Opinion Needed

Kelly68 · 10-18-2007, 05:11 PM

I saw this "saying" on a preview on a business card when I was making up my own and I really liked it and put it on the back of my business brochures. My husband asked me what is "fish related" about it. I said, I guess nothing, but I like it. What I want to know is what is everyone's take in the meaning of this. I did a search on line, Mark Twain wrote it....but I would like everyone's perspective of what they feel to them it means.

**CarolsCritterCare** · 10-18-2007, 06:50 PM

I actually like that and I'll admit right now I"m going to steal it and use it from time to time

Kelly68 · 10-18-2007, 07:10 PM

Go right ahead. I would still like to know what your perspective of the saying is.

**MrKhay** · 10-18-2007, 09:39 PM

In todays day and age of real time news reporting, and the ability to make anything look real with advanced graphics, holograms, and what have you, these are some very insightful words to live by.

I heard it along time ago...like when I was 6, or something. Through the years, I've used it in numerous situations. I've even altered it some to fit my experiences in a tavern/bar. It goes like this; "Believe nothing of what you see, and believe nothing of what you hear".

Kelly68 · 10-18-2007, 09:55 PM

All I know is when I read it, I had to read it again, and again, and again. Trying to find a hidden meaning behind it. It just grabbed me.

I found this one too:

It is better to be hated for what one is, than loved for what one is not. — André Gide

pk · 10-19-2007, 06:32 AM

Believe nothing in what you hear and only half of what you see.

I agree with MrKhay's comment:

Quote:

In todays day and age of real time news reporting, and the ability to make anything look real with advanced graphics, holograms, and what have you, these are some very insightful words to live by.

and this quote certainly shows this in it's meaning.

BUT I find it sad that in today's society that we live in a 'fake' world of words, always trying to find the hidden meaning in what a person has said, or always striving to figure out what the truth really is.

What ever happened to the statement: A man is as good as his word?

Yea, a little dated now I'm sure but I find life so much better when you can actually believe what a person says, or not always second guessing a motive.

But today's world is all based on hidden agenda's and lies to fit what other's want. I find it all including this statement sad.

My question is: do you really want something that protrays this side of life on your business card? I would think you would want something that will make people trust you not wonder. ...

Nothing against you, just my thoughts.

pk

**LinksToThePast** · 10-19-2007, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pk

BUT I find it sad that in today's society that we live in a 'fake' world of words, always trying to find the hidden meaning in what a person has said, or always striving to figure out what the truth really is.
pk

I find a lot of people get stuck in the hidden meaning thing. "What did she mean by that?" I work in the technology world. I find a lot of people try to read into the words I am using in an email and coming back with "I didn't like the tone of the email."

I have concluded that the tone of email is more based on the mood of the person reading it rather than the mood of the person writing it. You can write something perfectly innocent, but if the other person is in a bad mood they will most likely assume you were angry.

In today's society, do you want to encourage people to think? It is a hard concept for a lot of folks. I am not saying people are stupid...simply many don't like to think. I agree with PK, people may not trust you because they were encouraged to think.

**LinksToThePast** · 10-19-2007, 07:17 AM

I just had another thought.

If you are selling angelfish.....aren't you selling the beauty of what a person sees and hears when they see the angelfish? Even though the angelfish is silent, there is beauty to what is heard (imagined by the viewer).

Therefore (I think) this saying defeats your business purpose.

You want your customers to believe everything they hear (which is what their mind is imagining) and everything they see (which is the magnificence of the angelfish beauty)

Hope that makes sense.

P.S. any quote you use, you should use the ~Author's Name on it to give proper attribution to the writer. (sorry had to get my copyright spiel in there).

pk · 10-19-2007, 07:58 AM

Quote:

I have concluded that the tone of email is more based on the mood of the person reading it rather than the mood of the person writing it. You can write something perfectly innocent, but if the other person is in a bad mood they will most likely assume you were angry.

This is also true not only for an email sent but a comment made in a forum, a quote on the back of a card.

I try to add alot of (

)'s so the person reading knows I am not saying something in anger. Sometimes it helps...sometimes not.

But a statement on a card is just that....a statement of how you think or feel and something that implies mistrust isn't what I would think a good thing to have when selling a product. And I agree with

Quote:

people may not trust you because they were encouraged to think.

Sometimes 'thinking' about something said can lead to 'wondering' about the person that wrote or posted the comment. Your business card is like a first impression and you certainly don't want your customer to 'wonder' if they can trust you.

Whew...this was just to much 'thinking' for me this morning! lol

pk

pk · 10-19-2007, 08:00 AM

OK, I have to also say this comment makes alot of sense to me....

Quote:

I just had another thought.

If you are selling angelfish.....aren't you selling the beauty of what a person sees and hears when they see the angelfish? Even though the angelfish is silent, there is beauty to what is heard (imagined by the viewer).

Therefore (I think) this saying defeats your business purpose.

You want your customers to believe everything they hear (which is what their mind is imagining) and everything they see (which is the magnificence of the angelfish beauty)

Hope that makes sense.

Kelly68 · 10-19-2007, 09:39 AM

Reason why I asked this question and to all my friends and family before I decided to add this to the brochure is:

"Believe nothing of what you hear and only half of what you see."

This statement to me and others I have asked without telling them my perspective on it means......Have Faith.

In today's world of uncertainty and trust like everyone in here is mentioning, especially to those new businesses first starting out you want others to "have faith" in your product. They don't know you from Adam. Other businesses just because they don't want you to steal their competition may say things that are untrue about someone new trying to get in.

So I wanted something to say to people, Have Faith. This is a positive quote to me. People may disagree with me, but it is the way I interpreted the meaning. Read it again and tell me that can't be what it means.

pk · 10-19-2007, 09:48 AM

Quote:

This is a positive quote to me. People may disagree with me, but it is the way I interpreted the meaning.

Well that's what happens when you start something with 'opinion needed'. People will surely end up writing things that will either disappoint you or not be what you want to really hear.

I see where you are thinking on this but the thing is in business, it's not always what you want...you have to sometimes go outside of yourself and ask if how you see things will be the same as the majority of how others will see it...if not, don't do it. play it safe and go with what the public will understand.

Again, this is a case of making the public or future customers 'think' and many times people don't have the time or the 'want' to stop and read something and decide...now what are they really trying to say here? They will just look somewhere else that is easier. Lazy in a way, maybe, but in today's society, time is money and if it takes to much time to decide they will lose interest.

But again...that's just my opinion.

pk

Kelly68 · 10-19-2007, 09:52 AM

Also someone told me that "Accepting things people say without checking it out for yourself. People need to earn trust before one blindly gives it."

This is what I am trying to do. Asking to accept me, have faith. I need to earn their trust not just assume.

A lot of new business owners start off all cocky with attitudes expecting to take over the world. In this day and age I feel you have to earn the respect of others and the only way to do that is being honest and having faith. They need to find out "who you are" by being "you", not by what others may be saying.

I hope I am not turning anyone off here. Maybe I need to keep quiet.

pk · 10-19-2007, 09:54 AM

Quote:

"Believe nothing of what you hear and only half of what you see."

OK, just for the fact that sometimes I simply just 'don't get it'...I did look and read this again and kept in mind that it should be a positive thing on a business card...

And it still tells me that I should not believe in what I hear...that I should not believe in what I see....and you are trying to get someone's trust to buy your product?

Call me dense lol but I still see a business that is telling me not to trust. And if I don't trust..then why should I believe in what you say...or what you show me? Get it?

It really is a very good statement about the world as it is today. And I think I live my life pretty much this way. I question everything. I look for all the loop holes, and wonder what a person or business really saying and what the gimmick or 'bottom line' is. lol So tell me again where this screams out that I should trust you when you are in fact telling me not to?

lol OK...I hope I did not say to much..I do have a bad habit of telling how I think when someone actually asks me to do so.

I wil try to shut up now.