I'm trying to be less hyperbolic
zackshapiro.com
zackshapiro.com
Many people take hyperbolic statements too literally and are quick to argue with them. By arguing the point, the person who made the statement is put on the defensive and the conversation descends into petty bickering.
Next time you are about to react to a hyperbolic statement, take a moment to consider whether the person making the statement actually believes it or is just saying it to express their feelings on the subject.
Consider the statement: "Fish is the worst food ever!" Obviously, there are worse foods, but-- do you really need argue that? Can you even win an argument about taste? Who are you really impressing by arguing about that? Also, why bother?
"I'd be honored if you followed me on Twitter."
While I agree with the thesis, and I'd like to start doing so as well, that was kind of funny.
It get's old when every dog you see is the cutest ever, every movie is the best ever, every thing you eat is the tastiest ever.
People really do overuse hyperbole
If you're frequently over-the-moon with joy at your meals, your movies, the animals you run across, your job, or whatever, it seems like a fundamentally good state to be in.
I also have friends who do this, where it seems to be a mask they put on. These friends often have rather unpleasant pasts.
It's a bit like the manic pixie dream girl, to use a fascinating stereotype. I have often tried to delve deep, and it's sometimes really hard to discern the 'broken' kind from the truly 'child-like' type.
Broad strokes, I know, and please forgive me. The only point I want to make is that context is everything in this case.
Edit: This Everything is my fault blog post is a good illustration: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4895335
"Do you really believe that?"
"You can't possibly be serious?"
"So you're saying...[insert hyperbolic interpretation of comment]?"
etc.