it’s not as simple as “Say, do you think Z + 2 equals 6?”
Except, of course, when it is. And sometimes that isn’t simple either.
A friend tells the story of being asked (by a stranger at a bus stop) “Is ten percent about two dollars?”
“It depends,” says she. “Ten percent of what?”
“A mop,” the stranger explains helpfully.
“Um,” says she, re-evaluating her understanding of the conversation. “How much does the mop cost?”
“Twenty dollars.”
“Well, then, yes. Ten percent of twenty dollars is two dollars.”
“Well,” comes the huffy reply, “why didn’t you say so in the first place, then?”
This is admittedly largely irrelevant to the point of your post, but I often remember that story when conversations seem to break down. Sometimes the word we have different interpretations of didn’t even get spoken in the first place.
Except, of course, when it is. And sometimes that isn’t simple either.
A friend tells the story of being asked (by a stranger at a bus stop) “Is ten percent about two dollars?” “It depends,” says she. “Ten percent of what?” “A mop,” the stranger explains helpfully. “Um,” says she, re-evaluating her understanding of the conversation. “How much does the mop cost?” “Twenty dollars.” “Well, then, yes. Ten percent of twenty dollars is two dollars.”
“Well,” comes the huffy reply, “why didn’t you say so in the first place, then?”
This is admittedly largely irrelevant to the point of your post, but I often remember that story when conversations seem to break down. Sometimes the word we have different interpretations of didn’t even get spoken in the first place.