What if humans came with taglines? Sort of like a warning label … or a caveat for “what to expect” …
Mine would be: “Never expose to bright light and never feed after midnight.” No? Right. That one’s already taken by the furry little Mogwai creatures … besides, everyone gets a little wicked when they eat late. OK. Then how about this:
“She means to say that which she says, but does not necessarily connote that which she says.” You might have to read that a few times.
The thing is, I like to think I’m fairly articulate. Generally, I don’t struggle to find the right word or combination of words to say whatever it is that I’m thinking. Sure, I’ve made errors … typos like starred when it should have been stared; busses instead of buses. And I’ve confused similar word usage like entice and incite; malevolence and malice. But, for the most part, again, I’m generally able to communicate that which I intend. However … recently I’ve noticed that what people “hear” isn’t always what I intend them to hear. You following me here??
Case in point, a while back I contributed to an article about over population.
Realistically, what can we do? Adopt all the unwanted and undervalued lives? Secretly put birth control in the water and put an end to unwanted and unplanned conception?
The piece was intended to show two extreme “solutions” to an extremely perilous situation. And yet, I still received some very noxious hate mail from one reader/moron who focused only on the one immoral “solution” and decided to label me well, I’m not going to go there … all the same, the reader/moron failed to understand the intention was merely to make people think by posing two completely absurd solutions—be them ethical or otherwise. I wasn’t advocating either idea as an end all solution because I didn’t “mean” those words, hence my proposed tagline.
Similarly, I’d like people to think about the Second Amendment … to think about violence and hate … and to consider the possibility that there are many potential “solutions” along the road to trying to figure out just what the hell we can do to get off the struggle bus and curb irrational behavior. Have conversations—but please, do so in a non-violent way. And listen. LISTEN. Because there are valid arguments for and against guns … so please, listen, and pray to God we figure something out sooner than later.
Oh, and as for the aforementioned moron … don’t worry … I kidnapped her, took her to Mars and left her there. She won’t be bothering anyone else anytime soon—there was no other solution 🙂
Cover image is a screenshot from a vintage Steiff ad.
DISCLAIMER: I’m a writer and an editor. And I try my best to make sure every post is articulate and free from errors. However, being that I edit my own work—and it’s next to impossible to properly edit your own work—I admit, occasionally there may be an error or two I miss. But doing so doesn’t make me an idiot so don’t be mean. Just smile, pat yourself on the back for finding an error and be glad you’re not the only one who makes mistakes sometimes … xoxox
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