We live in the age of information. Unfortunately information does not improve one’s communication skills. Companies are not just interested in what someone knows anymore. They want someone with the ability to communicate it to others. Many high tech companies employ writers to take complicated, technical info and rewrite it so it can be understood by the common man but not insult the intelligence of the highly educated. This is no small feat.
To complicate communication, people have a tendency to speak with “hidden” meanings. Here are a few examples:
- What was said: “That’s interesting!”
- What was meant: “That’s the stupidest thing I’ve heard today!”
- What was said: “Would I lie to you?”
- What was meant: “I would lie through my teeth if it suited my purpose.”
- What was said: “Let’s get together for lunch.”
- What was meant: “This is the only way I’m going to get rid of this guy.”
- What was said: “Tell me the truth.”
- What was meant: “Whatever you do, DON’T tell me the truth!”
- What was said: “It really doesn’t matter.”
- What was meant: “I’m terribly hurt but no one cares anyway.”
- What was said: “It depends…”
- What was meant: “NO!”
- What was said: “We’ll see…”
- What was meant: “NO!”
- What was said: “I know how you feel.”
- What was meant: “…but I really don’t care.”
- What was said: “Trust me!”
- What was meant: “I’m going to take you for all you are worth.”
- What was said: “What an outfit!”
- What was meant: “Ugggggglllllly!
- What was said: “You can count on me!”
- What was meant: “I won’t show up but this should get you off my back.”
- What was said: “I was only kidding!”
- What was meant: “No really!”
- What was said: “I won’t tell a soul!
- What was meant: “…until you get out of ear shot.”
- What was said: “You may be right…”
- What was meant: “…but I don’t think so!”
And then we have the world of advertisement…
- What is written: Fat free…
- What is meant: There’s not fat in this product because we replaced the fat with lots of sugar, guaranteed to make you gain weight.
- What is written: Fixer upper…
- What is meant: The building was condemned.
- What is written: Quaint…
- What is meant: It’s very, very old and moldy.
- What is written: Going Out of Business Sale…
- What is meant: I’ve been having this “Going Out of Business Sale” for 50 years.
- What is written: Room with a view…
- What is meant: Every room has a view. Some people like looking at a brick wall.
- What is written: One of a kind…
- What is meant: Who would want two of them?
Many times we read into the Bible what isn’t really there because we think it has a “hidden” meaning. The gospel message isn’t all that complicated. Jesus is pretty straight forward in what he teaches. It isn’t until man tries to find “hidden” meanings that it tends to muddle the message. Why not read the New Testament and decide for yourself?
- What I said: “Read the teachings of Jesus and learn how to live!”
- What I meant: “Read the teachings of Jesus and learn how to live!”
