Comments on: On thinking well

By: Pure Klass

Pure Klass — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 14:49:18 +0000

This is an amazing post, and an important one.
There is so little mindfulness in our world these days – not with words, not with actions. If folks could be a little more conscious and mindful of what they say, perhaps the ripple effect would help change us all a little for the better.

By: Becky

Becky — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 20:48:24 +0000

I laughed out loud at your Wilford Brimley comment. I definitely find myself struggling to think twice about what I might say. I can be a little on the straightforward side, but I find it difficult b/c some people love that about me and those that don’t…well, everyone has a different level of sensitivity so how do you get your point across clearly yet without using words that don’t offend anyone (and this is more to do with work than personal relationships)?

By: t2ed

t2ed — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 21:34:23 +0000

If your Mom is a gremlin, doesn’t she have to give you her pot of gold?

Weighing words carefully. That’s almost as crazy as obsessing about blog comments. Wuh?

By: Curious Englishman

Curious Englishman — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 20:10:44 +0000

Spot on……much abused but by far the greatest invention of human kind is communication through the spoken and written word………. well that and a well poured pint of Guinness

By: Kim

Kim — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 17:14:40 +0000

last semester i gave a lecture to medical students and each time i was asked a question, i took a few seconds to think before i answered. interestingly, they commented on my evaluation that i seemed unsure and hesitant of myself because of it. i guess they would have preferred that i just blurt out a stupid answer rather than think about a smart one…

By: ella

ella — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 04:02:56 +0000

when i was about 10 or 11, my two older sisters used to tell me all the time, “you say the dumbest things. think before you speak.” after hearing that from them 1,304,932 times, it finally sunk in. and stuck. i’m now 37 years old and i will still ponder a moment before opening my mouth. it is a practice that has served me well over the years and one in which i expect to continue.

By: foundinidaho

foundinidaho — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:22:41 +0000

My oldest child isn’t speaking to me, apparently. I don’t know why. I must be the shrewish mother (not saying your mom is shrew, please note) in his scenario. And it hurts. A lot.

By: LiLu

LiLu — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 00:32:42 +0000

I’ve always been a Foot-in-Mouth kinda girl… trying to be better about it! It’s not bad intentions, but I think some people are just better at, um, THINKING before they speak. I am not one of them. Learning, growing, trying…

By: Gwen

Gwen — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 23:28:39 +0000

Right now I don’t feel like I have words that can adequately respond to this or to the post before.

Words fail me way too often, especially when it seems they could matter most.

By: Trapped

Trapped — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 22:17:00 +0000

Well said, Kris.

I know of what you speak. I relive some quaffs I’ve made trying to be “funny” and I cringe over and over.

Peace,

Walter

By: SMurF

SMurF — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 21:55:22 +0000

Sometimes I ask a question, and before the answerer has a chance to open their mouth, I say No, Wait. That isn’t what I meant to ask, let me try again. My friends have gotten used to it. It embarrasses me sometimes, but I’d rather a little bit of embarrassment to rephrase a question or comment than a LOT of embarrassment when I put my whole leg in my mouth.

By: kimmer

kimmer — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 20:22:22 +0000

Mothers! Can’t live with them can’t kill them. At least that’s what my own spawn say… Silence is still golden.

By: Ryane

Ryane — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 19:11:00 +0000

Pausing for a few seconds to be mindful of what you want to say doesn’t make you look like anything other than the very smart, very witty and very wonderful person you are.

I agree with you 100% and have thought this about words for a very long time; words have power and they change things and once uttered…they can’t ever be taken back. The world could do with a bit more thinking, and a lot less talking, so cheers to you, friend. =-)

By: Nathan Pralle

Nathan Pralle — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 18:38:36 +0000

P.S. — For the record, whatever prowness you might lack in speech, you far surpass that deficit in your content-rich writing. Well done on that.

By: Nathan Pralle

Nathan Pralle — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 18:37:28 +0000

Despite my ability to hack out intricately-constructed sentences, I, too, am unable to come up with much that sounds great when speaking, and if I am, I almost always omit a point or two that I as intending in my head but my mind was unable to see the bloody outline sitting in front of its face.

It is for these reasons and others that arguments and drawn-out discussions (like the one I’m about to start with my own at-war mother) need to take place in writing, despite the lack of intimacy it may convey, because in the heat of it, I will either a) forget essential parts of my thoughttrain or b) will resort to namecalling, and neither is productive at the end of the day (and such situations are usually a cause for drinking).

By: mysterygirl!

mysterygirl! — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 18:29:05 +0000

Supposedly English teachers say “um” about a million times more often than math teachers do, presumably because there are more varied ways of talking about books, but also, I like to think, because English teachers care more about choosing specific words. A better way to operate, I think, even if it means there are some awkward pauses.

By: Finn

Finn — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 18:24:02 +0000

Nothing wrong with taking a moment to be clear about your intention.

I wish more people consider that resolution.

By: heather

heather — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 18:09:47 +0000

Our company moto is
.WORDS HAVE POWER.PLEASE USE WISELY.
http://www.212degreedesigns.com
it’s on my car even,…
i can not agree enough.

well said.