Monday, May 18, 2009

Talk to me like I'm six years old

Never assume anything about anybody. That is the greatest lesson I've learned when it comes to people relations. Assume nothing and you'll hurt less people. More often than not, one gets offended if you assume that he/she knows something but in fact, he/she doesn't. For example, if I talk to someone for the first time about a '92 to '95 Honda Civic, I won't say EG right away, and assume that they know that it's the chasis code for that particular model. The person I am talking to might not know what I am talking about and if he doesn't have too much courage for learning, he/she might be lost in the conversation. My tendency, however, perhaps hardwired into my training as a lawyer, is to inform my partner in the conversation, that a '92 to '95 Honda Civic, is an EG. And since I am really into Honda Civics, I might tell him that the '88-'91 model is the EF, the '96 to '00 is the EK, the '01 to '05 is the ES (for the sedan, EP for the hatchback), and the current model is the FD. People, however, as I have just recently realized, may not be as interested as me in knowing these little things. Some people are at bliss in their ignorance. Some people just don't care about Honda Civics. Just like how I don't care too much about say, cros-stitching. It is my weakness, perhaps to be over-explanatory. So please, if you already know what I'm talking about, or even if you just don't want to hear the Britannica explanation, please tell me to stop, I don't really care. A caveat as always, however, "little knowledge is a very dangerous thing."

As so, I expect people to talk to me in the simplest way as possible, I always ask questions for clarification if there is need to do so. If I get it the first time, I ask for the details. I'm not that slow, I just want to be sure of everything every single fucking time. To a litigant, if I tell him/her that a certain document needs to be notarized, if I really care for the welfare of that client, or if he seems not to be sure about the reason behind such action, I will explain to him or her, the basis why the document needs to be notarized, beyond the fact that it's legally required. In law school, when you answer a question profounded by your professor in recitation, after your answer, your professor will ask "What's your basis in saying this?" or "What do you think is the reason behind that provision?" Being a lawyer, I have acquired that kind of mindframe, to explain everthing I say. Be it good or bad, or even distasteful or just plain boring, I have chosen such way and will not change it for whoever Pontius Pilate who thinks otherwise.

"Hey have you seen the new Spoon FD-2? The ones with the 18"s and the completely new ECU?"

Haters raise your hands if you have no idea what I am talking about. Don't blame me if I talk to you like you're in fucking pre-school. You are just goddam insecure because I know something you don't.

*BTW, Spoon is Spoon Sports is an engine tuner and parts manufacturer specializing in cars made by Honda Motor Company. 18"s are 18-inch (diameter) wheels, FD-2 is the chasis code for the Japan Domestic Market only 2008 Honda Civic Type-R, and ECU is an electronic control unit, also called a control module, is an embedded system that controls one or more of the electrical systems or subsystems in a vehicle.