Dork time.

[elaby]

I find this amusing. I would say it was ironic except that I'm very insecure about the correct meaning and usage of the word "irony".

Tag-line on the main page of a visual communication company (which, as far as I can tell, uses visual thinking to help companies communicate more clearly and convey complex ideas understandably):

"When you communicate clearly people understand."

*headdesk*

Look, I don't even remember what it's CALLED, but I know that when you have one of those time-or-space phrase thingies, you have to have a COMMA after it or sometimes it makes no sense.

For example, this tag-line obviously is meant to mean "When (that is, in a situation where) you communicate clearly, (the result is that) people understand." Without the comma, it could just as well (less logically, but just as well) mean "When (-ever) you communicate, clearly (that is, obviously) people understand."

This is the first thing someone reads when coming upon the page. This does not instill me with a whole lot of faith in the company's ability to "communicate clearly."

I mean, I know I'm a grammar nerd, but if that's your BUSINESS, you really ought to be doing it right. Incidentally, the second tag-line on the home page uses a comma correctly in the exact same situation. It's just that the second tag-line is longer. Length /= good criteria in comma placement if understanding is sacrificed.

Comments

[miss-next.livejournal.com]

I agree with you 100%. And that icon rocks, too. :-)

[elaby.livejournal.com]

Thanks ^_^ It's a Neil Gaiman quote.

[templarwolf.livejournal.com]

That's like Yogi Bera's comment, "You can observe a lot by watching."

Even without the comma error, its just a "DUH!" statement.

Morans.

[elaby.livejournal.com]

You know, I didn't even notice that, distracted as I was by the comma thing. You're totally right!

[semyaza.livejournal.com]

I would also question whether people understand even when you do communicate clearly. Lord knows, we've tried to explain the recycling rules to owners on numerous occasions but they still persist in putting styrofoam in the blue bins. :D

[elaby.livejournal.com]

Seriously! You've got a really good point there.

[coastal-spirit.livejournal.com]

*headdesk* indeed. This is why people don't communicate clearly; because they don't understand the simple rules of grammar.

[elaby.livejournal.com]

d00d. Exactly! I was just boggled by it.

[kniblet.livejournal.com]

I think it definitely counts as irony.

[elaby.livejournal.com]

Oh, good! My innate sense of word meanings said it did, but I don't always know if I can trust that.