Isn’t it odd how things can get messy very quickly even when everyone has the best intentions? Todays office meeting in my family’s business started out with all the best intentions as usual, but quickly went the south side of the norm via a lot of misinterpreted and poorly toned discussions. Not that this particular situation involved me (thank god) but I often find that I have trouble with people taking what I say in an offensive way.
The other day I was talking with two friends Sam and Bob about stress. Sam was saying that the past 18 months have been the most stressful in her life. So I said “Wow do you really think that?, I don’t think it would have been”. Looking a little offended Bob said “How would you know? its not your life?”. I often find myself frustrated by situations just like this one. You see Bob is right I wouldn’t know if it was or wasn’t the most stressful time, but thats not what I said. What I said was I didn’t think it was the most stressful time, not that it was or wasn’t, just what I thought.
I’m sure I’m guilty of this very thing, but it still pisses me off. I mean why are most people ready to jump to the negative side of a conversation? Wouldn’t it be good if we could all communicate on a “higher level” so to speak? Something like telepathy, where an entire thought could be transmitted rather than just simple words. I think it would be interesting to get to know people that way, and see if it generates more or less angry situations.
So yeah, developing a thought transmitting device is on my to do list for the next 20 years… hey I’m a geek its what I do 🙂