Working the Word and Arguing about Words

Have you ever met someone who seems to run you over with words?

 

In my long life (ahem...40+ years or so...), I have interacted with and been friends with folks who can talk circles around me.  They are articulate, intelligent and able to be maximum-overdrive active listeners.

 

Here are some of the categories "wordy" people fall into:

 

Word quota people - these are the mouths that must speak 30-35,000 words in each day (average person uses between 10-15,000 words a day)!  They wear you down with their verbal onslaught.

 

Mumblers - those who give blank stares and reply in a distorted, mumbled response..and, when you ask them to repeat what they just said, they smile at you and walk away.   The smile they give zings you into thinking maybe you missed the inside joke/point/answer.

 

Artful Dodgers - those who captialize on every little thing you say and question everything.  They make you wonder if you really meant what you just said!

 

Questioners - those who ALWAYS answer a question with a question.  Too frustrating for further comment.

 

Circular thinkers - those who speak in riddles, circles and vague references.  You're left to wonder what they really said and if it really had any significant meaning.

 

Odie Puppy Syndrome - remember the pup from the Garfield cartoons?  This talker bounces around, appearing to hang on your every word and yet, when trying to engage them in conversation...they stare back at you expectantly, waiting for you to hold up the conversation.  They leave you in a state of excitement...but not sure what all the excitement was about. 

 

Human recorders - those who remember every thing you've ever said and remind you of it when you least expect it.  You secretly believe these people should be criminal defense attorneys.

 

Assumers (almost like word quota people) - these detailed oriented talkers assume you are looking for an exhaustive explanation of the simple yes or no answer they must eventually confess.  Instead of telling you the time, they explain how clocks are made and the differences in times zones depending on the season.

 

Misfires - these wildy intelligent talkers have a brain hiccup and often pause between words.  Sometimes they look like they want you to fill in the word they are desparately searching for to finish their thought...but don't do it!  Most conversations with these folks require a nap afterwards.

 

Melodic - or the cadance talker.  He or she relishes words, and, like the word quota person...relies on rich embellishment of a story, answer or description.  And, as Frank has enlightened me, this person really talks to hear their own voice.  If you get their rhythm or cadence down...as long as you nod or say "uhuh" at the rising tone in their voice...the melodic speaker will continue talking, unaware you aren't really paying attention.

 

The transmission burst - this person usually takes a deep breath and expells all their words in one lump and dump.  You may attempt breathing exercises with them...but that may just leave you light-headed.

 

The gold digger - kinda like the questioner, but much more sinister in their intent.  This person peppers you with questions and hoards nuggets of information for later use.  They do a great job of taking you into their confidence only to suck you dry of all knowledge and "information" you may know of another person or persons.

 

I hope you had a laugh at my attempt to talk about wordy people!  Below are two great devos from Planet Widsom which talk about the power of words, etc.

 

Oh Lord, teach us to measure our words BEFORE they leave our mouths!

 

c'iao-M

PlanetWisdom.com Devotionals

Working the Word? Posted: 26 Oct 2008 09:43 PM CDT "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15) Anyone who spent time in the AWANA program will probably recognize their main verse here. It's where the name AWANA comes from — "Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed." Paul told his spiritual son Timothy that it matters how we live. And it takes real work — serious effort — to live as God wants us to. "Try hard," he wrote. "Do your best." He wanted Timothy to get that it's worth the hours of study and prayer and the sacrifice of doing easier, funner things to focus on harder, more valuable ones. And what is this work? For Timothy (but also for us) it involves handling God's Word in the right way. Not focusing on the words so we can be good debaters, but using the words to pull out the truth God wants us to understand. That takes time, understanding, and work. Think: You work hard at a few things in your life. Is understanding God's Word correctly one of them? Pray: Ask God to give you the desire to be an unashamed workman when it comes to handling His Word. Do: If you've never done so before, try to memorize this verse. Visit PlanetWisdom.com for more great resources!

Worthless Words Posted: 26 Oct 2008 09:24 PM CDT "Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen." (2 Timothy 2:14) For the next week or so, we're going to learn how to live by reading someone else's mail. Paul is writing to Pastor Timothy about what the younger preacher should be teaching people in his church. The idea in today's verse seems odd to me coming from a writer and a teacher. Under the inspiration of God, Paul wrote a serious chunk of the New Testament. I'm sure he was very careful about the words he chose (and the ones he skipped). But words are not so important that they're worth arguing about, he said. In fact, arguments about semantics (word meanings and choices) are a waste of time with the power to do real damage to listeners caught in the cross-fire. Focus on understanding and communicating the truth and the words will take care of themselves. Think: Do you ever get caught in arguments about words? Things like: "I said this, and you said that!" "That's not what I said; I said this!" Arguments that become about splitting the hairs of fact instead of revealing real truth. Why are those so dangerous, especially between Christians? Pray: Thank God for His truth. Ask Him to help you to avoid arguing about words. Do: Look for examples this week — in and out of church — of people arguing about words. Visit PlanetWisdom.com for more great resources!

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