The long-running local children's show where I grew up featured a man with a genial manner and entertaining style. He was without doubt one of the most beloved area personalities of his era and hero of many a young'un, including yours truly.
So, it surprised me when -- in my teens -- I was talking with someone who'd been an audience member years earlier, and he said he didn't like him. Why? Because, according to this person, my hero had yelled at the kids to "shut up!" as a commercial break was ending and they were about to come back live.
Years later I got to know this man, both through working with his production company on a project and while dating his daughter.
In my mind there was no way this gentle man, this genuinely kind human being, would have told a bunch of young audience members to "shut up!" It just seemed totally out of character for the person I'd gotten to know.
So, I asked him about it. As I hoped, he assured me he did not say that. He did remember the incident because it had been the only time in all those many years he'd ever had to even slightly raise his voice to his audience at all. The children were very noisy as the show was about to come back live and -- as much as the producers had tried -- they couldn't get the kids to stop.
With just seconds left before airtime he -- in his naturally deep voice -- simply said, "Kids, quiet down!" and that was that. Silence. And just in time. It probably surprised them that he even stepped in at all since that was the job of the producers.
But, back to his exact words. I mean, it was a long time ago. Could he possibly have said it and just not remembered?
"No, Bob. It's not possible. And, you know how I know it's not possible?"
"How?"
"Because it's a word I never say. It was not allowed in my home growing up. And, we didn't allow it in this home as our daughter was growing up. It's simply not something I would ever, ever say."
(As a side note, same in the Burg home... thanks Mom and Dad.)
What a great lesson!
Have you ever said things to some people, or in certain contexts, that you just "know" you'd never say to other people or in other contexts?
Well, it's not really so. You don't know that at all. The reason is that, if you would ever say something to someone in any situation, there is absolutely a great chance you would say it mistakenly to someone else or in some other situation. That's right; even though you don't think you would.
The only way you can ensure -- absolutely ensure -- never doing so is if the word or expression itself is not part of your vocabulary.
If you would absolutely never say it, then you can indeed be sure and remember that you didn't say it.
Otherwise ...you might have.
What words or expressions have you consciously chosen never to say ...ever?
What words or expressions would be a good idea to choose never to say ...from now on?