Don't Say This! (Tips provided)

It has come to our attention that any conversation with children and grownups alike easily ended before it started because the first response from them was "I don't know.".

While it isn't wrong to say you don't know when you really... don't know, what that sounds to the speaker could be more than you imagine.

From the speakers' perspective, they may be asking a question because they...

1. want to start a conversation

2. need your help

3. respect your opinion

A simple "I don't know." closes the chance to further bond. It isn't too much about the answers being correct or not and that's something that people have becoming to forget. Our guess is that this is a result of technological advancement and normalization.

With the help of the internet and easy access, everyone's on their gadgets longer and longer, collecting information and there is a pattern from these information givers. They are "friendlier looking/younger". These online speakers provide background knowledge, analyze issues, and ask guided questions such as "do you think we should do A or B" instead of "what do you think we could do?".

Gradually, what the viewers become is thinking that they themselves should sound like these speakers to whom they relate from appearances or external factors without considering the team behind the curtains. Unable to provide intelligent information, they become quiet; having been fed designed questions, they couldn't think freely.

This, of course, is just a theory, or simply put, an opinion, which is what people lack.

What "I don't know." implies may be more than you could imagine, too. It could be...

1. I don't care.

2. You tell me.

3. It doesn't matter to me/it's boring.

This is an indication of self-centering. People who only care about the things that stimulate them the most are in two extremes of good and bad and most of us are not the good ones. Let us explain. We are not saying that you can't only care about what you like; we encourage everyone to find their true passion with no doubt! However, it's only good to be self-centered IF you exceed a certain level in a field. At that point, others need you more than you from them. On the flip side, you DO NOT want to be an arrogant, childish, adult who can't hold his/her own and expect attention and help from the outside world.

So~ what can we do if we shouldn't say "I don't know" to the things that we actually don't know? Lucky you because we have some dos and don'ts listed below. These changes will not just make the conversation more productive but also help you think more critically.

Don't say Do say

I don't know. ==> I'm not sure but I think ...

It depends. ==> It depends on ... If it is... I would...

I have no idea. ==> I've never thought about it until now. What do you think?

Finally, a bonus question here. So what if I really don't care about the conversation and want to get out of it and need no manners? Um, it's okay, really. In the end, you will either find that you're not that important, either, or you regret mistreated people in the past. Time is our best teacher.

It doesn't hurt to show a little respect, does it?

#education