Do you understand what you’re saying?
We learn how to be people from those around us. They teach us to walk, talk, and drive a car. So, it’s not surprising that we all do goofy things from time to time without realizing that they’re goofy. One thing that annoys me on a regular basis is people who say “I could care less.” What they mean is that they couldn’t care less, but they don’t even pay attention to the words coming out of their own mouths. Another favorite example of mine is when people say they had their car stolen or had their house burglarized. None of them meant that they actually arranged for these things to occur, but they used those words to describe the event.
Without going too much into religion, it’s obvious that the same sort of thing is happening there as well. Unless they come to their own conclusions based upon reality, people will believe what they have been taught to believe. “The other religions are wrong and mine is right, although I can’t explain why.” It’s amazing to me how this contradiction can be so invisible to billions of believers.
Have you heard the expression “there’s no rhyme or reason for that”? I understand the complaint about having no reason, but would a rhyme really be sufficient?
Parent: Why did you go up the hill? I told you not to leave the yard!
Child: Jack and Jill went up the hill.
Parent: Oh, alright then.
So just be aware of what you’re saying, and make a conscious effort to correct any lingering nonsensical phrases. Some may think this is being pedantic, but it really goes to the core purpose of language: to communicate. And I don’t buy into the whole “Oh come on, you know what I mean” excuse. It’s not a justification for laziness. The further we get from saying what we literally mean, the more potential for confusion we create.
