Why waste words upon one who cannot perceive the meaning of what you say?

Answer 1

I'm not gonna answer this question because there are too many answers and there are a lot of good ones so I'm just gonna collect my two points and be on my way.

Oh well, While I'm here I do have just a little answery-poo.
Because then the stupid guy will tell all his friends you wasted your words on him and then they'll all come to you so you can waste your.... No, nevermind I'm not gonna answer. Did I get my two points yet? can i get two mor— No, nevermind that's okay, I just... nevermind.

Answer 2

I think it becomes a challenge to the person trying to explain. It's a typical trait of stubborn/driven/determined people. Like when you can't open the pickle jar (or jelly jar) and someone offers to do it for you and you just say "no, I can do it," because you'll be darned if a stupid jar is going to get the best of you.

A lot of people are of the personality that they want to start what they finish, no matter how hopeless it seems - so for them it's not a waste of time or words but a personal goal, they are hoping for the satisfaction that comes when one does what was said to be impossible. When someone doesn't understand, most people just speak louder or keep repeating what they just said. The truly gifted wordsmith uses many analogies and metaphors which can relate to the person's particular life or interests. For instance if the person likes cars, the explain-er might use a reference to something related to the subject of cars. Or to use another example, I might use the analogy of a person determined to open the sticky pickle jar to one trying to explain a hard subject to someone who doesn't understand.

If you're the type of person who sees a nearly impossible task as a waste of time, then by all means do something you feel is worth your time; there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Many times it's not even that the person doesn't understand the meaning, they just disagree and are stubbornly saying they don't get it just to piss you off or to avoid arguing about it. But there are some who enjoy mincing words and finding many different ways to put their thoughts into language, and those people will waste all the breath and hot air they have to try and achieve understanding.

And they'll huff, and they'll puff...

Answer 3

How would we know that our words are actually a waste?
I always assumed that even though I didn`t understand what I was reading, that something in me was taking notes and would make those notes available to me in the future when I would be ready. On the other hand we can`t take that to extremes. When I reread a paragraph three times and still could not explain to myself what I had read, I moved on to the next. Even more so if others deny what you are saying because it conflicts with their beliefs. I simply trust that someday they may come around to a different way of thinking.
For example some of my old friends `totally reject` anything I say to them regarding `The Law of Attraction` and then I look at the eight or so others including two medical doctors who visited me last last because they wanted to know more on the subject. It is then easy to determine where I would spend my time and energy. I still believe that all is well, perfect even.

Answer 4

Dido with the Doc. But sometimes we just like the sound of our own voice, other times maybe we need more practice with convincing or portraying the truth. Sometimes we struggle that the other person can not perceive but rather will not perceive and if we can be convincing enough then they may choose to understand. Like so many others have said at least the seed is planted who is to say how long it takes to germinate and sprout to life? It happens with my family all the time and when they do get it, it is often there discovery. I say Amen

Answer 5

One cannot perceive the meaning of what you say because what you say may sound obscure, or showing neither head nor tail. And it is the receiver of your message that should decide, and perhaps tell you back, whether your message is clear or not.

When you can see that someone does not get your meaning, you may try, and even struggle, to graciously help understanding by making your message easier to digest and more healthy for that someone whose hability to perceive you find unsatisfactory.

Words are tools for communication and understanding, and such tools are not to be seen as wasted while they are being used by you, not even when you are superfluously waiting for an unnecessary and vain answer. Otherwise you would not tell your words, and neither would you wait for the answer.

You say something in an ever heuristic context in order to impart something or to discover something. Neither words nor time are likely to be wasted while they are being used in a context of communication. Never.

Answer 6

Two reasons. I know I am fallible, and I know that I cannot predict all the consequences of my actions.

Because I am fallible, it is possible that I am wrong about whether a person can understand me or not. In fact, I have made that specific mistake many times. If it's possible that the person can understand, my words my not be a waste.

Because there are unforseen consequences, what may seem like a waste may ultimately not be. Perhaps the person doesn't understand, but does remember. Then he might later be capable of understanding and my words would go off like a time bomb from his past. Or perhaps he will repeat my words to others who CAN understand. A ripple on a pond can have a measurable effect long after your eye is able to see its presence.

That's my take anyway, for what it's worth. Whether you understand or not. ( :

Answer 7

Words are only symbols defined by culture. Perception is only the imagined meaning behind the symbol. The word 'dragon' will conjure a different imagined perception to a person from China compared to a person from England. Is the term 'Dragon' wasted on the English because they do not perceive it in the Chinese paradigm?

Answer 8

Perception is an individual concept. Your words will always be interpreted by everyone differently, to some extent. Even if someone is comatose in front of you, who is to say that they are not experiencing, hearing, feeling, relating to everything around them? It is never a waste to use words, if the words coming out of your mouth are truths to you, who cares how others perceive them?

Answer 9

Simplify the question - why waste?

There's little reason to waste. If your "target" cannot perceive the meaning, you could find a better way to spend your time.

Why would one want to keep talking; their motivation should be examined.

Otherwise, you're just talking to your dog.

You could try to be less interested in what you have to say, and more in what they wish to learn or to understand; perhaps we should start listening as much as we talk. Spend more time learning, less time trying to teach.

Answer 10

effective inter-personal communication is a challenge that is shared by both the speaker and the audience, and is affected by feedback and noise. in a normal, face to face setting, awareness of both result in dynamic adjustments in style, wording, etc, resulting in message enhancement and a higher level of understanding. with Y! answers, feedback is severely limited, and the potential for noise is almost unlimited. i would think real understanding faces quite a huge hurdle in this type of on line forum. typing answers into a computer screen offers an experience more closely equated with intra-personal communication. basically, you are talking to yourself to a larger extent than you are talking to others.