Oct 8, 2009
Why overstatements are essential: Nuance gives people an excuse to ignore you.
Like this post?
The caveat “Of course, there are exceptions” weakens whatever you might be saying, because people love to assume they’re that lucky exception.
* * *
Related:
- Have you ever seen a zeugma in the wild?
- Disliking everything about someone makes you a big, mean hyperbole that no one will listen to.
- Hedging my parental promises with all kinds of maybes: Lazy or necessary?
* * * * *
Of course, there are exceptions.
Off subject. RE: Twitter. Mine is not frozen.
Kindest regards,
Brook
Kind of like the pastor that wraps up a sermon with, “But what do I know? It’s just my opinion.”
PS: my twitter stream is frozen
alas, something i’ve had to come to terms with over the years.
Ooooo, I so hate it when people sit on the fence with their opinions. Either you believe what you are saying or you don’t.
My wife tells me that if I’m going to exaggerate, I should at least be accurate. Maybe I should aim at that.
I prefer nuance by paradox. Best of both worlds.
Sometimes hyperbole feels like impatient bullying to me, but I think it is a matter of style more than anything else.
In the end, I don’t think people can ignore the truth. So I just do my best to stick to that–either nuanced or exaggerate. (If you exaggerate truth, is it still truth?)
I was just discussing this with someone and how it is an element you see in your father’s preaching. I find it much more convicting. I am a sinner, and I will always look for a way out of conviction if it’s there. I agree with you.
Marcus and Deet, is an overstatement different to exaggeration?
As long as you are able to defend the overstatement, I think it is vital to persuasion.
There is certainly an art to doing it well, not cheapening words with sensationalism.
I wonder if fear and pride drive nuance. We want to make it clear to anyone who would challenge us that we have thought deeply and precisely. The beauty of overstatement (with integrity) is that it prods deeper thought and dialogue.
Thanks Abraham!
I try to avoid overstatement. I appreciate when someone states their thoughts plainly and clearly, and if that means that, at times, their message is forceful, then so be it. You’re right to note that too many qualifiers can dull one’s argument, and I have been tempted to tread that path. Thanks for this helpful observation!
It’s like William Blake said: The tygers of rage are wiser than the horses of instruction.