Complex thoughts usually get from one head to another by means of words.
We can argue about how we should put our words together, but it's when our words can't be understood - when this precious, magical way of reaching into each other's minds is spoiled - that things get serious.
Although even then they don't always get that serious.
This recent headline:
LETTERS HELP TEACHER MURDER POLICE
is a bit surprising, but we can soon work out what it's really trying to say.
I am a simple sole. (That's from a newspaper comments thread) also doesn't mean what it says, but of course we know what the poor fish meant.
But when we come across a company whose mission statement (that's a list of their aims) goes like this:
The New Ventures mission is to scout profitable growth opportunities in relationships, both internally and externally, in emerging, mission inclusive markets, and explore new paradigms and then filter and communicate and evangelize the findings.
Then we see words being thrown into such a muddy whirlpool of confusion that I, for one, have no chance of making out any thoughts at all.
Are these really the words of a group of people with a mission?
And can anyone begin to guess what they do?*
Word To Use Today: mission. This word comes from the Latin missiō, from mittere, which means to send.
In this case, to send people bonkers, I should think.
*Sorry, I've no idea at all. Not the foggiest.
I have tweeted this post!
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