A psychotherapist in Burlington, Vermont, observes that couples in counseling together ask each other questions that are actually veiled criticisms. Such indirect communication was the topic of a spirited conversation on Metafilter. Much has been...
As the 19th-century British jurist Charles Darling observed: “A timid question will always receive a confident answer.” This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Timid Question” Here’s a quotation I like from Charles John Darling, who was a...
How dry is it? In the middle of a drought, you might answer that question is “So dry the trees are bribing the dogs.” This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Drought Humor” I was talking to a Texan about how dry the weather has been out...
A caller from University Park, Maryland, wonders what’s really going on when someone says ” This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “That’s a Great Question” Hello, you have A Way with Words. Hi, this is Jerry Hendershot. Hi, Jerry, where...
If someone asks you a question but you’ve forgotten the answer, you might respond with the phrase “I’ve slept since then.” The implication seems to be that it’s been more than 24 hours since you either learned the information or needed to remember...
Does Betteridge’s Law of Headlines Make Us Look Fat? No. But it is the eponymous law that states, “If it ends in a question, the answer is ‘no.'” This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Betteridge’s Law of Headlines” We were talking...