What you mean and what you say can sometimes be entirely different. We got to see a perfect example of semantics undermining a well-intentioned, well-executed event this week.
“Enough is Enough… Real Students Don’t Fight” was a tremendous effort by the PSU administration and the student body to get things clarified for everyone. We really appreciate all the work that went into the event.
Something that struck us and other students though, is the title of the event. It came off as condescending, and more than a little pompous. We don’t think for a second that the organizers of the event see themselves as moral champions of the school – we’re all equal here, and we all have our faults – rather, we just think the implied superiority of the message was recognized.
We make mistakes like this all the time: in papers, in relationships and in everyday conversations with friends. You know those situations when you’re trying to give a good piece of advice to your significant other, the one that sounds perfect in your mind – the absolute best, most convincing phrase that will allay all doubt and danger – and the second it leaves your lips, there’s that moment of silence; and perhaps your nose picks up a little scent of brimstone – next thing you know, you’re updating your Facebook profile to “It’s Complicated”.
That’s what we’re talking about. The advice was sound, the message was there – but the first rule of communication is to never offend the other party. The moment you do, all connections between speaker and listener are severed and the only thing the listener hears is, “Blah, blah, blah, I’m a jerk.”
Some students didn’t attend the forum on Wednesday morning specifically because, despite knowing better, something in their psyche said, “Someone’s talking down to me, screw them.” They missed out on an important message and some good info.
There’s no reason to be hard on the organizers of Wednesday’s event; but there is a lesson there that we can all learn from them.
The delivery can be as important as the message.
– The Clock Staff