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. IBM employs technical writers to take complicated info and rewrite it so it doesn’t insult the intelligence of the highly educated yet can be understood by the common man. 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: “I meant every word I said.”
What was said: “I won’t tell a soul!”
What was meant: “…until I can get to a telephone.”
And then we have the world of advertisement…
What is written: Fat free…
What is meant: … no fat, but lots and lots of sugar.
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: According to statistical analysis…
What is meant: Rumor has it.
What is written: Going Out of Business Sale…
What is meant: I’ve been going out of business for 50 years.
What is written: Room with a view…
What is meant: Every room has a view. Some like looking at brick walls.
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. I’m not too sure about that. Jesus is pretty straightforward in what he teaches and gives a great deal of insight in how to live. It isn’t until man tries to put in “hidden” meanings that it tends to get complicated. So why not read the teachings of Jesus and learn how to live.
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!”
