Saturday 25 August 2012

I Think I See the Problem

From The West, a story of fishing and over-fishing (25 Aug, p62):
"We don't understand what all the fuss is about."
Attributed to Guy Leyland, WA Fishing Industry Council.

Okay, it's probably just a poor choice of words. As a lesson on sloppy speech (or sloppy reporting), let's take it as stated:

We don't understand. Perhaps "we" should try to understand. Then, perhaps, it will look as though "we" know what we are talking about.

More importantly:

If we try to understand before we state an opinion, it may look like a considered opinion. Rather than looking like an unthinking and rote statement of a strongly biassed position.

"We don't understand" sounds like "We don't care."

Take care with language. Or you will be misunderstood.

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