on the "pivotal" education bill, Mr Cameron has shrewdly promised his support as long as its main thrust of giving secondary schools more autonomy is not too blunted by concessions.
