I agree that it can be hard to describe a detailed activity in a short phrase, especially to a layman who might care more that it is a weight-loss program than that it involves kettlebell swings. I don’t have a great solution for that.
Why not minimize the manipulation by describing both the intent and the means, as in “Mosquito Nets to Fight Malaria” instead of “Against Malaria” (pure intent) or “Mosquito Net Distribution” (pure means)? As you say, we might lead people astray if we don’t check the means against the intent, so I think we should avert that by specifying the means and letting the listener check it for us.
Thanks for the comment.
I guess you’re saying we allow for the possibility of failure when somebody says “I’m on a weight-loss program”. I agree. We are not completely gullible in the face of such descriptions.
I’m claiming that we seem to be visibly more skeptical when we see the features than when we see just the intended result. For example, “weight-loss program” vs using the telemarketed ab machine for 15 minutes. Similarly with “clean air law” vs raising the fuel tax rate, or “cost-cutting measure” vs switching to online advertising.
Would you agree with that claim? Thanks for your feedback.