Thursday, April 06, 2006

Misunderstood

This sort-of relates to the post about the reader getting the writer's intended meaning and who is responsible for what.

I am constantly amazed at how people read my stuff and read into it whatever they want. I can write about painful things I experienced as a child, and people will gush to me about my idyllic, wonderful Amish childhood, as though everything I just said/wrote went 'whuff' right over their heads.

I have had people find all kinds of connotations in my articles that I never intended or that even occurred to me...I have warned against global warming, advocated exploiting foreign workers by shopping at Walmart, and even had risque` innuendos, judging from the group of older ladies who told me what they loved about a particular column and, "We said to each other, 'Ooooooh, we bet there's going to be another little Smucker soon!'"

Recently I found my first book for sale on ebay, a strange enough experience in itself, but then I found this description of it: "I really enjoyed these stories of life among the Amish."

Aarrgghh.

Quote of the Day:
"Hey! This says Lip Smucker!"
--Jenny, looking at the Lip Smacker case Aunt Margaret gave Amy

6 comments:

  1. Oh Ar-LENE! du bisht net shay.

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  2. I sympathize. Sometimes I wish I were like some of my friends who have the courage to say, "No. That's not what I meant" when someone seems to be trying to be charitable but misunderstands completely. I usually don't disturb their comfortable charitable feeling with a correction. But when goodwill is missing, and they misunderstand, THEN I really feel compelled to set the record straight. I'm afraid that reveals something ignoble about me.

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  3. It's so nice to be able to read your "Amish" :) comments

    Ruth

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  4. Dorcas, I wonder if anyone else is having this problem...I subscribed to this site, and for awhile it worked. Lately it hasn't been coming. I tried to resubscribe but it said, "You are already subscribed." Yes, I thought so too, but why won't it work then? I wrote to the host site but it came back saying "undeliverable." So I'm confused as to what to do next and thought I'd ask if there was something you could do at your end or if anyone else was having the same problem? Thanks!

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  5. Wow, Peacefullady, that's quite a profound thought. I would guess that God says "arrgghh" pretty often.

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  6. I like the Amish colors on your blog. :-)

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