Around 20 years ago, I started noticing that people seemed to have been infected by a curious contagion: the penchant for exaggerating things.
Habitually talking in superlatives. To the point where superlatives became bland and lost their meaning. To the point where honesty gave way to hype — but still wasn’t considered lying. Or deception.
I guess we’ve been very efficiently desensitized by people who habitually use big words to describe small achievements, small undertakings, small events — in the hope that by using hyperbole, they can make a small event appear big.
Are we guilty of this, without knowing it? Are we deceiving, misleading people — without meaning to?
Because sometimes we use what I call “undeserved superlatives” in our eagerness to entice people to do something for us. Or to get something we want from them. Or because we were “tasked” to promote something or someone. So, we just blindly obey without first thinking if what we’re saying is true — or a gross exaggeration that’s manipulative?
Think about it.
How many times have we said — “Oh wow. This product is awesome. Awesome. You should try it.”
Just to let people know we can afford this expensive item.
Or “What a fantastic show!!! You should watch it!” Only because it’ll up our social status, our culture quotient.
Or “My goodness, you should go there! Awesome place!” Only because you want to curry favor with the owner. Or want to impress your friends — you know, “been there, done that.”
We exaggerate for different reasons. For different motives. But at the end of the day, all exaggeration is a lie. It’s manipulative. It’s dishonest. And it can cause people to be deceived and disappointed.
Let it not be said that we mindlessly or intentionally or selfishly exaggerated something — which led people to make wrong decisions because they believed us.
There’s nothing wrong when we’re genuinely impressed by something or if we thoroughly enjoyed a product, place, or experience and want to tell others about it. Sharing our joy is a fantastic habit because we’re helping people discover good things. The world needs cheering up. That’s one way we can brighten up someone’s day.
So, if we’re sure that this is our motive for spouting superlatives, then by all means, we ought to do it!
It’s somewhat like saying: When we share our marvelous discoveries, it’s like “one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.”
I’ve always believed that a placid understatement is way more honest than an undeserved superlative.
