MATTHEW QUINN
  • About Me
  • Blog
  • Projects
    • Uncivilized Health
    • Chrome Extensions
      • Linkedin to Streak CRM
      • Seed Oil Shopper Warning
      • Seed Oil Shopper
      • King Soopers Coupon Clipper
      • Sprouts Coupon Clipper
    • iOS Apps
      • Flicker
      • Pouchy
    • SAAS Portfolio
    • Reading
  • About Me
  • Blog
  • Projects
    • Uncivilized Health
    • Chrome Extensions
      • Linkedin to Streak CRM
      • Seed Oil Shopper Warning
      • Seed Oil Shopper
      • King Soopers Coupon Clipper
      • Sprouts Coupon Clipper
    • iOS Apps
      • Flicker
      • Pouchy
    • SAAS Portfolio
    • Reading

BLOG

I want your updates

The innaccuracy of a common language

25/2/2019

0 Comments

 
Last week, I had a conversation with someone where we clearly had a different understanding of the same term.

That term was “Imposter Syndrome”.

After the chat, I found myself obsessing on how annoyed I was. I think this difference in understanding is symptomatic of a greater issue we face.


The inaccuracy of the language we share.
Picture
The above example shouldn't really be an issue right? Except that It has now happened more than once and when describing my struggles with my own imposter syndrome I’m tired of people thinking I’m calling myself an imposter haha.

I’m starting to believe, sadly, that we live in a post facts world. Not pointing at anyone specific, but it would be untrue to point at all main political parties and news outlets in the last year and say that they’re innocent when it comes to the misuse of language whether it be in describing events or dispersing information.

I worry that this has become so mainstream it is crossing into society.

That feels enormously worrying.

The accountant brain in me is sounding the alarms. We’re losing the ability to communicate effectively.

How can we operate if we say things that don’t represent reality. How can we make effective decisions in life and business without effective language.

Prime examples are the use of "Never", "Always" and “Infinite”.

These are three specific terms that mean three very specific things.

Using infinite as a replacement for a really large number is inaccurate. A person needs to understand just how infinite, infinity is.

Using never as a replacement for a really low probability is inaccurate. We need to appreciate and respect that the word never is finite.

This means that when discussing probable outcomes. Never can only be used for something that is virtually impossible.

If we were to switch from these words to the baseline maths(something I have started doing to avoid the misuse of words). I wonder if we can all make better decisions as a society.

Could it be the magic pill that changes the trend we’re on?

Once we entertain that health emergencies have a low probability of happening, that the Fed raising rates aggressively has a low probability of happening, that the job you hold has a probability of being lost - as opposed to “that’s never gonna happen” do our collective guts go “oh hold on, maybe I shouldn’t take a $250k student loan, another car on finance, a second house?”

“Maybe I should save this bonus TODAY”.

If you’re still reading this - this is definitely one of the worst written pieces I’ve ever penned but I found myself wanting to share an article like this with someone to share my frustration with language misuse.

So thank you for sticking with it. Tweet me @mqsley to let me know what your language misuse peeves are.

As someone who suffers from imposter syndrome (see actual definition) I wonder if the inaccuracy of language adds to the rise in mental illnesses and loneliness that the developed world is experiencing.

Subconscious and conscious chains of thought that could be classified as cognitive distortions follow along the lines of “I will never achieve X”, “I can not do Y” and "This always happens".

To conclude I’m tired of society's degrading of language. We have hundreds of thousands if not millions of words in our language. Let us use them as they are meant to be used. I, probably like you, are far from perfect. But I’m committed to keep trying.

Poorly written post over. 
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Follow @mqsley

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    October 2023
    September 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    February 2023
    November 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018

    Categories

    All
    Disruption
    Founder
    Health
    Ideas
    Leadership
    London
    P2p
    Review
    Techstars
    Thefirst1000
    VR

I enjoy helping people. If you need help, just ask.
© COPYRIGHT 2023. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • About Me
  • Blog
  • Projects
    • Uncivilized Health
    • Chrome Extensions
      • Linkedin to Streak CRM
      • Seed Oil Shopper Warning
      • Seed Oil Shopper
      • King Soopers Coupon Clipper
      • Sprouts Coupon Clipper
    • iOS Apps
      • Flicker
      • Pouchy
    • SAAS Portfolio
    • Reading