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Politics : Sharks in the Septic Tank
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To: TimF who wrote (73290)8/25/2003 11:32:45 PM
From: The Philosopher  Read Replies (3) of 82486
 
I'll give you a specific example of a communication in private in a closed room which might or might not be an insult.

B tells me they did something. I say "You actually did that? That's incredible."

Now, I mean that I can't believe they did something that stupid, that it's incredible that they did something that dumb. And if anybody else heard it, they would understand that I had meant that. BUT, there is nobody else to hear it. And B, actually (the dummy) thinking what he did was cool and neat, takes what I said literally and as a compliment and is pleased -- nay, delighted -- that I thought it was so neat and cool too.

The conversation never goes beyond this room. Neither of us ever repeats it to anybody. So there is never any impact on society, never any effect on Miss Manners. B goes to his grave thinking that I really approved of what he had done and that I thought it was neat and cool.

Have I insulted B?
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