Interesting

The use of the word "interesting" has crept into our language more recently. It has varied meaning. Find out in this mini podcast what you're communicating when you use it.

Grasshopper Notes are the writings from America's Best Known Hypnotherapist John Morgan. His podcasts contain his most responded to essays and blog posts from the past two decades. 

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Transcript

Interesting

I’m sure you’ve noticed that words have different meanings when they're said in a different tone. That’s one of the reasons that emails, texts, and DMs are not a highly effective form of communication. The written or typed word leaves lots of room for interpretation.

The spoken word is catching up. I’ve noticed the word “interesting” is one of the words that contains many meanings in speech. It’s a catch-all word that people are using with increasing frequency.

For example, if someone asks you if you like something, you can respond with “Oh, that’s quite interesting.” It says nothing but it covers the base and you dodge the question.

Someone posits an idea and you say, “how interesting.” You may think it’s the dumbest thing you've ever heard, but “interesting” let’s you contribute without contributing. It’s sort of like charitable deductions on your taxes. If they ever added up the money people claimed they gave to charity, the houses of worship and organizations listed would never need another dime.

People are using “interesting” to get off the commitment hook. They don’t have to engage when they use it and it keeps them out of confrontational conversations. It’s a great tool when used sparingly.

Even the genuine use of the word “interesting” is incomplete. When we authentically say something is interesting, it’s as though we’re stating a fact. We aren’t. We’re stating an opinion.

I have a recommendation. I suggest that when you state that something is interesting, that you add the words “to me” to the end. This completes the word “interesting” and references it to you.

I don’t think anyone will ever define the word “interesting” because it is one of the most fluffy, elastic words in our language. But referencing it to you keeps it out of the world of asserted facts and into the realm of opinion, where it truly belongs.

Many words can use a “to me” addendum. Here are a few to consider: Boring, ugly, pompous, selfish, funny, sexy. The list is endless.

The telltale clue that you need “to me” is when you’re about to make an assertion about something or someone. “He’s . . .” She’s . . .” “It’s . . .

Opinions asserted as facts, even when they’re baseless, bring up counter "facts" and off to the races you go – "fact-ing" each other.

When you add “to me,” you take ownership of the assessment and don’t imply that everyone has to agree with you.

When you stop stating things as facts and start labeling things as your opinions, there's a lot more wiggle room in the conversation – room for something new to develop, rather than the same old stimulus/reaction that unsupported “facts” bring up.

Question: Don't you find this interesting? It is to me.

All the best,

John