Have you ever noticed that when people are in an extreme emotional state of mind, they take the message out of context?
A message might have been conveyed, as an FYI, or 'did you know?', but can be taken to mean something entirely different, and regurgitated to make the person seem brash and uneducated.
As an example, a statement could be made to express a dislike, or unfavorable characteristic of another person. A situation is presented to convey this characteristic, or dislike. Yet in speaking you realize that the person you are telling has a more intimate relationship with the person of which you are speaking, and is thus unable to picture why this characteristic, or dislike is unfavorable. This person takes this piece of knowledge to heart, and is unable to see it from anything but his own perspective. Of course, it is also at this moment, that you realize... you're not only speaking of another person, but this very person you are speaking to displays this very characteristic. (No wonder this person doesn't understand, wouldn't understand.
He takes this piece of information that you presented to him, in anger, and regurgitate what you did not say, not even once. This piece of information then becomes not just a piece of information, but an act, an act that is unfavorable. Yet at no time during the conversation did you suggest that it was an act that you were speaking of, but only the characteristic which was conveyed that is unfavorable, and utterly intolerable.
At this point, the only thing you can do is let it go. The other person is already angry, and any other explanations you give will only go in one ear, and out the other.
Tell me, how often has that happened?
Words. Not everyone understands them. Not everyone listens.
AND we live in America.
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