Words are so Confusing

“One day I will find the right words, and they will be simple.”
― Jack Kerouac, The Dharma Bums

This one will probably be one of my more boring posts….I have to be honest, right?

So, I need to clear the air as to what I mean by certain words. It was brought to my attention last week that some of the words I used might have been interpreted in different ways than I originally had intended.

Well, I’m not going to give a definition for each and every word I use. Words can have various meanings depending on what neighborhood you are in (for example: The Bronx and Uptown New York), what town or city you’re in (Houston and Dallas), what state (California and Louisiana), what region (West Coast and East Cost), and what country (United States and England). They can even have different meanings depending on how you use the word, what type of conversation, what tone, what a person’s facial expression is, the person’s personal experience, and so forth.

So why the post then? Well, it’s important to know that it is not so much the words that are used but what is intended or meant by those words. Of course, if you are a mathematician, an engineer, a chemist, or in any other profession, then it will be necessary to speak in the proper “language” that is associated with it. However, in a post by some guy in Houston, TX…..not so much.

You do not have to take everything I say so literally. If I say that the universe is magical, I do not mean hocus pocus or fairy dust here. I basically mean that the universe is mesmarizing, stupendous, and awe inspiring (see Richard Dawkins book: The Magic of Reality). When I say that someone is seeking knowledge, I do not mean the person is getting their doctorate on the subject. I mean that one is merely looking into the matter; that they are obtaining enough information to make an informed decision.

Moreover, do not take my words and look further into it than need be. I mean no disrespect to the well-intentioned. I do not think that atheists are smarter than theists – I think theists are ill-informed and wrong, but they are not dumb. So the words I use are not meant to criticize, but they are used to inform.

So, please use your best critical thinking skills when reading my blog. If for some reason, I do write something idiotic…..remember, I’m just a person. I might have typed it wrong. I might have thought it wrong. I might BE wrong. I am open to your comments. If someone has a good point, I will look further into the matter and make a decision on it – which is what religious people should be doing. Sorry, had to throw that in there.

I hope this clears things. I hope I don’t get comments about words I used that were misconstrued. I highly doubt this will work, but I can always hope.