Posted by
glen e. p. ropella-2 on
URL: http://friam.383.s1.nabble.com/Re-Direct-conversation-tp3137870p3142423.html
Thus spake Steve Smith circa 06/22/2009 08:57 PM:
> glen e. p. ropella uttered/spake/emitted/gurgitated:
>> A mandated method to be clear as possible as much as possible would be
>> just as effective and efficient as a mandate to be as vague as possible
>> as much as possible. To be clear, I claim that neither conviction is
>> more effective or efficient than the other. Particular methods must be
>> chosen for the proper context.
>>
> I sympathize with your characterization of "_all_ communication as a
> generalized koan" but I am not sure I agree on your followup point. I'm
> not sure the two examples (clear as possible vs vague as possible) are
> reciprocal (complementary?).
My point was not that the mandate to be vague is the inverse of the
mandate to be clear (though I think one could make that argument easily
enough). My point was that, when communicating, sometimes it is useful
to be clear and sometimes it is useful to be vague.
What I was objecting to was Russ' _conviction_ to a single communication
mandate. I've found that it's counterproductive to commit oneself to a
sole approach to the world. It's like Russ' conviction to clarity is a
willful decision to always hold a hammer so that everything around him
looks like a nail. Single-minded convictions like that are always a red
flag for me.
Of course I appreciate clarity and attempts to be clear. But I just
don't make it a fixed conviction. I'm open to all forms of
communication, including being vague when that seems most appropriate.
If necessary, I can come up with some examples where being vague is a
better method for communicating ideas than attempting to be clear. But
I don't think it's necessary. I imagine everyone on this list can come
up with examples themselves. [grin]
--
glen e. p. ropella, 971-222-9095,
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